The Washington times., 1901-10-08
BRIDGES OF THE DISTRICT.
The Report of the Engineer on Con-
struction and Repairs.

l
day forwarded to the board Mr. Doug
lass states that the expenditures for the
ordinary care Of bridges were: Salaries
$3.Si4.59; coal, oil, and contingencies, $32,S2
paint purchased. $liS.76. This expense
was covered. he says, by an ap1ropria-
ton Of 5000, leaving a balance on hand
of $i.G3
keepers Were stationed at the Aque-
duct Bridge. over the Potomac" says the
report, "and the Pennsylvania Avenue
and Navy Yard bridges, over the Eastern
Branch. At the last named structure the
operation of the draw requires a k, epeT
and helper, and at the other two the de-
| mands Of the public convenience justify
] their retention These mon are special
police officers, and in addition to caring
/ for the cleanliness and safety of the
| structures. they enforce public order, and
! have frequently made arrests and secured
! conviction in cases Of violation of law
THE work of construction and re
pairs consisted of painting the ron
work, removal of floors, and s5ch
| minor repairs as We're from time to TING
! required. The structures are in good
/ conCition. requiring only such repairs as
are due to their regular and continued
/ use. N exception from this statement
y
/ YarG Bridge, which has been
considered structurally weak, and
since the employment of the heavy
motor cars of the Auacostia
Railway Company, particularly so. The
electric cars which now cross the bridge
weigh, when empty. between seven and
ten tons, and when loaded with people
this load reaches a maximum OF seven
teen tons. The bridge was not designed
to carry such a heavy load.
In a addition, the draw is archaic; the
bridge unsightly; much too narrow, the
entire width of the roadway is taken up
with car tracks and totally inadequate to
meet the demands of public travel. In
consequence of this, have the honor to
recommend that it be replaced with a
modern structure of ample width This
recommendation has been made each year
since 1857, and the conditions described
in each of these several reports are to-
day aggravated. The present bridge was
constructed in 1875. Its condition is no.
toriously bad and worthy of serious CON
sderation
The principal item of expenditure un-
DER the appropriation for construction
ana repair OF bridges, is for the construc-
tlon OF concrete arch bridge over Broad
Kranch. on the line of the Argyle Road
The contract price for this bridge is
$, $3.50, s., ,22S.29 of which will be paid
from this appropriation, consuming the
Der and iron, was built in 1888; it was
structuraliy very weak, and entirely out
OF harmony with its surroundings The
new bridge, which will consist of con-
crete throughout, was designed by this
ONCE, assisted by Glenn Brown. archi-
tect- ii has span of twenty-four feet
ana a rise of nine feet. This bridge is
now under construction.
nf
hltude, under this appropriation, consisted
OF laying new floors on bridges No 30
cincinnati Street, and No. 81, Woodley
Lane, and the purchase of lumber for
bridge No. So, AnacOstia, amounting to-
gether TO $6396.57. The sum of S3I65.26 |
was expended from the emergency appro- |
priation for the repair of certain roads !
ana bridges damaged by the storm of |
June ,, 1900. in the reconstruction of a 1
Drldge over Piney Branch, on the line of |
Rock Creek drive.
The bridge destroyed by the storm was !
Of culvert construction. having a span of /
ten feet. The plans for the new bridge /
were prepared by the Melan Arch Con- /
struction Company, of New York, under |
the direction OF this office. 1t consists of /
a liye-centred arch having a span of !
twenty-four feet and rise of nine feet. II /
is constructed of concrete, encasing nine
1ve-inch steel L beams. The entire bridge |
Is faced with second-class masonry of a /
good description. The waterway is double 1
that of the old bridge and all foundations
are carried to rock. The sum of SO. 900 |
was appropriated for the construction of (
4 bridge across Rock Creek on the line Of I
he Quarry Road in the Geological Park, /
10 be built under the direction of the En-
yineer Commissioner.
The old bridge was constructed of tim
Der and iron and was in a very unsafe !
condition. The plans for the new bridge 4
were prepared by the Melan Arch Con-
struction Company, under the direction
If this office. 1t consists of a single seven
centred arch of eighty feet span and four
zen feet rise, and has an effective dis
,harge area of l.290 square feet. 1t is
of concrete throughout. with
cement mortar face The arch encases
en- steel latticed girders. The founda-
ions for the arch are carried to rock,
md those of the wing walls extend about
,ix feet below the natural surface OF the
ground The bridge has been completed,
excepting the construction of the side
walks and the grading of the creek. The
present balance is s775.39.
Concrete steel was used in these two
ridges. in preference to steel or stone.
IS il is thought that it combines the
eauty and psrmanency of the stone arch,
With a cost not more than so per cent
-reater than that of q. steel bridge. the
ost of maintenance Of which is a factor
# great moment. This construction is
advantageous where a fiat
rch is essential, as in the case of these
THE sum of $4,000 was appropriated to-
va rd the construction of bridge across
IOck creek. on tflc line OF 1oDBectlCuI
venue extended. The work is now under
obstruction. This appropriation Will re-
ult in the completion of the foundations
+ all piers from two to nine inclusive.
Ter and part of pier We're previously
INSTRUCTED under the appropriation for
SO. All foundations have been carried to
ock. and have been built up to within
bout five feet of the natural surface Of
he ground. The bridge, which was de
igned by Mr. Morrison, Will be of con- |
rete with granite asher facing. The sof-
It's of the arches and the spandrel walls, |
etween the faces Of the bridge, will be
lced with light cOlored brick.
There was appropriated $4,000 for con-
nuing the construction of a bridge across |
,ock Creek, on the line of Massachusetts
venue extended. provided the Commits
toner's purchase or condemn the neces-
ary land, thu title of which was not |
by the District The strip of
and lying Immediately adjacent to the
reek was the only piece not possessed by |
he District. This was acquired by con- | {
emnation proceedings, at cost of g.,
005. The $4,000 appropriated made | {
1tal of S225, 600, which will complete the
ridge. The work is now under construc-
on The masonry arch viii be completed {
October, after which must be made a {
II of 2j000e cubic yards"
with this report was submitted a record |
{ tests Of brick made in connection with
he construction of the Massachusetts
venue bridge, also some tests made upon
oncrete sand, showing its weight per
ubic feet with different percentages of |
ater.
The Treasury Statement. .
The receipts of the Government yester-
ay. according to the Treasury statement.