Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-01-16
BRIDGE AND AVENUE.

BRUCE AND Af EN UE.
The Senate District committee hss
received the report of the commission
appointed to prepare plans for the de-
velopmeut OF the park system of the
District OF Columbia. The various
parks of the District are referred to and
the plans also indicate desirable Jcca-
tions for public buildings to be erected
for the future wants OF the government.
Treating of the Memorial Bridge, at.
ter quoting from Webster's speech at
the Capitol on July 4, 1851, the report
states:
''Io the forty years that have elapsed
since that Inference be idea Of monu-
mental bridge across the Potomac has
not been forgotten, and today there is
strong and widespread feeling that q
monument to American valor-to uss
President McKinley's apt phrase
should connect the capital with the
CITY Of the netion's dead.
"Iu 1899 Congress made an sppro-
priatioD 10 secure plans for memorial
DIIukt, huu lut W
der the direction of the War Depart
ment, were submitted TO Congress but
up to the present time no appropriation
has been made to build bridge.
"The commission recommends that
when an appropriation comes to be
made the location should be changed so
as to begin the Washington approach
at the Lincoln memorial side, and that
the direction OF the bridge should be
straight line to the Arlington mansion.
I he extreme width of the space acfos d
which the bridge is TO he COT struo'ed
and the comparatively lat topography
would seem to make a nigh bridge To-
appropriate, end unless the cleorancs
is ut least eighty feet the bridge must
b We draw, since TO smut fl the bar
L or OF GEORGETOWN would appear TO be
inadvisable. The construction of 81
draw precludes the idea OF bridge Of
masonry, which is the highest type OF a
monumental structure. A continuous
steel bridge, resting on stone piers,
would be much more digUified Than a
bridge composed in part OF arches and
in part of draws, which would seem TO
cut the bridge into two portions in mic
chapnel. Il is better TO meet the
exigencies OF the problem in an entirely
frank manner, and TO accept inexorable
conditions, rather than attempt Disguise
or subterfuge. II a bridge entirely Of
masonry arches could be constructed,
then the commission unhesitatiDgly
would approve such desigD, but
sinos that cOusummation is beyond
res ch, then architectural oandor d.
mands stee bridge on masonry piers.
The monumental portion o. the bridge
should reach from the Washington
bank to AnalOstsn Island, where o
great concourse to carry some great
design in sculpture should be COT
structed. From the island TO the Viz
ginis shore the bridge may be more
simple 10 treatment"
Lastly the commission has consider
ed the deslrsbility of 9 road connecting
Mount Vernon with the capital. II
says:
"Although such a road would lie
wholly beyond the limits of the Die
trict, its Importance rs supplementiCg
the park system OF Washington requires
that we should mention it aud sgaio
urge upon Congress lis great value. II
it were desirable merely on account OF
the historic associations with Mount
Vernon we might hesitate to refer to i
10 this connection, hut as matter oi
fact it would present such series OF
beautiful views OF the broad portion o.
The Potomac Valley ss would give II a
priceless recre alive value for the future
population OF Il Q District 10 addition to
lts sentimental value as ilukiog the
nation's capital with the. home Of lis
founder