Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-28
CONGRESS HEIGHTS CITIZENS.
Business Transacted at Association
Meeting.


ton at a meeting last evening received
report on the status OF the project to sr,an
the Eastern branch at Half street southwest
with a bridge. a proposition which the as
sociation has actively supported. as the pro-
posed structure would land at q point adj
jacent to the suburb. Several weeks ago
the Commissioners OF the District in COM
municauon to the association, indicated an
adverse position regarding this bridge when
they informed the organization of citizens
that it had been ascertained the distance
between bulkhead lines at the point where
1t was desired to locate the structure was
1,AD feet, necessitating, approximately
expenditure of $4,000 to build the bridge.
They consented to withhold positive action
until the association could consult some re-
liable brtdge-buildng company as to the es-
timated cost
Chairman NJ. D Ellis of the bridge COM
mittee sought to show last evening in re-
port that about 500 feet OF grcund near
Buzzard Point ought to be eliminated from
the distance named comprising tie bulk
head lines. He read the following letter
from Robert s. Oliver, assistant secretary
of war:
Il have the honor to Acknowledges receipt
or your communication of the 9th instant
requesting approval by the department OF
the Dill, ii. r. 14,U2l, recently introduced in
the construction of a bridge a cross the
Eastern branch of the Potomac river and
also That the established bukhead hne OF
the river be modified so as to permit u re-
ducCon OF the proposed bridge lear Buzz
zafd Point. In reply thereto you are in
FORMED that 1t Is not customary for the
secretary OF War to express his views or
opinions regarding pending bill unless re-
questeo 10 do so by the committee of Cen
gress which has the matter under consd-
GRAFTON. 1t appears from your letter that
the bill has been referred To he Commits
siohefs or the District OF Columbia, but, so
lar as known, 1t has not been officially
ferred to the War Department and until
such reference is made, it would not seem
appropriate for the Secretary to express his
views on the measure The bulkhead line
IN the vicinity of BuzZard Point as APP
proved by the Secretary of War and Com
hhlsSioners OF the District of ColuinDia Is
drawn back some distance from tue water
me- 1t being the understanding that the
point OF ground in front of such bulkhead
me VIII in the future be removed. The
authorizing of the change of the line by
the Secretary of War; so as 70 permit the
use or the tongue of land as an approach
TO the bridge with a view to reducing the
length and cost of the structure is not ad-
mlssible, and in any case 1t would under
the law, require the assent of the District
commissioners. The result desired could,
OF course. be secured by obtaining from
congress In the bill authority to commence
the bridge at the pier head line or at the
shore, Should Congress provide for the
construction of the bridge there would ap-
pear to be no objection to authorizing the
temporary use Of the existing .ongue of
land for an approach further th;tr the fact
that at any future time, when the removal
or the point is undertaken. another span or
d trestie approach would have to be SUBJ
stltuted for the land removed and SUCH
substitution, which would have to he paid
lof by an appropriation, coud only be
granted by Congress"
rul OF some action by Congress to permit
the construction of the bridge as outlined
dolhg away with fully $50 feet OF the dis
lance named by the Commissioners He
read Il number OF communications from
Dr1dge-building firms, but with one excep-
ton, they replied the data furnished was
too meager on which to base an estimate.
The Penn Bridge Company, however. stated
tney wouid furnish an estimate to the ASSOC
clatlon. Mr.. Ellis reported that S,i;ertn-
tendent Zinkhan, representing the District
institutions now going up near Giesboro
nad signed a petition for the bridge as
nave charles j. Bonaparte. the Secretary
OF the Navy, and Superintendent White OF
the Government Hospital for the Insane
Inc matter of resurfacing Nichols avenue
at the terminus of the Congress Heights
street car line discussed L was de-
cLded 10 ask the Commissioners to cause a
walk to be laid there or improve the, road
bed.
After a discussion to the sewera re svs-
TEN me citizens are endeavoring to have
installed 1t was moved to discharge the
committee having the matter in hand and
10 appoint new one which was done. The
new committee consists of Gus.ave Bender
Milton Ffllius and James II Holmes
communication from Superint endent
White of the government asylum was read
ne statlng he would be able to improve the
fencing about the stevens farm In The event
or congress appropriating funds With
Whlch to erect new one along Nichols
avenue, thereby permitting substitution OF
the material now in use along Nichols ave-
nue..