Evening star., 1900-04-10

that If the bridge were put at an elevation
of twenty-four feet above low water the
tugs which would be apt to use these
waters could go under at all ordinary
stages without requiring the draw TO be
opened. This would require. of course, that
the smokestacks be hinged-a thlnS "hich
could be very easily done.
There is considerable force in the objec-
ton that two bridges would tend to cause
an ice gorge. although the ice in the upper
river is badly broken up by coming over
the Little and Great Falls. Gorges have
occurred, however, owing to the movement
of the tides. and the Ice between the two
bridges would be less apt TO move than that
at other points, and floating ice would De
apt to pass underneath and lodge, forming
gorge 49,, .,
gether that a vessel entering the line of
guide cribs piles of one draw would en-
ter the guide cribs or piles of the other
draw therefrom, would be less obstruction
to navigation than If the bridges were fur
ther apart, it is believed that if they were
as close together as this the ice would hoid
more strongly. and there would not be room
between them to handle a tug so as to
| break up the ice. If they We're removed to
a distance of about 1000 feet apart, there
| would be room between them for a vessel
to run back and forth to break up the ice,
thus checking any tendency to gorge
lowing to the fact that all wagon travel
from the south has to cross the bridge at
present provided at Roachs run the wagon
bridge could be placed as much as l,on feet
upstream from the railroad bridge without
really increasing the distance to be Travelled
by teams, except those which start between
RoachS run and the south shore of the
bridge.
AN estimate of the cost of building the
bridges separately combined has been
prepared by the engineer of the railroad
and is believed to be correct, except in the
matter of "a 600 linear feet of | beams for
asphalt floor, at $40, $72,G00.' This item, it
| is believed, will amount to $54 per linear
foot, instead of $50. which would make the
total of that item $123,000, increase
of $4,000. This item enters both estimates,
SO that the cost to the United States VIII
not be changed thereby.
Division of Cost.
ut is the general rule that where changes
| are made to eliminate grade crossings one
half the expense shall be paid by the pub
lie and one-half by the railroad. The bill
under consideration proposes expendi-
| ture of not less than s6,OoO,0oO, 81 100000 of
which sum is for the new station. and
therefore would not come into the division
of costs. Some other items also belong to
this category; but the cost of changes which
in other cities would be subject to division
amount to not less than S4,UW,OOD. The
rule adopted in this case is that the rail-
road company shall pay all the costs of
changes. both Of bridges and of excava-
tions, within its right of way, and that the
District and the government shall be
sponsible for land damages and building the
approaches The District Commissioners
estimate the land damages at less than
$4,000 and the cost of approaches at $500,
GOO. The entire money cost to the public
for making these very necessary changes
will be $250,0oo. This is exclusive Of the
bridge, which should be rebuilt under any
circumstances. Adding the cost of the
bridge tS56S, 900, the entire amount of mon
ey expense will be S91S,000.
I'm addition to this should be added S162-
600 for 100000 square feet taken from Gar
field Park, at 90 cents foot. and 100000
for $4,000 square feet of Mall lin addition
to the portion already occupied, at $3.50
square foot. This would make the entire
cost to the public S1S90,0U0. of which,
has been stated, the money cost will be
less than 81 100000. the payment of which
sum will be extended over five or six years
I'm conclusion the committee would state
its entire confidence that the legislation
proposed in the bill amended is salts
been the most complete cooperation be-
tween the Commissioners of the District
and the officials of the railroad.
THE railroad company has been willing
and anxious to revise and improve its ter
minals, and to enlarge its facilities for do
ing business; it has met the Commissioners
and the committee half way in all the ne
gotfatiOns. and as a result there is oppo-
sition to the general theory of the bill nor
sons-indeed. the committee knows Of no
single individual-who would prefer to have
no change rather than to have the present
measure passed There has been a remark
able unanimity among the people of the
District in favor of the bill: and it is safe
to say that should it become a law it will
prove a satisfactory and permanent solu-
ton of the grade-crossings problem along
the lines of the Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad Company"