Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-25
BRIDGE OR TUNNEL 2
Questions Discussed Before
Commissioners Today.
BOTH SIDES HEA RID
PROJECT OF PROVIDING COM
MUNICATIoN WITH GEORGETOWN
Northeast Citizens Also Heard on Prop
osition to Marrow Certain Streets
Other Interests.


forenoon today listening to expressions OF
public opinion from various Interested cit
liens relative to several matters of public
concern. One proposition which occupied
the attention of the Commissioners was to
provide more satisfactory means of COM
munication between Georgetown and Wash
ington proper. Advocates of two projects
calculated to accomplish this. purpose-the
building of a bridge over Rock creek at q
street and the construction of a tunnel
along Rock creek-made arguments in sup
port of their respective propositions. An
other matter which was brought to the a.
tention of the Commissioners was the pro-
test of the Northeast Washington Citizens
Association against the narrowing of road
ways of streets in the northeast section.
The District officials also gave opportu-
nifty for hearing relative to the bill giving
the Congressional cemetery authorities the
right to sell portions of certain streets,
which have been reserved for burial sites
for members of Congress. No one appeared,
however, to oppose this measure and an in
formal discussion of the bill was held.
The hearing relative to the bridge and
tunnel propositions for connecting George
town and Washington occupied the atten-
ton of the Commissioners for about one
hour, beginning at 1890 o'clock. The
speakers for the bridge project were Fred.
l.. Moore and George A. King, representing
thC SiliLSliS, JuuSe - Bunny, represent
ing the Board of Trade, and Attorney
George e. Hamilton. The argument in
support of the tunnel project was presented
by Mr.. w. Riley Decide.
The Arguments Advanced.
The first speaker the bridge project
was Mr.. Moore. He said he understands
that property owners on Q street are will
ing to donate the land necessary for the
bridge site. He declared he is not opposed
to the construction of a tunnel over Rock
creek connecting Georgetown with Wash
ington. Many years ago, however, he said,
when an effort was made to secure the con-
struction of a tunnel, Captain Roesseu,
then Engineer Commissioner, estimated it
would cost about 81. 100000 to build tun-
mel. In view of the cost of the tunnel
project, Mr.. Moore believed it would be
long time before the money for this project
could be secured; therefore he believed the
efforts at this time should be directed to-
ward securing bridge at a cost of about
5000
Mr. King-the next speaker mentioned
that according to the report, Captain Roes-
sell had estimated that the tunnel and fill
ing incidental to the construction of tun-
mel across Rock creek would cost about
ST. 22, 4S3. By the construction of a bridge
Mr. King said the public would derive i'm
mediate benefit, while if the tunnel project
before it would be completed and ready for
public use. The lack of proper and attrac-
tive approaches to Georgetown. said the
speaker, is operating to the detriment of
GEORGETOWN. None of the bridges connect
ing the two sections of the city, he said,
is inviting
Objects to Dumpage.
During the course of his remarks Mr..
King took occasion to protest against the
dumping of street sweeping and earth along
the banks of Rock creek.
hot arrtb Mr. King the
Commissioners prevent this dumping"
erty."
Mr. King admitted that perhaps the Com
missioners had no authority in the case
excepting that they might declare the
dumping nuisance.
Commissioner mcfarland said it has been
suggested that the old John w. Thompson
bridge might be utilized for the Q street
bridge. Mr. Moore said that bridge Is
light structure, but that If nothing else
could be provided the citizens would &C.
cept the Thompson bridge.
The first speaker for the tunnel project.
Mr.. W. Riley Decide, declared that he be-
lieved the proposition advanced by the
bridge advocates is impracticable. He said
the District engineer of bridges the 10th of
this month, in communication to the
speaker. had estimated that the cost Of
building a tunnel along Rock creek from
Lyons mill to a point twenty-five feet be-
low o street, would be about $3.50. 000. The
additional cost of extending the tunnel to
the Chesapeake and Ohio canal delta would
be about $750,000. or a total cost of 81 AGO.
600 for the entire tunnel from the canal
delta to Lyons mill.
Mr.. Decide declared that the condition of
the creek is now not exactly the same az it
was fourteen years-ago, when Captain
Roessells report was made on the tunnel
project. He also declared that conditions
and improved methods in construction work
have reduced the cost of such construction.
He said that the tunnel project had been re-
ported upon favorably by the Commission
erss at the last session of Congress He did
not believe the present Congress is disposed
to appropriate money for any large i'm
provement and he felt certain that Con-
gress would not be willing to appropriate
s150OO0 for the building of temporary
structure across the creek. Mr.. Decide
urged the citizens to wait until conditions
became so bad and so undesirable that Con-
gress would be obliged to come to the relief
of the citizens.
Explanation of Conditions.
AttorDev Gao r. Hamilton said that the