Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-01-04
LETTER FROM MR.. RIXEY.
House OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
Washington, January l, 1870

w oouiub'Obi Sobuaiy ~ AOV1' J
10 the Editor ofthe alexandria Gazette:
Yonr issue OF December 20, 1900,
under the caption Washington Cores
respondent, contains the following para
graph
"People from Alexandra county
here today say the passage of the bill
for carriage bridge across the Poto-
mac, a short distance west OF the Long
Bridge, has already increased the de-
mand for property on the south side OF
the river, and they are wondering why
Congressman Rixey, Jones and Lamb
of Virginia voted against the bill, as it
helps their State, though not costing 1t
cent. They ask their acquaintance
here if they can explain the reason, but
are informed that nobody except the
congressman referred to can do So"
The facts in this matter appear 10 the
Congressional Record Of December the
18th and 10Th, 1900. The bill was not,
as the Gazette seems to think, for the
sole purpose OF q highway bridge across
the Potomac. That was merely "a
thing apart.n It ives known as tho B.
& P. Penna.) r. r Bill, aid provided,
among other things, for the practical
gift OF thirty-four acres of the govern
ment land in the city to that corpora
iioo. Incidentally, it provided for a
bridge in the immediate vicinity OF the
present Long bridge. which would only
accommodate those now using the Long
bridge. but will be made an excuse for
delaying or defeating the building Of the
Memorial Bridge from Washington
city to Arlington. To show that this
attempt will be made is but to quote
from the speech, on this bill, Of Repre-
sentative Hepburn, chairman of the
interest tie and foreign commerce COM
mittee, which has charge of the Me-
mortal Bridge bill:
ut is not right" he said, ito charge
the proposed bridge to this enterprise,
because that il one Of the enterprises
for the Improvement OF the District, for
which the people have been clamoring
for years. That Is work which will
have to be done; and the construction
OF this bridge will do away with the
necessity for larger, much larger, eppro-
prla.ion for that ornamental bridge that
certain people OF the District are now
so earnestly advocating"
The Pennsylvania Railroad now is q
mere tenant at will with its depot on
government property at Sixth street.
1t paid nothing to enter the city and
paid nothing for the use of the land
upon which its depot is located. In ad-
ditiou, the government, which was the
owner of the Long bridge, now span.
ming the Potomac, gave it to the Penn
sylvsnia Railroad Company upon con-
dtion that il would maintain and keep
in repair the highway part of it for the
travelling public. The control OF this
bridge has been worth millions TO the
railroad, By lis means it has practi-
cally controlled the whole southern
travel. 1t has made it to the interest
of that corporation to fight the effort OF
any southern road to secure an entrance
into the city except over its Long bridge.
Ii successfully defeated the Norfolk
and Western aud other corporations.
The control Of this bridge by the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company has
been the barrier which prevented the
entrance Of all southern roads into the
capital except upon terms dictated by
that corporation. The Pennsylvania
Railroad desired to enlarge its fran.
chise and to be released of the burden
OF keeping up the highway part of the
Long bridge.
The bill to which the Gazette refers
practically confirms the Pennsylvania
Railroad In the title to its present depot
site; gives 1t right of way over sundry
streets and avenues of the city; closes
other streets, and gives the railroad
thirty-four acres OF the government
laud 10 the city, all without the pay.
ment to the government of one cent by
the railroad. 10 addition, the govern.
ment is to build highway bridge
few hundred yards above the present
Long bridge, aud relieve the railroad of
the obligation to keep it 10 repair for
the travelling public.
A conservative estimate OF the value
of the gilt in property alone is S2,2l2,-
800, which does not take into consider.
alton eight acres of the gift nor the adj
vantage derived by the railroad from
being relieved OF the obligation to main
tain the highway bridge.
Briefly summarized the bill provides
for the gift to this railroad, by the gov.