Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-29
LONG BRIDGE NO MORE
1E8lEIx aRANrRD ron REMOVAL
OF FAMOUS sT1UCTURE.
Work to Begin at Once and to He
Completed BY July
I, 1907.

Gen. Oliver, assistant secretary Of war,
today granted permit to w. II. johnson,
IT., OF Philadelphia to remove the Long
bridge which spans the Potomac river, in
accordance with his contract with the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company. On the rec
ommendation Of Gen. Mackenzie, chief of
engineers, the permit was granted subject
to certain conditions designed to protect
the interests Of the public and of the United
States government
In his letter to Capt. Cosby, the engineer
offfcer in charge Of the improvement of the
Potomac river, Mr.. Johnson the contractor.
moving the bridge at once and expected
to complete 1t by the 1st of July next. His
plan OF operations involves the driving Of
pies Tor the erection Of false work under
TWO spans Of the bridge at time. AS each
span OF the superstructure is taken down
the piles which supported 1t will be drawn
and driven under the second span ahead,
and SO on for the length of the bridge.
Inc work OF removal will begin at the
north end Of the bridge, the material being
taken to the Virginia shore over the bridge
The removal Of the piers will be carried on
by the use of barges, and the cutting Of
the channel to the necessary elevation will
pc done by dredging, care being taken to
preserve one unobstructed passage for
boats. As 1t is probable that blasting will
be done to expedite the work, Mr.. johnson
inquiries as to the conditions under which
explosives may be employed. -
Subject to Conditions.
The permit for the removal of the bridge
was granted by the War Department, SUBJ
ject to the conditions that the work be sub
1ect the supervision and approval of the
army engineer In charge of Potomac river
improvements; that 1t be conducted so as to
avoid interference with the free traversing
of the river in any direction by any wa fer
craft whatsoever; that the drawspan rest
piers and pivot pier of the bridge shall be
removed in such manner that the free
navigation of the channel shall at no time
be interfered with; that all piles drawn
shall be promptly and entirely removed
from the bed of the river when the span
which they support, has been taken down;
that the exeavated material shall be de-
posted behind OF along the training dyke
at localities to be designated by the army
engineer officer; that materials shall be
deposited except in the presence of an In
spector to be appointed by the army en-
glneer. and paid by the grantee of the per-
NIT at rate not to exceed $50 per month;
that the grantee of the permit must so pro-
tect his work during blasting operations
that no injury can result to adjoining struc-
lures or passing vessels, and must be re-
sponsibe for any damage that may result
from his operations; that any material scat
tered over the adjacent river bed as a result
OF blasting, or of the methods employed on
the work, must be promptly and entirely
removed; that the permit may be immedi-
ately revoked by the Secretary of War at
any time when, in his Judgment, the inter-
ests of the United States SO require, and
will expire. October 1, 1907; that it is to be
understood that the instrument simply gives
permission under the act of Congress of
March 8. 1899, to do the work authorized;
that 1t does not give any property rights,
and that 1t does rot authorize any injury to
private property or invasion of private
rights.