Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-13


Washington and all points south
included hazardous trip across
rickety wood and iron structure
known as Long bridge. This de-
crepIt affair was allowed to eliminate
long per!od of Notwithstanding serv-
ice In the transportation of slow moving
bodies OF the Army OF the Potomac TO
battle and rapidly moving bodies of the
ARMY of the Potomac from battle-in a
fatal accident A large section of II
dropped in the river one night, carrying
part of railroad train and killing one of
the bridgetenders.
This rnishap, long deferred, but conf
IDENTIFY expected by all having Intimate
relationship with the lettering old struc-
ture added impetus to the building Of the
new steel bridge, then partly constructed
The broa, u-on half of the old draw was
restored and traffic orened again on the
old bridge while scores OF mechanics
clambered night and day over the trusses
and piers Of the new bridge. Nearly a
year later the last trainload was rolled
creakingIy over the ancient Viaduct, and
the fine uew bridge began to bear its
daily burdens About d quarter mile
above il another fine structure of stone,
cement and steel was crected-Called the
Highway b:iGge-and Washington found
itself no longer d fitting object OF rdicule,
but the proud posse Ssor OF two of the
finest dra wbridges spanning any river III
this country
The new railroad bridge stands Just
above the site of the old structure. whose
spans have been torn away and removed
and whose stone foundations are being
blown up and disintegrated under the aus
pieces OF governmental inspection 1t is a
railroad bridge pure and simple-just wide
enough for the double tracks and a path
of boards between them. II rests sohdly
and pondcrously upon its stone piers. and
barely tremOrs when heavy freight train
thunders Under its steel frame work
Near its center Is the draw-the river
gateway-ever ready to open at the toot-
ing of the smallest craft unable 10 pass
under its low-lying spans.
This movable section is 2s2 feet in
length and weighs several thousand tons
1t swings horizontally upon u central pier
and opens TWO river passaSeways each
nearly 100 feet wide. II was to investi-
gate the operation OF this draw and that
OF the Highway bridge just above that
The Star man and photographer climbed
the entertainment at the north end of the
bridge fcw days ago and hoofed il along
the board walk between the tracks until
they came to the span with TIN little
house on top Of II.
The Star man fouad three employees of
the railroad in charge OF the draw Two
held firth at the little shack on the floor
of the bridge where The signal levers are
installed. while the third-the engineer and
captain was isolated in the structure
overhead where is the engine that ma
nipulates the draw. Introductions had
hardly hen made when a shrill steam
whistle from above sent the two signal
men scurrying to their posts. II was the
signal for an opening. One Of the men
threw al! the signal levers forward ex-
planning he did that that operation
protected both ends Of the bridge from
approaching trains and dropped the stop
signal at each end of the draw. where
the jumpingofr place would be when the
draw swung open.
SEEKING their signal flags the two bridge