Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-19
HEEDS THE APPEAL
DATE OF DEMOLITION OF LONG
BRIDGE POSTPONED.
| Manufacturers and Others Petition the
War Department-The High
way Bridge.

At the earnest request of the brick manu-
facturers of Alexandria county, Virginia.
the War Department has consented to defer
the demolition of the old Long bridge across
the Potomac until next summer. This de-
termination Is the result of correspondence
between the merchants In question and the
engineer officers of the army In connection
with the expected early completion of the
Potomac Highway bridge.
Several weeks ago Gen. Mackenzie, chief
of engineers, received an appeal on behalf
of the brick manufacturers OF Alexandria
county for the retention of the old Long
bridge until the approaches on the north
and south sides of the Potomac Highway
bridge have been constructed and thor
oughly tested as to their ability to bear the
heavy traffic which must pass over them
when the Long bridge is no more. 1t was
represented by the manufacturers that II
the new approaches should give out, with
tine Long bridge closed, their product would
be excluded from the market In the District
of Columbia and the District would be de-
prived of at least 80 per cent of its pres
ent brick supply.
1t is explained that a macadam pavement
Is being laid on the approaches to the new
Highway bridge. and that the experience OF
the brick manufacturers with similar
pavement on the approaches to the old
Long bridge demonstrated its inability to
stand the traffic of the heavy brick wagons
and necessitated the substitution, of a gram
lite block pavement for that traffic.
The communication was referred to Lieut..
Col. Hoxie, the engineer officer in charge
Of the Improvement Of the Potomac river,
for consideration and report. Il think, re-
ported Col. HoXie a few days ago. 1T more
than probable that the macadam pavement
upon the approaches to the new Highway
bridge would be unsatisfactory for the
heavy traffic to which it would be subjected
before the e:nbankments have become thor
oughly consolidated. The conditions, how
ever, are somewhat more favorable than
upon the approaches to the Long bridge,
where the roadway is not properly drained.
For that reason l favor the retention of the
Long bridge, If practicable, until next sum-
mer, when a granite pavement can be laid
over the macadam.
I'm retaining the Long bridge through
another winter there is, of course, an
other year added to it's life as an OBJ
struction and as a cause of ice-gorge, but
/ do not think that sufficient reason for
disseminating it's use at this 1uncture.
There is, however, further conSldera-
ton in this matter, of the draw span
through the Long bridge. 1t is under
stood that the Philadelphia, Baltimore
and Washington railroad now receives
from the Washington, Alexandra ana
Mount Vernon railroad consideration
for the use of the bridge and the opera
ton of the draw. When the latter road
l., removed to the Highway bridge there
will be no reason for the maintenance
and operation of the draw by the Phila-
delphia, Baltimore and Washington rail-
road, and some other disposition will
have to be made.
The brick manufacturers have been
notified that the War Department Will
suspend action in the matter of the re-
moval of the Long bridge for the pres
emit in accordance with the recommends
ton of Col. Hoxie.