Evening star., 1902-01-04
Will Be More Ornamental Than
Was Contemplated.
PROMISE BYI PfssDEHr cisslr
Will Co-Operaa With the Park
Commission.
COL. BINGHAM'S REPORT

bridge across the Potomac near the site OF
the old Long bridge more ornamental in
appearance than was contemplated in the
original plans for the structure. secretary
Root has had several informal talks with
Mr.. Cassatt, president of the railroad COM
pany, in regard to the matter. and MT
Cassatt has practically promised to bund
a bridge that will be an ornament to the
locality and in harmony with the general
scheme Of park development in the Dis
trict. IF which Potomac Park, crossed by
the railroad, is an important feature.
In approving the plans for the bridge
submitted by the railroad company Secre-
tary Root expressly reserved action on the
plans of the approaches for the structure,
and the matter Of approaches IS still
subject of correspondence between the War
Department and the railroad company SO
far as known, the railroad company has
not actually supplemented its original plans
for the bridge and approaches, and 1t IS
said that the company has not committed
itself In any way in writing In the mat
ter. President Cassatt has, however. as al
ready stated, personally assured Secretary
Root that the railroad company would CO.
operate with the government in the project
of making the railroad bridge across the
Potomac worthy of the national capital in
appearance and in every other respect.
Approaches to the Bridges.
charge of public buildings and grounds. has
contributed an interesting paper in regard
to the character of the approaches to the
railroad bridge as well as the approaches
to the proposed highway bridge, which
bridges are to cross Potomac Park within
about 800 feet of each other. His views on
the subject are contained in a report just
submitted to the Secretary of War in re-
sponse to request for remarks as to the
on the proposed improvement of Potomac
Park. Col. Binghams report. which is ac-
companied by illustrated sketches, is in
part follows:
"By act approved February IL, 1901 pro-
vision is maue for the reconstruction Of the
present Long bridge across the Potomac
river, and it's division into two bridges 800
feet apart, one for railroads, the other for
vehicles; the plans, etc, to be approved by
the Secretary Of War.
''The approach from Washington city to
the old and the proposed new bridges lies
across POtomacnPark:, On this account the
proposed bridge plans have been referred
to the officer in charge of public buildings
and grounds WHO is also in charge of parks
in Washington city. for report in regard to
character of these bridge approaches as
bearing upon thesfutdre development of Po-
tomac Park. Potomac Park is the property
Of the United States, resulting from the
filling up Of the Potomac flats. which fill
ing was done by Congress, not only for
the improvement of navigation in the Po-
tomac river, but also to remove wide
spread area of unheaithfuIness lying close
to the capital CITY, and at cost of several
millions.
Potomac Park Created.
''By act approved March 3, 1897, Congress
provided that The entire area formerly
known as the Potomac flats, and now being
reclaimed, togethe: with the tidal reser-
voirs, be and sthe same are hereby made
and declared public park. under the name
Of the Potomac Park. and to be forever
held and used as park for the recreation
and pleasure of the people,
The approach to the present Long bridge
is an earthen embankment across one part
of the Potomac Park, and the law provides
that the approach to the new railroad bridge
shall be partly on this line. Since, how
ever, the new wagon bridge is to be dis
tinct from the new railroad bridge, and at
least 800 feet north of it, it follows that
this new wagon bridge must have as an
approach another embankment across Poto-
mac Park.
"In considering how to balance the re-
spective necessities Of approaches for these
two bridges and the future use Of the Po-
tomac flats as park, 1t Is necessary to
decide at this point in the proceedings upon
certain salient features of park develop
ment, so that these bridge constructions
solutely ruin and preclude the possibilities
of the use of the reclaimed fats as a park
as intended by Congress.
This Office has given considerable study
to the subject Of the park development Of
Potomac Park, and as a result of study
and consideration Of the usual requirements
of metropolitan park, due regard having
also been given to the requests and desires
Of members Of Congress and local citizens
having certain specialties, has produced an
approximate plan for the future develop
ment of Potomac Park. This plan is a
preliminary study only and does not pro-
fess to be complete in detail. but 1t Is be-
lieved that it is founded upon one Of two
guiding principles which should be def
nitely. adopted by the War Department
and, If possible, by Congress, so that all
future schemes for commercial DEVELOPMENT
Of this capital Of the nation shall be COM
PEELED to adapt themselves to these guiding
the entire nation in the Identification of
their national capital may not be invaded
by purely local commercial schemes.
Three Features of the Plan.
"a copy Of the park study above referred
to Is transmitted herewith. 1t viii be OBJ
served that the first great object aimed at
is to obtain riverside drive or boulevard
around the entire park. This boulevard
provides first for a sidewalk at the outer
edge, then for fifty-foot carriage road
then for path for horseback riding, and
then for a bicycle path.
1.-The second point very greatly in demand
in this city is a speedway, which has been
provided for by a straight road, one mile
long, inside the main boulevard and some
what retired.
THE third point has been to provide spe-
cial grounds for games of various kinds.
Now, If these salient features of deyel
opment be adopted by the government for
the future Potomac Park, changes are At
once necessitated In the proposed approach
es to the railroad bridge. A glance at the
general map of the proposed park will show
that passages under the railroad embank
ment should be provided at Its shore ends.
and these passages must be Of sufficient size
to accommodate g. the four parts of the pro-
posed river boulevard. Moreover. they
should be reasonably ornamental I'm char |
acter The idea of what should be pro-
vided may be obtained from sketch No. 8.
in comparison with which attention is
called to what are the commonest kind of
forty foot culvefts. now proposed by the
drawings of thesrailroad company.
Col. BinKham's Recommendations.
..It is, therefore. recommended in the in
terest of the United States that the presen,
plans of the railroad company for the re-
construction of,5the approaches to Long
bridge be not approved. and that the COM
pany be required to submit plans, which
provide for changes in Its embankment
across Potomac Park, which will approxi-