Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-27
new HIGHWAY u BRIDGE
= ~
Bids for It's Construction
Opened Today.
FOUR :. COMP EDITORS.
LOWEST BIDS NOT IN ACCORD
ANCE WITH SPECIFICATIONS.
Proposals Based on War Department
Plans All Over 81, 900, ooo-Ap-
preparation Only $685. 900.
FOUR \. COMP EDITORS.

Bids for the construction of the pro-
posed highway bridge across the Potomac
river were opened today at noon in the
office OF Col. Charles j. Allen OF the corps
of engineers OF the army. Congress has ap-
propriated $996. GOO for this bridge. and has
extended the time for dts completion to
February 1, 1905.
Six bids were opened. Three Of these
bids. however. were made by the Scherzer
Rolling Bridge Company Of Chicago. and
were for the construction Of a bridge not
In accordance with the specifications sub
mitted In the proposals Of the War Depart
ment in asking for the bids. The three
bids OF this company were, respectively,
$685. 900, 1886, 200 and 100000.
The Penn Bridge Company Of Beaver
Falls. Pa. offers to build the bridge in &C
cordance with. the specifications for 81
315.3OO.
Arthur McMullen Of New York submit
the bid Of the Pennsylvania Steel Company
OF Philadelphia was 81. 100000.
According to the clock In the office or
Colonel Allen, 1t was just one minute after
u o'clock when the bid Of the Pennsylvania
Steel Company was presented, minute
after the required time under the adver-
tisement. Colonel Allen said, however.
after hesitattng, that he would open this
bid and note the delay leaving the natter
of its consideration with the War Depart
ment.
It will be seen that none Of the bids made
in accordance with the specifications comes
within the appropriation. No indication
was made as to the PROBABLE acceptance of
the bids today. Each will have to be gone
over carefully by the engineer officers and
law officials Of the department before de-
cision can be reached.
Steel Truss Bridge.
The bridge, which is to be built short
distance above the Pennsylvania railroad
bridge, now in course of construction. Is to
be steel truss bridge, consisting OF eleven
fixed spans Of PIG feet each, from center
to center of piers. or 211.5 feet from center
to center Of end pins and one swing span
800 feet in length, supported by twelve piers
and two abutments Of granite and concrete
masonry, all with pile foundations.
The bridge will Have roadway forty
feet wide between curbs, with a sheet as
phalt pavement and two sidewalks, each
eight feet wide, with a granolithic pave-
ment. On the Roadway will be laid dou-
BILE track for an electric railway arranged
for an overhead trolley. On the outer side
Of each sidewalk there will be an orna-
mental iron or steel railing. The swing
span will be toperated by electric motors,
and provided with a pile and timber protec-
ton system. IS The piers supporting fixed
spans are to be eight feet wide and fifty
one feet long on top under the coping, with
batter of one In sixteen, and are 20 be
provided with cut-Waters Tor starlings)
both up and down stream.
The pivot pier wilffbe 4S feet in diameter
under the coping, the sides to be vertical.
The clear headroom uunder the bridge will
roadway win Be about 2s:5 feet above low
tide, slopfng Slightly from the center to-
ward the abutmer1ts. The first span from
the Washington end will extend over Po-
tomac Park 100 feet, in order to leave space
for a drive and walk on the shore of the
river under the bridge.
An Attractive Design. 49,.
The three bids Of the Scherzer Rolling
Bridge Company all come within the limit
of the appropriation. They are all for the
same design Of bridge. the distinguishing
feature Of which Is span over the chan
mel which lifts UP to allow the passing of
vessels, instead of a swinging span, as re-
quired in the War Department design. The
difference in the cost, as explained by Mr..
Scherzer. Is based on the height of the
bridge from the water. the design which
rests nearest the water being the most ex-
pensive. With ~the use of the highest de-
sign the bridge would not have to be raised
to allow the passing of tugs.
The design prepared by the War Depart
ment Is understood to be recommended on
account Of its conformity to the bridge
now being buiNsb by the railroad just below.
Mr. Durham of the parking commission Is
understood to have recommended that the
same design Of bridge be constructed for
the sake of architectural harmony.
Colonel Allen will begin the work of ex-
aiming the bids in detail at once, in order
that their acceptance or rejection may be
determined on without delay. The final de-
termination will be made by Secretary