Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-13
SUSPENDS THE PERMIT
SECRETARY TAET'S ACTION ON
GREAT FALLS BRIDGE.

Secretary Taft is a great admirer of the
natural beauty of the Potomac river at
Great Falls and often makes that romantic
spot the objective point of his equestrian
trips. That fact is responsible, 1t Is said,
for his action in suspending the permit
issued by the War Department about two
weeks ago for the construction Of a bridge
across that part Of the river at Fails
Island. That permit was granted by Assist
ant Secretary Oliver to syndicate repre-
scented by Mr.. f. Baier and authorized the
erection of a steel suspension bridge sus-
tanned by two towers on the island and one
tower each on the Maryland and Virginia
shores, the bridge being designed exclu-
sively for passenger traffic.
About the time this permit was issued
Secretary Taft was giving his personal
attention to questions affecting the diverg-
ence of water from the Niagara river
which involved consideration of the ques-
ton Of the preservation Of the natural
beauty of Niagara Falls.
No Reflection on Assistant Secretary.
The application for permission to build
the suspension bridge at Great Falls was
passed upon at that time by Assistant
Secretary Oliver, and it was not until few
days ago that Secretary Taft learned OF
his action. Without intending to reflect
in any way upon the assistant secretary
action, Secretary Taft deemed 1t advisable
to temporarily withdraw the permit until
he had an opportunity to consult per
ficer in charge of the Washington aqueduct,
in regard to the matter or until he could
personally visit the falls and see for him.
self whether the proposed structure wouio
be likely to mar in any degree the beauti-
full natural scenery of the Potomac river
at that point.
The United States owns only a fraction
interest in the land at the site of the pro-
posed bridge and can therefore grant the
desired privilege only in so far as its own
rights are concerned.
Basis of Mr.. divers Action.
In granting the original permit Assist
ant Secretary Oliver acted entirely upon
the recommendations of Gen. Mackenzie
chief of engineers, and Capt. Cosby, the
officer in charge The latter in report on
the subject said that the proposed bridge
would be of a great advantage to the
United States in affording better facilities
for communicating with the aqueduct works
at Great Falls by way of the Great Falls
and Old Dominion trolley line. Falls Is
land, he said. is exceedingly rough and
there is no present or contemplated use OF
it in connection with the Washington water
supply system. which has its source at
that point For that reason, he said there
was no objection to its conversion into a
public park. as the granting of the per-
NIT virtually would do, provided that prop
err police supervision was guaranteed.
1t Is intmated that certain railroad inter-
ests are opposing the construction Of the
bridge on the ground that 1t will interfere
with certain contemplated railway enter
prises. At the War Department 1t is stated
that Secretary Taft's action in suspending
the permit does not necessarily mean that
he is opposed to the construction of the
bridge by the parties In interest, but means
merely that he desires a little more time to
consider the question of the probable effect
of such a structure on the scenic beauties
at Great Falls.