The times., 1901-05-24
THE NEW POTOMAC BRIDGE.
Report of the Engineer Commission
Practically Completed.

The board Of engineer officers appoint
ed by Secretary Root on March p to
select site. formulate plans, specifica-
tions, and estimates for a passenger
bridge across the Potomac to replace the
Long Bridge and 70 be located within 500
feet OF that structure has practically
completed its report and viii submit it
to the Secretary of War within n short
time. The board is composed of the fol-
lowing officers: Lieut. Col Charles J.
Allen Capt. Edward Burr. Capt Lansing
II. Beach, and First Lieut.. George NJ.
Hoffman, recorder.
The bill passed by Congress or Feb
ruary l. authorizes the Secretary of war
to enter into a contract with the Balti-
more and Potomac Railroad Company to
construct this highway bridge. The sum
Of $56J. 900 has been appropriated and the
structure must be completed by February
II. 1913.
The plans favored by the Engineer
Board will make the bridge cost just
s56S. eco and provide for a steel structure
resting on masonry piers. There will be
seven spans, each 250 feet long and two
spans, each 200 feet long, with draw
bridge span. go feet. This will give the
bridge proper total length of 2,4o0 feet.
There will be nine piers and two abut-
ments of masonry. The draw pier VIII
contain 1910 cubic yards of masonry. The
floor of the bridge viii consist OF steel
plates, covered with asphalt The piers
will be l15 feet farther apart than those OF
the Long Bridge and will lessen the dan
ger of the ice jams which cause floods.
The draw will be sixty-eight feet wider
than that on the old Long Bridge, and
will lessen the liability of accidents.
The new structure Will be located about
500 feet above the present bridge The ap-
proach at the north end will consist OF
a causeway paved with stone. with a 100
foot bridge over the outer lock. At the
south end the causeway win be paved
with stone The dTawbridge viii be mod
ern in every respect. and will contain a
very powerful set of machinery.
This bridge is to be used only for high
way traffic, the Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad Company being required to re-
place the Long Bridge with steel rail-
/ road bridge within four years. The high
way bridge will be open for the use of
all street railroad companies chartered by
Congress. The Washington, Alexandria
and Mount Vernon Railroad Company is
required to cease operating on the Long
Bridge and to lay it's tracks on the new
structure. No overhead wires will be per-
mitted and an underground electric sys-
tenn must be laid. Each street railway
/ company using the bridge viii be required
to pay in taxes one-half of l per cent for
each passenger carried across the bridge.
The cost of the new structure viii be di-
yded between the District of Columbia
and the United States Government-each
to pay one-half Of the sum of S56S. 900.
The wagon travel from the south will
not be inconvenienced by the change in
the bridges, as the approach to the new
structure. being only 500 feet above the
Long Bridge. will not materially increase
the distance Travelled by teams. The dis
tance between the new bridge and the
Long Bridge viii enable the authorities
to break up the ice between the two
structures and to prevent any jam.
The Engineer Board is at present test
ing the bottom of q route 600 feet above
the Long Bridge and as soon as the ex-
act distance can be learned wherein there
is a safe foundation, the report viii be
submitted to Secretary Root The work
on the structure will begin as soon as Sec
retary Root formally adopts the report
and accepts the plans.