Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-11
THE HIGHWAY BRIDGE
SPECIAL REPORT MADE By Col.
8. s. LEACH.

Col. Smith 8. Leach. Corps of Engineers.
has made special report to Gen. Macken-
gle, chief of engineers In regard to the
construction of the highway bridge across
the Potomac. He says that at the be-
ginning of the fiscal year the pile driving
OF five piers and one abutment had been
completed, the tofferdams of three piers
were in place and a small amount of earth
had been deposited In the Washington APP
proach embankment. Delays were ex-
perienced throughout the season. he says.
by reason of the tardy arrival of materials
for the substructure. but the work was car
ried forward steadily until January last.
when difficulties presented by the ice-bound
condition of the river made II impossible to
continue at that time. The two abutments
and seven of the twelve piers had been then
completed and some work on the pilinS
and cofferdams of several others started.
Work on the superstructure had mean
while been commenced In September. 1904.
and was continued as rapidly as progress
on the piers would permit UNTIL when the
temporary winter suspension occurred. SIX
spans had been assembled in place, swung
clear of the false work. and were in vary
ing degrees of completion as to riveting.
About two-thirds of the Washington APP
proach embankment had also been COM
pleted. About the middle of March last
work was resumed on the substructure, and
the remaining piers pushed rapidly to COM
pletion. the stonework of the last one being
finished in the latter part of May.
Progress on Steel.
Colonel Leach says that the erection of
steel was resumed in the early part of
May last and that excellent progress was
being made on it when the work was in
terrupted by general strike among the
bridgemen early in June This difficulty"
oofd I shat no
and their employees had not been adj
1usted up to the end of the fiscal year
Uune 3O). and no work was done on the
erection of steel during the last half of
the month. At the present time nine Of the
eleven fixed spans of the superstructure
are assembled in place and swung clear OF
the false work, of which five are practically
riveted up complete. None OF the Side
walk railing or roadway or sidewalk paw
ing is yet in place. but work on all OF them
Is ready to commence. The approach en-
bankment on the Washington side. COM
menaced in the fall of 1904, was built up
gradually. mainly from building excava-
tions in the vicinity. and was completed
in the early part of June.
"A contract was made in April, 1903. for
the construction of the earth embankment
for the Virginia approach. and work on the
same was commenced early in June. Good
progress has been made on 1t, II being
about % per cent completed at the end OF
the month. with good prospect for Its en-
tire completion by about the LIST of Septem-
Der. Unless unreasonably delayed by strikes
or other contingencies. now unforeseen. IL
is expected that the main bridge and tenn
porary paving of the approaches Will be
completed in the early fall of 1905 and
opened to traffic. Work has not yet been
commenced on the short bridge crossing the
head of Washington channel. the compile
ton of which, and the permanent paving
of both approaches. will not be possible be-
fore next season.
In an accompanying financial statement
~ -. 1,pt fhn nj
for the building of the bridge and APP
proaches is ST. 16S. 236. A. and that the total
amount expended on the work during the
past fiscal year was $685., O32.12 leaving an
unexpended balance July of S543, 20432.
The amount covered by uncompleted con-
tracts. is 1851 640 leaving balance OF
SOTO 719 80