Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-09
RESTS WITH CONGRESS
Estimate for Increase in High
way Bridge Fund.
FOR THE APPROACHES
DESIRE FOR HARMONY WITH PO-
TOMAC PARK PLANS.
Two Bids Made, One Calling for As
FOR THE APPROACHES
Two Bids Made, One Calling for As
phalt Paving Of Roadway-Gen.
Mackenzie's Comment.

All persons interested in the improvement
and development of Potomac Park hope for
the favorable action Of Congress on the APP
plication of the Secretary of War for an
increase in the appropriation for the con-
struction of the Highway bridge across the
Potomac. just above the site of the dilapi-
dated old Long bridge The increase is
needed for the construction of suitable ap-
proaches to the bridge to harmonize with
the project for the Improvement of Potomac
Park, upon which they are located
In January last the War Department
awarded a contract to the Pennsylvania
Steel Company for the construction of the
bridge proper, al it's bid of $3.50 200 for a
bridge with roadway of wood, and $914, 200
for bridge with a roadway of asphalt.
The question as to the kind of roadway was
left open for later decision by the depart
ment The original law required that the
bridge should have suitable approaches. and
that question was thoroughly considered by
a board of engineers, consisting of Colonel
T. w. Symons, Lieutenant Colonel A. M.
Miller and Major John Bddle. After care
fully investigating every phase of the mat
ter, the board decided upon the plan, loca-
ton and elevation of the approaches, and
estimated the total cost of the same at
$4,000. of which $121.O30 for the
Washington approach and the remainder
Tor the Virginia approach.
Gen. Mackenzie Approves.
General Mackenzie. chief of engineers,
transmitted the report of the board to the
Secretary of War with his approval. 1T is
believed" says General Mackenzie that in
devising the plans the board has been ac-
tuated by motives of economy. and that the
estimate is as low will suffice for the
construction of suitable approaches. Should
1t be decided to construct the bridge proper
n g ,ho1t Hno Nd 40
walks, there will be only about $40 900 of
the appropriations heretofore made by Con-
gress amounting to S996,OOO) available to-
ward the construction of these approaches,
and thus additional appropriation of
100000 becomes necessary"
Supplemental estimates aggregating $780,
900 are submitted to cover the cost of the
approaches. In regard to them General
Mackenzie says:
When the great advance in prices of con-
struction material and in the cost of labor
during the past three years is considered
the excess in cost of the structure over the
estimate originally submitted will be readi-
~ understood"
The Approach on Washington Side.
The location for the approach on the
Washington side recommended by the
board Is thus described: Starting at the
junction of 14th and Water streets, it pro-
ceeds parallel with the PENNSYLVANIA rail-
road, crossing the tidal reservoir outlet be-
tween the Pennsylvania railroad bridge and
the reservoir gates; it follows along parallel
with and short distance from the Penn
sylvania railroad embankment to a point
about two-thirds of the way between the
reservoir outlet and the river. where it
bends to the westward and by a reverse
curve reaches the end of the bridge proper
This location across Potomac Park is
recommended says the board because it
is for all practical road purposes equally as
good as any other location. and, on the
other hand. does the least damage to the
very choice and attractive portion of Po-
tomac Park lying between the Pennsylvania
railroad embankment and the tidal reser-
voir basin. The proposed location prac-
tically unites the highway with the rail-
road embankment for about two-thirds of
the way across the park and on leaving the
railroad embankment divides the park
area into two parts of good shape and
size for the future park improvement This
particular portion of land lying between
the Pennsylvania railroad embankment and
the tidal basin Is esteemed very highly for
park purposes on account OF It's accesslblll-
ty by steam cars. trolley cars and to people
in carriages and on foot. 1t will be one of
the most accessible parts of the great park
system of the future, and if properly util-
lied, one of the most Deautl1ul, uSeIul ana
1.-The approach on the Washington side
may be considered starting at the lower
end of 14th street, at the Junction or l4tn
and Water streets and Maryland avenue
At this point the roadway has an elevation
of eleven feet above city datum, or thirteen
feet above War Department datum, In Or
der to permit of a connection with water
street. From this point the approach Will
be carried on a low earth embankment,
practically level, to the Washington chan
nel which will be crossed between the tidal
reservoir outlet gates and the present rail-
road bridge by steel girder bridge with
granite abutmentS and center pier, the
roadway of which bridge would have an
elevation of thirteen feet above War De-
partment datum.
One Per Cent Grade.
From the bridge the approach will con-
tinue on an earth embankment, descend
| ing by a 1 per cent grade down to an eleya-
ton of eleven feet above War Department
datum, at the under grade crossing of the
Pennsylvania railroad embankment. At
this elevation of eleven feet the highway
embankment approach will be carried paral-
lei with the railroad embankment for about
two-thirds of the width of Potomac Park
then by an easy reverse curve to the portal
of the main bridge.
1.-The bridge roadway at the portal has an
elevation of practically twenty-five feet.
and adjacent TO the bridge portal the en-
bankment approach will rise on a per
cent grade the fourteen feet required. The
side slopes of the embankment will be of
easy pitch and sodded and planted In a
suitable manner.
"a space of about twenty feet will be
left between the wall at the foot of the
railway embankment and the foot of the
highway embankment, and in this space
trees and shrubbery will be planted, which
will be ornamental and furnish a screen be-
tween the railroad and the highway. An as
phalt roadway forty feet in width and two
granolithic sidewalks each eight feet wide,
to be carried the entire length of the Wash
ington approach. are provided. The electric
railroad TO be laid along the embankment
will be paid for by the railroad company.
1.-The Virginia approach Will be carried on
an annh m x emf c yy1ila To he
across the park. with the same width of
roadway, but with limiting grade of IL