Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-26
Endorses the Memorial Bridge
Project.
MATTER IN CONGRESS
WILL INDICATE HIS APPROVAL
OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
History of the Efforts of the Past
Twenty Years to Span the River
With Monumental Structure.

Secretary Taft has given his earnest
approval of the project for the construc-
ton of a memorial bridge across the Po
tomac from the old naval observatory
grounds near the foot of New York
avenue to the government reservation
containing the national cemetery at Ar
lington and Fort Myer, Va. Representa-
tive Rixey of Virginia has introduced
bill at this session of Congress appropri-
ating S5OO0,0oO for the construction of
the bridge and a similar bill has been
introduced in the Senate
These measures have been referred to
the War Department for consideration
and report. and Secretary Taft has indi-
Gated that he will make a favorable re-
port on the project.
Question Twenty Years Old.
The question of suitable bridge across
the Potomac from Washington to Arlington
has been under favorable discussion more
less since 1885. In May, 1885, the Senate
adopted a resolution directing the Secre-
tary of War to report upon the expediency
OF the construction of such a bridge. In
response to that resolution the chief of en-
gineers Of the army submitted plans for a
draw bridge that would cost from $500, 900
" SoIpSuy' anu iOI Il llISn pliuStp HtIHOI
In It's conception, to cost about S1,5OOO00,
and designed to be a link in a wide travel
way from the Capitol to the National GENE
terry and government estate at Arlington.
That bridge was to be of sufficient height
above the river not to interfere with navi-
cation, and was to be monumental In its
character
In February, 1890, the Senate adopted a
resolution directing the Secretary of War
to report to the Senate the most suitable
kind of bridge across the Potomac to Ar
lington, which will not interfere with the
navigation of said river" With a view to
meeting the objections to a drawbridge,
and at the same time to bring the cost of
the bridge without draw within reason
able limits, the chief OF engineers submitted
designs for a suspension bridge with clear
height above the water OF 1U5 feet at mid
channel. That bridge was to be NEARLY
mile in length, and was to cross the river
at or near the naval observatory. The es-
umated cost S3,GD,Eo,
bill introduced in the Senate in Decem-
Der 1891. made provision for iron bridge
from the naval observatory to the Airing
ton estate, and appropriated $4,000 for the
purpose. In response to resolution OF the
Senate committee public buildings and
grounds in April, 1892. the chief of engfn-
GERS reported that more desirable point
than the naval observatory grounds could
be secured for the Washington end of the
proposed bridge to Arlington and recon-
meuded bridge similar to the one pre-
cations which reduced the estimated cost
10 about 100000. A bill was introduced in
the Fifty-second Congress. first session. APP
propria ling 100000 for the purpose of Sc
curing designs and TO commence the con-
struction of memorial bridge.
In January 1895. a bill was introduced
in the Senate authorizing the construction
of a bridge between the naval observatory
grounds and the Arlington estate. at a cost
rot to exceed 100000, and appropriating
100000 for the purpose of securing designs.
A bill practically identical with the one
last mentioned. except that 1t provided for
the construction Of "a memorial bridge
was introduced in the Senate December B.
1895 None OF the foregoing bills became
law.
The Designs Considered.
With two exceptions the designs consider
ed prior To 1897 were for ordinary traffic
brldges-that is, bridges not of a memorial
characteristic superstructures of all the
bridges considered. however. to be of iron
or steel. the proposed width of roadways to
range from twenty-four to forty feet and
the widths proposed for sidewalks ranging
from eight TO ten feet in each case.
The sundry civil act of Congress ap-
proved March 3, 1899, appropriated $1,000
ito enable the chief of engineers of the
army to continue the examination of the
subject and to make or secure designs,
calcula tons and estimates for a memorial
bridge from the most convenient point of
the naval observatory grounds, or adjacent
thereto. across the Potomac river to the
most convenient point Of the Arlington es-
tate property The act did not fix any
limit OF cost nor did ii indicate whether
or not electric or other tram cars should
be allowed on the bridge.
Under that act the Secretary of War ap-
pointed a board of officers of the corps of
engineers and architects ito consider and
report upon the relative merits of the plans
submitted for a bridge to be constructed
over the Potomac river at Washington, D.
Tuarpnrial n American triotiSn -
The board consisted of Lieut.. Col Charles
J. Allen, Mai. Thomas W. Symons and Capt
David Du b. Gaillard all of the corps OF
engineers, and Mr.. Stanford White and Mr.
James G.. Hill. architects.
The Board decided that the most eXpedi-
tOus and probably the most satisfactory
method of carrying out the provisions of
the act would be through competition of a
limited number of prominent and exper-
fenced bridge engineers and designers, in
vited TO present designs in accordance with
general outline specifications drawn up un-
der the supervision of the army engineer
department. Four such bridge engineers
and designers were accordingly invited to
compete, namely Messrs. l.. L. Buck. VIII
liam H. Burr. William K. Hutton and
George S Morrison.
There submitted for the considera-
ton of the board two designs each by
Messrs. Buck. Hutton and Morrison and
three designs by Mr.. Burr. After careful
study the board placed the comparative
merits Of the designs follows: No l. de-
sign NO > OF Mr.. Burr, No. q design No 2
of Mr.. Hutton; No. 3. design No. of Mr.
Buck; No 4. design No. l OF Mr.. Morrison.
The Approved Design.
The board expressed the opin on that the
general design of Mr.. Burr's. designated az
the FIRST in the order of merit met the con-
ditions of the problem. and should be
adopted subject to certain recommends
tons and notifications set forth In the re-
port as TO width. slope OF roadway, curve
or unGerslde of draw, towers provision for
tramcars. elevation OF init al point etc
and such other minor notifications as ex-
perience may suggest upon the underta king
OF the work or during It's progress The
estimated cost of Mr.. Burr's structure as
originally des gned, So $50 672 and the
board estimated that the notifications rec
commended would add about 50 per cent,
bringing the total cost UP to 81, $50 600
The views of the board were concurred
In by the chief engineers and were
approved by the Secretary of War. and
all the papers in the case were transmit
ted 10 the House of Representatives April
o. 1900
In memorandum on the subject pre-
pared by Chief Clerk Scofeld of the War
department in that year, he says that the
cost OF material and labor upon which