Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-01
THE MEMORIAL BRIDGE
Secretary Root Approves Bill
for It's Construction.
REPORT TO CONGRESS
PROMINENT MEN HEARTILY IN
DoRsE THE PROJECT.
History of the Movement, With Views
of President Mckinley and
Many Others.
REPORT TO CONGRESS


port on the proposition for the construc-
ton of memorial bridge across the Poto-
mac, as contained in House bill 1865. The
bill was recently introduced by Representa-
tive Rixey of Virginia, and provides for
memorial bridge across the Potomac from
Washington to Arlington. The bill was
submitted to the Secretary for his consid-
Grafton by the House committee on inter-
state and foreign commerce, to which 1t
had been referred.
In his letter to the committee Secretary
Root invites attention to the history of
the memorial bridge project compiled by
Mr.. John c. Scofield, chief clerk of the War
Department. and contained in House doc
ument 556 Fifty-seventh Congress, first
sion, and also to the report of the board
of engineer officers and architects appoint
ed in 1899 to consider designs for the
bridge whose views says the Secretary,
'as expressed in its report, were concurred
In by the chief of engineers and approved
by the War Department. ! heartily COM
mend the pending bill to the favorable con-
sideration of Congress-
The question of a suitable bridge across
the Potomac from Washington to Airing
ton has been discussed more or less actively
since 1885. In May. 1886, the Senate passed
resolution directing the Secretary of War
to report upon the eXpediency of construct
ing government bridge between the two
points named. In response plans were SUBJ
mitted by the chief of engineers for
drawbridge, costing from 100000 to $780,
wv, and for memorial high bridge, to cost
ABOUT 100000 or 81 900, coo.
Gen. Newton, chief of engineers, express
ed the opinion that the high bridge did not
appear to allow sufficient head room, and
IN February. 1890 the Senate passed reso-
luton directing the Secretary of War to
report the most suitable kind of a bridge
to connect with the Arlington cemetery
which would not interfere with the naviga-
ton of the river. In response to that reso-
luton Gen. Newton submitted designs for
suspension bridge. with clear height
above the water of 106 feet at mid-cha mel.
This bridge was TO be nearly mule in
length and was to cross the Potomac at
OF near the old naval observatory. The
estimated cost was So. 100000.
In December. 1891, q bill introduced IN
the Senate directed the Secretary of War
to construct an iron bridge from the naval
observatory grounds to the Arlington reser-
walton. This bill was referred to the Sec
rotary of War and by him referred to the
chief of engineers, who recommended
bridge similar to the one first above men
toned. at an estimated cost of 100000.
Bill introduced in December, 1895.
The matter came up in Congress sabse-
quently in various shapes at different per-
iods In December, 1895. a bill was intro
duced in the Senate providing for the con-
struction of memorial bridge None of
the foregoing bills became law.
With two exceptions the designs consider
eu pTlOr 10 1871 were IOr Ordinary tfaIuc
bridges-that is, bridges not of q memorial
Characteristic superstructures of all the
bridges considered, however, to be of iron
or steel. the proposed widths of roadwaya
10 range from twenty-four to forty feet,
and the widths proposed for sidewalks each
hanging from eight to ten feet. The acts
or bills under which the designs were con-
sidered generally contained provisions IN
the interest OF navigation Of the river.
First Appropriation.
The sundry civil act of Congress of March
3, 1899, appropriated the sum Of 5000 for
memorial bridge. but did not fix any limit
OF cost or provide for Its use by electric or
other tram cars. Under the provision of
that act a board of engineer officers and
architects Of which Lieut.. Col. c. ]. Allen
was president considered competitive de-
signs submitted by four prominent and ex
perienced bridge engineers and designers.
The board expressed the opinion that the
design submitted by Mr.. William H. Burr
was first in the order of merit and should
be adopted subject to certain notifications.
The estimated cost of Mr.. Burrs structure,
originally designed, was $3,6S0,672 and
the notifications suggested by the board
brought the total cost up to 81 S6000 The
notifications related to width. slope of
roadway, curve OF underside of draw, tow
ers, provisions for tram cars. elevation OF
initial point. etc. The views of the board
were approved by the chief of engineers and
the Secretary of War and all the papers in
the case were transmitted 10 the speaker
of the House of Representatives in April
1900 Nothing had been done since that day
TO put the project into execution up to the
time of the introduction of the Rixey bill
last month.
Regarding the appropriateness of the pro-
posed memorial bridge, Secretary Root calls
attention to extracts from the message Of
President Mckinley and the reports of sue
cessive secretaries of war.
The annual report of Secretary Lamont
1893, states:
1.-The need of increased transportation IA
eiities between the seat of government and
the Virginia shore has long been recognized,
but has not been met Another bridge
across the Potomac from Washington to
Potomac Heights is required for the ordi-
nary purpose of travel and commerce. to
render speedily accessible the principal mil
itary post of the capital. Fort Myer and
above all a convenient and suitable ap-
proach from the city to the national ceme-
terry at Arlington.
while serving purposes of utility and
conceded necessity, such structure would
be or memorial character. betting the
beautiful and sacred grounds to which IL
would lead. and in ultimate decoration SYM
bolizing valor. devotion to conviction, self
sacrifice. and all the marked qualities of
the nation displayed in strong lights and
shadows on both sides of the Potomac.
Nature and man have joined to create here
the surroundings to make such a memorial
structure unique and impressive. Seldom
is conceded commercial necessity so re-
tEforced by considerations of pa trotism and
reverence in support of desirable public
improvement"
Recommendation Renewed
Secre tary Lamont in 1894 reported:
II renew the recommendation for I'M
proved transportation facilities between the
seat of government and the Virginia shore
and for the construction of a memorial
bridge to render speedily accessible the
principal military post of the capital. Fort
Myer, and to furnish BETTING approach Il
the national cemetery at Arlington. The
need OF such a bridge to Potomac Heights
grows more imperative each year and the
surroundings suggest that il should be sc
designed as to become one of the permanent
memorial structures of the capital His
torical associations and natural beauty Civ.
the cite unsurpassed value for such a pur.
pose
In tia annual report of Secretary Lamont
1896, h states:
improved means OF communication be,
tween Washington and the Virginia shore
must very soon be provided. Another bridge
ie not only a conceded necessity to the pop.
nlatioB of both sides of the Potomac and a:
an approach to the national cemetery at Ar