Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-10
NEW BRIDGE rs NEEDED
REPORT AS TO K STREET STRUC-
TURE OVER ROCK CREEK.
District Engineer Tells Of Plans for
Improvement-Floo Said to Be
in Bad Condition.

Mr. w. J. Douglass, District engineer OF
bridges, today submitted to Colonel John
Biddle, Engineer Commissioner, his annual
report for the fiscal year ended June ~,
1904. Mr.. Douglass states that all District
bridges, with the exception of the Anacostla
bridge and the K street bridge across ROCK
creek, are in reasonably good condition he
mentions that the appropriation for con-
struction and repairs to bridges is lnsum-
cient to keep the floors of existing bridges
in first-class condition, and that it is found
necessary to delay repairs to floors until
their condition is almost dangerous
Mr.. Douglass calls the attention OF the
Commissioners to the desrability of replac-
ing the wooden floors of the M street ana
p street bridges across Rock creek with
sheet asphalt. In speaking OF proposeu
bridge improvements Mr.. Douglass says;
The X street bridge. which was putt
in 1869 is structurally weak and Will not
permit of strengthening, but should De
rebuilt at once. The Importance OF tne
immediate renewal of this br1dge is ac-
centuated by the excessive vibration,
which cannot be remedied without rebuild
ing This vibration is much greater than
in any other bridge in the District OF Co
lumbia and exceeds that which might De
considered permissible for country
bridges designed to carry light vehicles.
1t is, however, used more for heavy
travel than any other bridge under my
supervision. excepting the ,o anae costa
safely be delayed. l have to ask that the
sum of SOS, 900 be appropriated for it's re-
construction.
Bridges Should Be Ornate.
IA plate girder bridge might be built
upon the old abutments for $4,000, but
am of the opinion that our city bridges
should not be built for utility alone, along
the lines of stringent economy, but should
be made reasonably ornate, consistent Win
the best modern municipal practice WITH
the exception of a few bridges IN ROCK
Creek Park, the esthetic design of our
bridges has been entirely sacrificed to the
unitarian, on account of the smallness of
the appropriations, which have made II
imperative to continue building bridges de-
void of ornamenta1on-
IF a bridge is to be built across Piney
branch. 1 am of the opinion that it should
be either a temporary one, built to accom-
modate the public travel for the next I'VE
or ten years, or a permanent one OF ar least
sixty feet in width. of concrete ana stohe'
at an estimated cost of $lO0,UOo
"a narrow concrete bridge might be bulle
for $50 600 by straining the resources OF en-
gineering and sacrificing the architectural
demands of the location. The position OF
this bridge along the line of one OF our
most important residence streets, across
beautiful valley, demands monumental
structure of the best type. - 80
"In making the recommendatlons 1or ,ne
K street and Piney branch bridges l am ac-
tuated by the belief that our bridge work
is much inferior to the other municipal i'm
provements where purely Unitarian mo-
lives do not govern the designs
Work is being continued on the constCu2-
ton of the Connecticut avenue bridge. Inc
amount of the contract with the said com
pany is $780, %. The balance on hand
for the work is $4,000.
THE Aqueduct bridge has been widened
for the purpose of crossing the bridge with
a single track at an expense of $i6,fOo TO
the Great Falls and Old Dominion Railway
Company