The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-03-06
WASHINGTON NOTES

The Connecticut avenue bridge, con
ceded to be the handsomest one In
Washington, is completed. Pedestrians
have been using 1t for several weeks
but It will not be formally opened ia
traffic until the approaches are com
pleted.
This big bridge, which carries the
highway Of Connecticut avenue across
Rock creek, is one Of the grandest con.
crete structures in the country. Work
on 1t was commenced in 1893, and
since then the construction has been
carried on by yearly appropriations,
The total cost Is $4,000.
Dimensions Of the Bridge.
The bridge is described as fifty$wo
feet wide over all, and the maximum
elevation Of the floor above the ground
IS 1870 feet. The bridge consists Of 1--WE
$50 foot arches, separated from each
other by twenty foot piers, ana ca
each end or this series of arches there
is an arch Of eighfyrtwo feet The
smaller arches are separated from the
others by an abutment having width
Of thirty-seven feet At The ends Of the
bridge proper there are two abutments
about 1876 feet in length.
The bridge is said to be the largest
structure Of the sort that has ever
been built Of concrete. In fact, it mar
be said to be the pioneer in the use Of
such material for 4 structure Of its
magnitude. Its construction was start.
ed nearly ten years ago, when concrete
had not the prominent place It has at.
tanned in the last half dozen years.
The bride is finished with concrete
parapet and metal railing of the fol-
lowing description Over the piers
there is n solid parapet. and between
the piers every seventeen feet there
are concrete posts each coming directly
over the spandrel walls. Between these
concrete posts Is an iron railing con-
sistIng Of vertical square baiusters and
a top hand rail section Of cast iron.
The lamps are possibly the most orna-
mental "fixings1 on the bridge aside
from the lions They are made of cast
iron and are OF an artistic and attrac.
tive design. There are two sidewalks
on the bridge, each eight feet wide.
and there Is a roadway Of thirty-six
feet. The roadway is temporary ana
Is made OF macadam A permanent
roadway viii not be laid until the en-
tire fill has had ample opportunity to
settle When it has settled cement
and asphalt win be used.
Liked the Old Pens.
Some years ago member OF CON
gress from Ohio took a fancy 10 the
pens used by the members. When hi
retired to private life he had accumu.
lated a supply Of pens which would
last him the rest Of his natural life
he thought However, a few DAYS ago
J. Warren Kelfer re-.
ceived letter from the ex-member
asking his aid In getting more OF the
Did style pens
The writer stated In the letter that
1e was now eighty-six years Old and
vas using the last pen he had The
particular style Of pen in question has
lot been manufactured for several
Tears. bat General Keifer had an er-
laustlve search made Of both the sen.
lte and house stationery rooms.
Finally two boxes OF the old pens
we're found, which Mr.. Keifer imme.
lately sent to the aged 0hioan. with
feeling, as he said, -of 3 duty well
reformed
President Lineoln's Last Writing.
Ex-senator Stewart Of Nevada bass.
q The main portico OF the Waite
House the other day on his way 10 the
xeeutive Offices to see tie president
Pointing 70 the historic steps OF tho
FhIfe House, he said: T saw prosl.
snt Lincoln get into bis carriage from
hose steps the night be was killed.