Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-10
SUGGESTS NEW BRIDGE
Rock Greek Crossing Causes
Complication.
REMovALoESfR G ) !;
ENGINEER DOUGLASS MAKES
RECOMMENDATION TODAY. =
Another Phase of the Problem Brought
Sup Before the District ggs
2saaa Commissioners. ass

The problem now before the District Com I
missioners of providing a bridge across
Rock creek at Q street for the temporary
connection of the northern parts of George
town and Washington seems to be develop
ing into a rather complicated question. The
situation yesterday appeared to- be favor
able to the proposition to remove the old
John w. Thompson bridge from its present
location to Q street, although Engineer OF
Bridges w. J. Douglass, in his report on
the matter indicated that he did not look
/ fayorably upon the project. I've
Late yesterday afternoon Engineer Com
missioner Bidde directed Mr. Douglass to
furnish him with an estimate as to the cost
of removing to Q street the bridge which
spans Rock creek the line of Woodley
lane, in the vicinity of the new Connections
Avenue bridge. In reporting on this propo-
s!tion today Engineer Douglass estimates
that the removal of the WoOdley lane
bridge to Q street, and its re-erection at
that point would cost about $4,000, or
SO 900 more than the removal and erection
of the Thompson bridge would probably
cost.
Mr.. Douglass however, while reporting
that the Woodley Lane bridge would be suf-
fciently strong to accommodate traffic at
Q street says the bridge could not be re-
moved until about the LIST of July, 1907,
when the new Connecticut Avenue bridge
will probably be ready for use.
In view of the cost of removing either of
the bridges under consideration and re-
erecting it at Q street, and. also, in view
of the delay involved in securing the Wood
ley Lane bridge, Mr.. Douglass made new
| suggestion, that the District construct at
Q street an entirely new bridge simple IN
design and construction, at an estimated
| cost of So, 600, which he thinks would last
| for ten years.
| Mr. C. B. Hunt, engineer of highways.
| does not approve of the propostion-te build
| a new bridge, and his position on the mat
| ter is sustained by Capt. Jay j. MORROW.
| Mr.. Hunt is also opposed to removing the
| Woodley lane structure at present.
MI. Douglass Opinion.
| In reporting on the Woodley Lane bridge
Mr.. Douglass says it is sufficiently strong
! to accommodate travel on the line of q
| street. and that the cost of dismantllng and
| re-erecting it at Q street would be about
| $4,000 Il have to cali your attention to
| the fact" says Mr.. Douglass, that it has
been contemplated by the engineer depart
| ment to remove the Woodley Lane bridge
| when the new Connecticut avenue viaduct
| is opened for travel, about July l, 1907. L
| do not believe in equity to the District
! Construction Company, contractors for the
| construction of the Connecticut Avenue
! bridge that the District should remove the
| Woodley Lane bridge prior to the expira-
| ton of the companys contract, January L.
| 1907. The contract with this company pro-
| yides that the Woodley Lane bridge small
| be maintained until the expiration of this
| contract. 1 have been verbally advised by
| the contractors that they will file a claim
| for 5000 damages should the District re.
| move the bridge prior TO the epiratlon Oh
| their contract with the District.
"a new bridge, having a roadway OF
| twenty-four feet and two siX-foot side
| walks, foored with three-inch plank anq
| sufficiently strong to carry all the travel
| which might be reasonably expected to
| cross a bridge at Q street within ten years,
/ may be built for $4,000. This would be
/ the common deck, Pratt truss style of
| bridge, supported by trestle bents, which
| is very unsightly. anG which, in my Judg-
| ment should not be erected in the Dis
| trict excepting for temporary purposes !
Not Sufficiently Urgent.
| Engineer Hunt says that in view of all
| the circumstances the construction of the
! new bridge suggested is not recommended
| THE conditions he says, ARE not con-
! sidered to be sufficiently urgent to justify
| the additional expenditure which would
! certainly be involved in the present re-
| moval of the Woodley road bridge and its
| re-erection on the Ane of Q street, and
| by the LIST of July, 1907, at which date this
| bridge will be available, circumstances
| may have so developed as to more clearly
define the best procedure" Mr.. Hunt sug-
gests that action in the matter be post
| poned
| Another point which has been raised in
! connection with the proposition to bridge
| Rock creek at Q street and point which
| perhaps will require further consideration
| of the project by the Commissioners. is the
cost of the land necessary to condemn and
| purchase in order that proper access may
| be gained to the proposed street bridge
| Assistant Engineer E. M. Tacott today
| furnished Commissioner Biddle with a
statement on this point. estimating that the
| n
| about $50, 490
Do Not Coincide.
Mr.. Talcott mentions that the streets of
| Georgetown and the streets of the same
| name in Washington do not exactly coin
eide as to position. ION account of the
difference of the position of Q street in the
| CITY," says Mr. Talcott, land OF that por-
ton in Georgetown it would seem to be
the most feasible plan to extend Q street
from the city side, west as far as the line
of 18th street extended north, and utilize
the line of 18th street in a southerly di-
recton until il is intersected by the line