Evening star., 1903-07-17
THE PLANS MODIFIED
SECRETARY WAR APPROVES DE-
SIGNS FOR BRIDGE APPROACHES.
Those Submitted for the Pennsylvania
Railway Structure Changed in
Some Particulars.

Secretary Root today approved with GER
tain notifications, the plans recently SUD-
mitted by the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany for the Washington approaches to the
bridge that company Is building across the
Potomac river just above the Long bridge.
These plans have been examined by Col.
Mackenzie. acting chief of engineers; Col
Allen, the officer in charge Of the improve
ment OF the Potomac river. and Col. Sy-
MONS the officers In charge of public build
ings and grounds. Col Mackenzie. in re-
turning the plans to the Secretary OF War,
invites attention to the reports Of the
other two officers named and says:
''Regardng the temporary location OF the
public road to be used during construction
until the government highway bridge IS
built neither officer offers any objection to
the plans presented. except that Col. Allen
is Of opinion that the maximum grade of
this road should be per cent. on account
Of the heavily loaded wagons that will
make use of the road. l concur In the
views of Col. Allen. and recommend that
the company be informed that there is no
objection on the part OF the War Depart
ment to the construction Of the temporary
road. provided 1t be given a maximum
grade of per cent.
No Objection to Urge.
Regarding the approach to the bridge.
ton to the approval Of the plans OF the
company Colonel Symons, however, hay
ing In view the future use. development and
Identification OF Potomac Park. finds the
proposed permanent enbankment objection
able for the reason that the undcrgrade
bridges are not located In the proper places
and are not of sufficient width.
He states that the undergrade bridge at
the southern main river end of the en-
Eankment Is satisfactorily located and has
a proper and sufficient width. but that the
northern or undergrade bridge near the
WASHINGTON channel should be located so
that its center will be about 400 feet from
the Washington channel bridge. and that
l. should have width of 100 feet. which
might II desired by the railroad company.
be made in two panels with central
support. He further states that there
should be a center opening through the en-
bankment about half way between the
northern and southern undergrade bridges.
and that for thin location clear width of
sixty feet will be sufficient. The location
and width OF the undergrade bridges recon-
mended by Colonel Symons are intended to
replace the two forty-foot undergrade
bridges proposed by the railroad company.
Conformity With Park System.
Col SymonS recommends in view Of this
embankment and these undergrade bridges
in connection with the park system that
these paSSageways through the embank-
ment and undergrade bridges be carefully
designed so as to be pleasing In appearance
and suitably ornamental in character and
that before the plans Of the emba nkment
are finally approved the company be re-
quired to submit detailed plans of the work
in connection Herewith with cross sections
of the structure. The views and recon-
mendations Of Col. Symons are practically
In accord with the general views expressed
by his predecessor. Col. Bingham, and are
concurred in by me-
Secretary Roots action is shown in let
ter addressed to Mr. Cassatt, president Of
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, in
which he says:
Replying to your letter Of the 25th ulti-
mo submitting blue prints of plans for
the approach to the new bridge across the
Potomac and also proposed temporary To-
cation OF the public road to connect with
the present bridge until the government
highway bridge is completed. 1 would re-
spectfully invite attention to the report Of
acting chief Of engineers. It will be seen
that the plans OF the company are ap-
proved by the engineer authorities with
certain notifications as to the location,
width and character OF the undergrade
bridges through the embankment and upon
the condition that the maximum grade of
the public road be two per cent. As modi-
fled in the manner indicated the plans are
approved by the department"