Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-22
NEW POTOMAC BRIDGE
Engineer Officers Appointed to Con-
slider the Subject.
BOARD ORDERED TO MEET APRIL 3
Provisions of the B. and P. Bill
Passed by Congress.
DIVISION OF THE COST

General Wilson. chief of engineers, has
appointed a board of engineer officers to
consider the subject of a new bridge across
the Potomac river just above the present
Long bridge, in accordance with the
provisions of the act approved Feb
ruary II, 1901, providing for "elimi-
mating certain grade crossings on
the line of the Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad Company in the city of Washing
ton, D. c., and requiring said company to
depress and elevate it's tracks and to en-
able it to relocate parts of it's railroad
therein" etc.
The board consists of Lieut. Col Charles
]. Allen, in charge of the Improvement of
the Potomac river; Capt Edward Burr,
formerly assistant to the Engineer Com
missioner of the District, and now sta
toned at ST. Louis, and Capt L. H. Beach,
Engineer Commissioner of the District,
with Lieut.. George VI. Hoffman, assistant
engineer of the Washington water supply
system, as recorder of the board. The
members of the board were selected be-
cause of their ability and well-known ia
miliarity with the matter intrusted to their
charge All of them located in this
city except Captain Burr, who is stationed
at st. Louis. His selection was due par
ticularly to his skill in bridge building and
his knowledge of local conditions and needs
through his long service under the District
government The selection of Colonel AL
len and Captain Beach was equally, if not
more. appropriate in view of their inti-
mate official connection with local public
improvements. Captain Beach expressed
a willingness to serve on the board and
was chosen on that account in preference
to some junior officer.
In order that no time NAV be lost In the
prosecution of this important work. the
board has been ordered to convene In this
city Wednesday. April 3.
Provisions of the Act.
The duties of the board are fully defined
in the following provisions of the act under
which it is created:
Long Bridge.
That inasmuch the present Long
bridge over the Potomac river is made
quate for the accommodation of the largely
increased railroad and vehicular traffic is
In a measure obstructive of navigation
and needs to be reconstructed, the Balti-
more and Potomac Railroad Company is
hereby directed and required to remove
the present Long bridge across the Po-
tomac river, and, in accordance with plans
to be approved by the Secretary of War,
to build on practically the same line a new
bridge in lieu thereof, said new bridge to
be for railroad purposes only and to be
adapted for two or more railway tracks,
the Long bridge to be removed and the
new bridge constructed within four years
The said Baltimore and Potomac Railroad
Company shall remove the Long bridge and
shall build, maintain and keep in repair
said new bridge at its own cost and eN-
penSe. and shall maintain an efficient draw
in said new bridge, operating the same so
as not to unnecessarily impede the free
navigation of the Potomac river at any
hour of the day or night, and shall give
other railroad companies the right to pass
over said bridge upon such reasonable
terms as may be agreed upon between the
ffTflr AMI hal
Passenger Bridge.
That the Secretary of War be, and he is
hereby. authorized to enter into a contract
with the Baltimore and Potomac. Railroad
Company, or any other party, to construct,
within two years after the passage of this
act, at a point not less than five hundred
feet above the site of the present Long
bridge. new and substantial bridge for
highway travel, of iron or steel, resting
upon masonry piers and provided with suit
able approaches, and with a sufficient draw
all In accordance with plans and specifica-
tons to be approved by the Secretary of
War; and there is hereby appropriated
(one-half out of the revenues of the Dis
trlct OF Columbia and one-half out of any
money in the treasury not otherwise ap-
prOpriated) the sum of S56S 600 or so much
thereof as may be necessary, to be paid
from time to time. the construction of
the said bridge progresses, by the Secretary
OF war, under such regulations he shall
prescribe
The said bridge shall be for highway
traffic, and all street railroads chartered or
that may hereafter be chartered by Con-
Sress shall have the right TO cross aid
bridge on such terms as may be prescribed
by Congress: Provided That the Washing
ton, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Railway
Company, now using the Long bridge shall
be permitted. with the approval of the Com
InlsSlonerS OF the District of Columbia to
change its location so as to cross the high-
way bridge herein provided for; all plans
for such change to be approved by the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia
and the chief of engineers of the United
States army: and provided further, That
standard underground electric system of
street car propulsion shall be installed by
said company on the park highway lead
ing to said bridge, and no dynamo furnish
Ing power to this portion of the road shall
be In any manner connected with the
ground, and that the cost of asphalt paw
ing between the tracks and two feet out
side thereof shall be paid by said COM
pany Each street railway company using
said bridge shall pay, in addition to other
taxes. as by its charter provided one-haIf
of one cent for each and every passenger
carried across said bridge.
Plans to he Submitted
That before any portion of the work
herein described shall be authorized plans
and profiles of the entire work except such
as relate to the new bridges. authorized by
sections IL and II, in accordance with the
prOHlSloilS HeTeln contained, shall be pre-
pared by the said Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad Company. and shall be submitted
for approval to the Commissioners Of the
District of Columbia. Duly authenticated
copies of said plans and profiles shall after
approval, be filed with the Commissioners
aforesaid. and all work shall be done in
accordance with them. and shall be COM
pieted within five years from the date of
the passage of this act. The company shall
also deposit with the collector of taxes of
the District of Columbia such sums of
money as the Commissioners of said Dis
triet may reasonably require to cover the
cost of the District inSnaCtiop