The Washington herald., 1906-12-16
LONG BRIDGE TO GO.
Demolition of Historic Struc-
ture Begins Tomorrow.
FIRST BUILT CENTURY AGO
Was Used by Armies in the War of
1912, and Also During the Strife
of '6I-FederaI Troops Crossed IL
in Their Retreat from Bull Run.
Rich In Traditional Lore.

Demolition of the Long Bridge, on
which the work of destruction begins to-
morrow, marks the passing of one of the
oldest landmarks in the history of Wash
ington.
Almost a century has passed since
the first structure by that name,
built on piles and by no means great
work to a modern engineer. first spanned
the river and opened up practicable
way for the residents of Virginia.
Even the oldest inhabitants arc forced
TO turn to hearsay and history, when they
speak Of the first Long Bridge, although
all OF them hear with regret the news OF
the destruction OF the present structure.
Statesmen, generals. prelates, and
worthy civilians have trod its molder-
ing planks. and many a Southerner has
caught his first glimpse of the Capital
from the Virginia shore.
Ia the winter OF 1901, an act was passed
by Congress authorizing the construction
Of a bride across the Potomac River
within the District Of Columbia. Sub
scriptlon books were issued at the old
Stelles Hotel. on April !, 1905. and the
following commissioners appointed TO
take charge of the construction: Robert
Brent. Daniel Carroll Of Duddington,
James D. Barry, Frederick May. S II.
Smith. Jonah Thompson. Jonathan Swift.
Thomas Vowen Cuthbert Powell. Elisha
Jaiuey, and Charles Alexander.
First Opened May 20, fSO9.
The bridge was open for travel on May
I 20. 1868. at a cost of 100000. and a toll
was collected from every passenger. A
huge draw in the center was an attrac-
ton 10 inhabitants for miles around and
allowed the commerce Of the Upper Po-
tomac 10 pass unhindered
On the night Of February .. 1881. a
date than some residents OF Washington
wildly remember, freshet. raging from
! the swollen streams that pour into the
Upper Potomac, swept away part Of the
Long Bridge, besides demolishing the
/ Chain Bridge, above. and causing much
damage to the shipping in the harbors of
Alexandria and Washington. A lively
discussion in Congress followed the re
quest Of the commissioners that they
be assisted in repairing the structure.
BILL introduced by a member from
Virginia. finally became a law. 10 an
( propriate $4,000 to purchase the rights of
I the bridge company and $50, 600 to recon
/ struct the bridge. The bill further pro-
! eided that the plans should be approved
/ by President Jackson. who was at that
+ time the Chief Executive More Con-
/ gressional discussion resulted IN the plans
sell A--
aside. and the contract for the rebuilding
1 Of the bridge being given 10 George W
! Hughes, who was allowed $4,000 for its
! reconstruction.
New Bridge Was UnSatisfactory.
The new Bridge. when completed. did
not receive the unanimous approval Of
government engineers. who considered its
underpinning uncertain. and who were
I displeased that nearly $1,000 Of the origi-
I nal appropriation was returned TO the
Treasury This opinion seemed 10 have
I been borne out by a second freshet. which
swept a considerable portion Of the bridge
away, and most Of the surplus funds were
required 10 put ii in even a fair state Of
efficiency. In 1870, another freshet. the
most damaging that had yet occurred in
I
structure, while the new Chain Bridge
further up the river. was completely
swept away.
I This last disaster caused much inquiry
TO be made as 10 the propriety Of the loca-
/ ton, and many were Of the opinion that
a more desirable one could be found
where the Alexandra Canal Company
aqueduct crossed the river In 1856, an
attempt was made TO secure the perma-
nent discontinuance Of the bridge but
/ citizens Of Alexandria, Georgetown. and
/ Washington so opposed this movement
/ that Congress repaired it IN 1855. Nine
years later, floating ice carried the cen
/ trail portion Of the structure into the
/ river. II was rebuilt in two years. and
/ up till few months ago. has been one
/ Of the principal sources of travel by the
/ farmers OF Virginia.
/ Rich I'm Traditional Lore.
/ Many traditions are centered around the
/ old structure. and every period in the his
/ tory of Washington draws some of its
/ interest from the framework which be-
/ gins to disappear tomorrow.
/ During the war Of 1872, when it was
rumored that the British fleet was ap-
/ preaching the Capital, thousands Of vol
/ lNlEeTS from knt DuNtiSIu OtdltS iLdut
/ their way into the city by iris route.
and families of Virginians. thinking that
/ they would be safer behind the earth
works of Fort Washington, piled across
( the bridge into the city.
! The first soldiers Of the Federal army
/ to enter Virginia during the civil war
/ passed over this thoroughfare, and for
many days after the breaking out Of
/ hostilities in 1861 company of Rhode
I Island soldiers camped on the Washing
/ ton side, while Company + of the Wash
/ ington Light Infantry and the Constitu-
/ tional Guards occupied the Virginia end
/ On May q Capt POwells Zouaves. the
vanguard of the Union army. crossed into
/ Virginia and sent the Southern pickets
| scampering into Alexandria.
Bull Run Fighters Ran Across 1t.
| The day OF the disastrous battle of Bull
4 Run it saw regiment after regiment of
! Federal troops rushing in a rout into