The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-16
OF THE
LONG BRIDGE
Historic Structure Soon to
Be Removed.
TIE GREAT CIVIL WAR HIGHWAY.
Was Erected In 1885 - Played a
Prominent Part During those
Stirring Days - Destroyed
Several Times.

The projected removal of the Ing
Bridge and the substitution Of a more ,a-
p'nsivg and slightly structure in it's piace
recalls tho fact that President Jackson
planned for an elegant and permanent
highway instead OF the various make
shifts which have gone by lhe name Of
Long Bridge jackson was prevented
from executing his designs by the eco
n"mical spirit of Congress. The Presi-
dents pan was Co have q bridge with Il
arches and draws. T. piers and abut-
mruts. with their HaIf-piers The arches
WEI, To- have been OF sc feet span and -
feet rise above the spriugiug line. and
were TO De- curves of several centres. or
all semi olliptical in shape. The piers and
abuJn'nts were 20 have risen feet above
low water The draws were TO have been
81 feet wide one 10 be placed at the NIarv-
land channel. the other at the virginia
channel The bridge was 20 have been 2G
feet wide between the parapets. and Tho
piers, arches, and abutments were TO
have been Of granite
A fun description Of President Jaclsor-s
proposed bridge, which the engineers es-
tlmated 10 cost from 100000 to s. .gyJo51
was published by Hon. Louis McI.ane
Secretary of the Treasury. April y. 1893
Had Jackson's plan been carried out the
so-caled historic Long Bridge would be
a thing of fact, whereas, at present. it
is merely a fiction che bridge over which
the seeding officers and men passed
from this city TO the Confederate lines
in 1861. M which a Union and Southern
guard was stationed at opposite ends. the
one 20 say farewell 90 many an old friend
and the other 10 welcome them. was car
rled completely away by floating ice In
February. 1866.
The bridge which was substituted for
Jacksons proposed structure was opened
for traffic Octobed g. 1885. George W.
Hughes was the engineer Of construction.
and. according TO his deport. the bridge
cost SlI2.I2f nearly Sl7.09 less than the
sum appropriated for il by Congress. The
engineer said he considered the bridge very
uucehtain as to its existence, a statement
that evidently did not worry the law
makers in the least
The prediction OF the engineer as 20 the
fraiIty Of the bridge began to be realized
in May. ISaf. in which month freshet did
considerable damage 70 H. On June
Congress passed a joint resolution author
izing the Secretary Of the Treasury TO
have all repairs made To the bridge across
the Potomac River, whi.h have become
necessary from the late r,"I. and that
the expense OF said rep-frs De paid out Of
the money heretofore ar .-Gpriated for the
erection Of said bridge and which is now
in the Treasury Unexpeuded.
ION I,-cember Z. 1896 Hon. Levi Wood
bury. Rotary Of the Treasury submit
ted a statement to COMPRESS showing that
ln the aggregate there had been expended
on repairs 20 the bridge, 10 the causeWay,
10 the draws. 20 the abutmeuts. etc.
Sll-@t2-tj- and that there was StiII left OF
the original appropriation S419A1S. which
IA f al
and planting 81 Maryland Avenue
on March 3. 1893. the jurisdiction Of tho
corporation Of Washington was extended
over lhIs bridge In February. $50,
fr'SLet occurred which carried away the .
tEalI BridEa above the Little Falls. and
oid great damage 10 the Long Bridge.
In the winter OF lSl6-5s an attempt was
mad" on the part or certain persons 10 {
secure the diSCuuuuuauee OF he Long
Bridge or course this movement was
opposed ay others A meeting o. he rItI-
lsus of Alexandra was held February ~ +
lN's. for the purpose or expressing hos
unity jH ~" proposed removal Of the
bridge They cor sldeTed that the aque-
duct. rs pGlHi OF transit from one side
OF The riFe- 10 the other, would MAKE their
northern connection hg ordinary means
exec. dinghy iUcouVeUicut. and earnestly
urged their Representatives. and Senators
in Congress 90 use their best efforts 90
avert tl. calamity. A cOmwitte, OF CitiZ-
zeur waited un the committee OF the
House OF RcEE.-e natives. February -
1859. addressing them on the immediate
reconstruction 81 che bridge. The citizens
Of Georgetown symUathiZyd with those of
Alexandra on the subject, and WashiL-- .
tOuiaus Joined in.
The result was that Long Bridge was
PorpctuatsC. In sort Of a way ~ least .
The damaged stTUetETF was again repair .
cd. the Councils Of the city Of Washing .
ton appruurlaJIUg $3.50 toward that OBJ .
I.ct This was on May - 1851 BY No
ysmher J. lN5N tho bridge was again re- /
paired so as 10 be- uu- IN use
As before stated. iH February. 1863. .
Long Bridge was carried away by floating .
Ice. rendering communication between the .
two sides OF ths TIvs- Impossible except .
by way Of Chain Bridge involving an or I
binary days journey. In the emergency F.
thus created the l.sSses of the Chssd- /
U,a6C and Ohio Canal offered tho Govern +
Weut the u~. of the piers Of the AgueduCU .
for Tho erection OF a permanent bridge /.
over the Potomac. This offer. however. &
was not accepted. and Long Bridge has .
been kept zap, with various viCissltudes, /
tIu the present day.