Evening star., 1901-12-17
NEW HIGHWAY BRIDGE
Plans Submitted by Board Of Engi-
neers.s
REPORT TRANSMITTED TO- CONGRESS
Suitable Structure Cannot Be
Built for the Appropriation.
THE DESIGN sED

THE DESIGN RoPOSED
Secretary Root today transmitted to Con-
gress a letter from General Gillespie chief
of engineers, submitting a report of the
board of engineers constituted to select a
site and formulate plans specifications and
estimates for highway bridge to be built
across the Potomac river, In accordance
with the provisions of section - of the act
Of Congress approved February II, 1901.
of Congress approved February II. 1901.
Two Sets of Plans Prepared.
General Gillespie refers to the site Sc
lected by the board, and says it has pre-
pared for the consideration of the Secre-
tary of War two sets of plans for bridge
at that locality, referred to in the report as
designs No 1 and 2, respectively, estimated
to cost for design No. $575, 600 and for de-
sign No. 2 S996, 600.
1.-The board,' says General Gillespie,
states with regard to design No. l that,
while it is probable that the bridge and
approaches indicated can be constructed by
contract within the appropriation, the
board does not believe them suitable or adj
equate for the purpose, and therefore rec
ommends that this design be not adopted.
Another set of plans is therefore sub
mitted, regarding which it Is stated that
The Plan Preferred.
''The board is of the opinion that in order
to meet the requirements of the locality
and traffic, as well as to comply with the
terms Of section IL of the act of February
10, 1901, the bridge, to be built under au-
thority of that act, must be substantially
of the character and dimensions indicated
in design No. 2. And it is recommended
that this designs be adopted, and that the
bridge be built in general accordance there
with.
In view Of the fact that adverse action
is recommended by the board with respect
of the plans for a bridge, the estimated
cost of which falls within the amount au-
thorized, I of the opinion that approval
by the Secretary Of either design might
properly be. deferred and the report SUBJ
mitted to Congress with a view to further
consideration of the subject and an indica-
ton of it's wishes
In forwarding the report and General Gill
lespie's Endorsement to Congress Secretary
Root says:
"Concurring in the views expressed by
the chief of engineers in the closing para
graph of his letter, the report is submitted
for such further consideration of the SUBJ
ject Congress may be free to bestoW
and for the Indication Of it's wishes in the
premises paF- Il F.
Boards Preliminn Work.
The board of engineer officers, referred to
above, was composed Of Lieut.. Col. Charles
j. Allen, Capt. Edward Burr and Capt
Lansing H. Beach, all of the Corps of Engi-
neers. In it's report the board refers to the
legislation on the subject Of the railroad
and highway bridges across the Potomac,
and recites the steps taken by the board to
see that all interests, public and private,
were given full consideration in the mat
ter. 1t is stated that the plan of the Bal
timore and Potomac Railroad Company for
it's structure to replaceSthe present Long
bridge embraces the erection OF eleven fixed
spans and one draw span, all through
spans, and of widths as follows: Three of
40 feet 3 inches, two OF 203 feet 6 inches,
six of ZIG feet inches (alf fixed spans). and
a draw of $50 feet inch span affording
clear opening on each side Of the pivot pier
of not less than 100 feet, allowance being
made for guide sheers. The clear head
room under the span is to be q feet 6
inches above low tide, which is about II
feet inches greater than the present
bridge admits Of
The Most Suitable Line.
After full consideration of the subject the
board recommends as the most suitable
crossing Of the Virginia channel a line
about 1,190 feet above the draw span of the
existing Long bridge, or about 1,0O0 feet
above the line selected by the Baltimore
and Potomac Railroad Company for its new
bridge This bridge line and the ap-
proaches to it on both sides of the Potomac
are shown on an accompanying map.
This line is,'' the board says. excepting
at the extremities at the Washington and
Virginia. ends, sufficiently remote from the
Baltimore and Potomac railroad to remove
the disadvantage of passing and repassing
of steam railroad cars while at the same
time the distance to be traversed by heavy |
teams will not be materially, If any. greater
than the route now traversed by them be-
tween the Virginia side and the foot of |
14th street in Washington. Along lines to |
the west of that selected the distance |
would increase materially. The channel
crossing will be far enough above the Long !
bridge to admit of tugs breaking up ice |
between the bridges when necessary, and !
will also admit Of small boats crossing be- |
tween them from shore to shore, besides |
affording an opportunity for tow passing |
one draw to slacken speed If need be before |
passing the other. This crossing appears to |
be the best approximation to meeting the |
general interests involved.
The Width Necessary.
THE act of February II, 1901, authorizing |
the highway bridge provides for the cross |
ing Of it by the present Washington, Alex |
andria and Mount Vernon railway (elec-
tric). 1t also provides that all street rail- |
roads chartered or that may hereafter be |
chartered by Congress shall have the right |
to cross such bridge. The width of the |
cars of the Washington, Alexandria and |
Mount Vernon Railway Company Is eight |
feet and three inches from out to out. In |
case single track only should be provided |
for there would be required a clearance |
space on each side of the car of at least |
twelve inches in order to avoid danger OF |
collision with passing teams or their top |
loads, making total width of ten feet for |
single car. AS the act specifically provides |
that the bridge shall be for highway traf- |
&C. this requirement and the needs of |
traffic across the bridge can only be satis- |
factorily met by providing, in addition, for |
two lines of vehicles, one for each direc- !
tion. The width of ordinary lumber wagons |
Is six feet six inches. that of furniture vans
Is seven feet, &C., so that making due al |
lowance for the irregularfty tn the line Of |
traction of large wagonsdr by horses |
a width of eight feet for each line of traf- |
fic on the roadway would be the least that |
could be considered. In9dhis width of eight |
feet no consideration has been given to |
wide-top loads of vehicles! Provision must |
be made for q wheel .eaiscd sig inches wide