Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-21
UNLESS IT is MADE SAFE
Serious Situation Follows Injunction
Ordering Repair Work Stopped.
MAY CUT OFF CHEVY CHASE
Car Service Will Stop if Action Con-
templated Is Taken-Hear-
ing March 1.

Commissioners of the District of Column
bia following the granting yesterday aft
ernoon by Chief Justice Clabaugh of a
temporary restraining order stopping the
work in progress or reducing the width
of the structure. If this action is taken,
the Capital Traction Company, which
applied for the order, will be forced to
discontinue its through service from the
city to Chevy Chase and the sections
west of Rock Creek valley
The Commissioners believe that the
bridge will be unsafe unless it is mar
rowed. Corporation Counsel Thomas. act
ing under instructions given him today
by the District heads, will vigorously op-
pose the granting of an injunction to
permanently discontinue the work which
has been held up by the temporary or
der. If the railway company wins out
the Commissioners, it is stated through
authoritative sources, will proceed, under
authority vested in them, to have the
bridge condemned.
Prior to the filing of the bill for the re-
straining order, the company officials and
the Commissioners. it is learned, have been
in correspondence in regard to the mat
ter The latter, it is said, notified the
railway authorities that if they sue
ceeded in their effort to have an injunc-
tion issued the Commissioners would
cause the bridge to be condemned. 1t is
not believed, however. that this course
will be resorted to until after Justice
Clabaugh finally has ruled on the case.
Said to Have Given Notice.
In view of the fact that the closing of
the bridge would prevent continuous car
service from the city over that structure
to the sections west of it, unusual inter-
est attaches to the situation the railway
company will find itself in if the struc-
ture. is condemned, especially on account
Of the faets that the Commissioners are
said to have given notice to the company.
officials that they would go to this ex-
treme if they are prevented from alter
ing the bridge as they think it should be
altered to insure its safety.
George E. Hamilton, president of the
Capital Traction Company. today re-
fused to discuss what action the COM
pany will take in the event an injunc-
tion is issued and the Commissioners
close the bridge.
AS result of the cessation of work
in reducing the width of the bridge, per-
sons living west of Rock creek are now
more concerned over the safety of the
structure than ever. Since the work has
been in progress, the railing on the north
side of the bridge has been moved in
although the overhanging brackets have
not been removed. No work has been
done on the south side of the bridge
Persons who daily pass over the struc-
ture believe that result of the NOV
ing i'm of the north railing the bridge is
not well balanced as formerly.
T. c. J. Baily, District engineer of
bridges today declared that this could
not affect the safety Of the structure. as
the railing on the south side Of the bridge
is not sufficiently heavy to overbalance
the bridge.
Railroad Experts Opinion.
Originally the Commissioners had ex-
pected to ask for an appropriation of
5000 with which to have plans made
for a new bridge. After submitting to
Congress their estimates, which included
this item, they We're presented with a re-
port by Engineer of Bridges Leonard Of
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
stating that the Calvert street structure
would not be safe unless its width is re-
duced and other alterations made.
Instead of granting the five-thousand
dollar appropriation. the subcommittee of
the House appropriations committee, act
ing on a request of the Commissioners,
following the receipt of the Leonard re-
port, inserted in the bill an item of
$500 with which to repair the bridge
next year. The principal repair work
contemplated under this item, which
later was approved by the House, is the
laying of double flooring over the
bridge.
For insuring immediate safety of the
bridge the Commissioners decided 10
spend approximately $5,JOO of the appro-
prlaIlon Tor the current year for the re-
pair OF bridges in carrying out some of
the recommendations contained In the
Leonard report. while deciding to con-
siderably reduce the width or the bridge.
the Commissioners, however determined
tnat II would not be necessary to make
as much of a reduction as was recon-
mended by the pennsylvania railroad en-
gineer.
Plans of Present Work.
The plans for the work, which was
stopped by the temporary restraining
order, call for a reduction in the width of
the bridge from 80 feet inches to 40
feet. This reduction would give a twenty
six-foot roadway instead of the thirty
nine-foot roadway. which is the present
width of the space for street car and ve-
hicular traffic, and seven-foot sidewalks
instead of the five-foot-eight-inch side
walks. The reduction. therefore, would
only affect the roadway, as the width of
the sidewalks would be increased
The railing on the north side of the
bridge has been moved in feet 2 inches,
and ii is estimated that had not the
restraining order been issued the task
OF carrying out the alterations planned
would have been completed within two
or three weeks.
The Commissioners. it is said are con-
| vinced that the bridge, after having been
narrowed In accordance with the plans
adopted. would have been safe for many
years Residents of Chevy Chase and of
neigh hboring sections have asked the SUBJ
committee of the Senate committee on
appropriations to include in the District
| bill an appropriation of 100000 with
which to begin Immediately the construc-
| ton OF a new bridge. II the present
structure IL condemned it is assured that