Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-10-27
Quare that Il should Re utilized for such


ornate expression as the motive Of the
whole work is intended to give"
The Memorial bridge. as indicated by
the plans. win be almost three-quarters
Of mile between the abutment walls
and composed Of six arch spans over
the river proper and e approach spans.
The roadway surface viii be 90 feet
above the water. The span Of each
river arch will be nearly as long as the
longest arch span Of any bridge in the
world. Speaking of the magnitude Of
the proposed bridge, it may be inter-
esting to compare ii with some other
/ famous bridges. The Alexander III
/ bridge. in Taris, an arch formed Of
steel castings thrown across the Seine
in the exposition grounds and about
which much has been written in admit
ration. is really a toy structure in CON-
/ parison to the Memorial bridge in
| Washington. So, too, is the historic
! Tower bridge. in London. The Alex
ander III bridge has clear span of
only a little more than IL spans of
any single river arch of our bridge. In
| other words. the arched portion of the
| Memorial bridge viii be more than ten
/ times as long as the span of the great
/ Paris bridge.
| AS designed the Memorial bridge will
be a decidedly ornate structure. yet
some of the chief elements Of its com
! position win be simplicity and grand
eur. There will be a vast amount of
4 statuary and carving on and about it.
/ The great river arches, with all their
/ imnressiveness, and the long series Of
/ beautiful approach arches will be adj
mirably adapted for the reception of
/ such emblematic figures, statuary and
! carvings as may be suitable to give it
any desired intensity Of expression as
a memorial Of American patriotism.
/ These embellishments need not neces-
sarily be given to the bridge at the
time of it's construction, but could be
added from time to time in the future
as historical events and epochs in the
] history Of the country might require.
4 The plans provide for many pedestals
| along the entire course of the struc-
ture, where could be placed from time
to time statues of patriotic Americans
whose deeds of valor shall deserve rec
ignition.
An examination of the entire design
shows that the composition of the
! bridge as a whole and in its several
parts is dictated By the requirements
! of the situation and that it possesses
the essential qualities of good engi-
neering and attractive and substantial
- uf,t1,4 finv.
has been chosen on account of its more
monumental and enduring qualities.
The cost. it is asserted, will be no more
than if steel were used for the super
structure The portion over the river
proper, requiring free passage for the
current and for ice in winter, will be
of comparatively open construction,
consisting of graceful segmental arches
of long span.
The most impressive feature of the
bridge and that which will be most
expressive OF its memorial character
will be the towers at the central span
or bascule. These pierced towers or
arches, transverse to the bridge, will
admit OF a very monumental treat
ment They will form two triumphant
archways, deliberately ornamented and
rich in detail, although in harmony
with the severity and grandeur of the
great bridge structure of which they
form a part Eight heroic groups are
to be placed against these archways,
emblematic Of such subjects as patriot
ism, valor, concord unity. etc. These
viii be of great size and elaborate
compositions and are To be executed in
stone. The spandrels of the arches
will be fitted with subjects emblematic
Of the army and the navy. On tie
sides of the towers will be placed
shields and plaques inscribed with the
names of battles where American sol
diers have distinguished themselves,
and the whole will be crowned with
bronze figures of Victory heroic in
size.
The monumental and memorial char.
acter of the bridge will be further car
ried out along the entire length of the
roadway, where bronze statues of cell
ebrated Americans are to be placed on
either side. The sculpture and orna-
ments will, If the plans are carried
out, be placed where the artistic re-
quirements call for them without re.
gard TO expense. 1t is gratifying that
in the preparation of the design the
high character of the structure has al
ways been kept in mind and vulgar
Recommendation avoided as being
worse than useless
Whether the nations solons, when
| 4
be inclined to favor this great under
taking upon which residential Wash
ington has set its heart l am unable to
say, but apparently the prospects are
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