Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-20
ALEXANDRIA COUNTY NEEDS
More Bridges Over the Potomac and System
of Good Roads.
Important Recomme ndations Submit
ted at a Meeting of the Board
of Development.

well attended meeting Of the board OF
development of Alexandria county was held
| at the rooms OF the Business Mems Asso-
citation in the postal telegraph building
yesterday afternoon. President A. NJ
Ilothrop occupied the chair, with Mr.. ]. e
Clements serving as secretary, and they
submitted a proposition of much general in
terest, which was referred to the commit
tee on legislation, with instructions to re-
port upon 1t at the next meeting of the
board. Referring to the fact that the Po-
tomac is not properly provided with bridges,
the document proceeded as follows:
Your committee represents the Potomac
river is not properly bridged." the report
states. I'VE suggest that the old Long
bridge should be rebuilt, and that the me-
mortal bridge spanning the Potomac to Ar
lington receive at the hands of this asso-
citation all the encouragement 1t can give.
We also strongly advise that the Aqueduct
bridge be widened and rernodeled that
electric cars can pass over said bridge be-
tween Alexandra county and Washington,
d. c. There has been much talk Of certain
railroad companies constructing a bridge
over the Potomac river at or near point
known the Three Sister Islands, be-
tween the Aqueduct and Chain bridges.
Your committee would advise that this
board encourage and use its influence in OBJ
tanning the permission of Congress for the
construction of this bridge.
GOOD Roads Necessary.
at is imperative" continued the state
ment, that we have good, well-graded,
permanent and scientifically constructed
public highways. 1t Is the opinion of your
committee that well-constructed macadam
roads are Of paramount Importance to the
development of Alexandria county, and
that such roads would invite population and
wealth. cause the construction of hundreds
of houses and homes upon our now vast
area of vacant land, and bring an era of
great prosperity to our county. 1t is gener-
ally conceded that good roads are necessary
IN our county, the manner of obtaining
them seeming to be the only point upon
winch d1SaSreementS occur. We urgently
advise that an agreement be reached on
this point
In conclusion. we beg leave to submit
that the House of Representatives has
lately passed a bill setting aside a part of
the unused portion (about 400 acres) of the
Arlington estate as government expert
mental farm, under the control of the Sec
rotary of Agriculture, but that the clause
In the bill appropriating $4,000 to enable
the Secretary to carry out the provisions of
the bill was stricken out. We recommend
that this honorable board exert its influence
to have the appropriation clause restored
In the Senate and the bill re-enacted In the
House"
A committee consisting of A. ]. wedder-
burn. James McConville, George Kearney
Chairman Lothrop and Secretary Clements
was appointed to wait upon Chairman Nc
MILAN of the Senate committee on the Dis
trict and ascertain the status of the mem
orial bridge bill before that committee.
Mr.. ]. S. Cowdon addressed the board In
relation to the pending legislation in Com
gress providing for the drainage of the
Anacostia river flats. the construction of a
South Capitol street bridge and dixie along
the western bank of the Potomac from
Alexandria to the Aqueduct bridge and re-
Gsived vote Of thanks. Messrs. W. S.
Hoge of this city and Clinton Smoot Of
Alexandria were elected to membership