Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-23
Street Cars Only May Pass
Over Calvert Street Bridge.
FOLLOWS COURTS ACTION
Order Temporarily Restraining
Further Alteration of Structure.
FUTURE IS NOT DETERMINED
Probable That the Commissioners
Will Abandon Bridge Should In
junction Be Made Permanent. !.

Calvert Street bridge today was
closed to pedestrian and vehicular traf-
nc by order OF the Commissioners OF
the District. Exemption is made in
the case OF the operation Of street cars
over the structure.
|. Following conference this morning
| OF Engineer Commissioner Judson,
Capt. Mark Brooke, assistant to tho
Engineer Commissioner: Il. c. j. Bailey,
District engineer Of bridges; E. HI.
Thomas, District corporation counsel:
George K. Hamilton, president Of the
| Capital Traction Company. and II.
, Ross Perry, attorney for the company.
the following order. signed by all OF
the Commissioners. was issued this aft
ernoon, to become effective immedi-
| ately:
THAT the use of Calvert Street bridge
across Rock creek by pedestrians and
| vehicles. other than street cars. is hereby
| prohibited pending the completion of re-
| pairs to said bridge. and that the engi-
neer Of bridges Is directed to fix signs at
each end of said bridge giving such no
| tfce to the public, and the major and
superintendent of police is instructed to
| see that this order is carried into effect"
Result Of Court Order.
The action of the Commissioners did
| not come as surprise. as ii had been
| intimated that they would condemn the
bridge IL they were prevented from re-
| ducing the width Of the structure In
order to insure its safety. A restraining
Craer holding UP the work Of al,erin
| the structure was issued Monday last ~
Chief Justice Clabaugh, on application OF
| the Capital Traction Company. which
claimed that the Commissioners were yio-
lating the law which requires that the
bridge shall have a width OF not less
| than fifty feet.
| The nearing on the granting of a per-
| manent injunction Is set for March !.
| None of the District officials nor. repre-
I sentativeS of the company would discuss
| tSe matter. following the hearing this
| morning. Just why an exemption in the
case of the operation over the bridge was
made Of street cars is not known.
Upon authoritative sources, however, it
is learned that the. local government Of
fcials believe The operation Of sta eet cars
alone over the bridge will not be source
of danger. but that. with the structure In
| a state Of suspended repair. and par
TALLY narrowed on the north side by the
moving In of the railing for a distance
of five feet. the operation or Doth street
cars and vehicles, in addition to the cross
| ing over the bridge Of pedestrians. might
| have resulted in accidents.
M8Cter OF FfeC00t100.
Viewed from any standpoint, the order
of the Commissioners must be regarded
as a desire on their part to take, extra
precautiOn as far as the public safety Is
| concerned, and the fact that they may
have any doubt as to the safety Of the
structure WILL it is expected. have any,
thing but a reassuring effect on residents
who live in the .sections west of Rock
creek and daily ride over the bridge.
| 1t is believed there will now be more
| agitation than ever for an appropriation
| for new bridge in place of the present
| Calvert street structure. If Chief Justice
Clabaugh declines to grant an Injunction
perma nently halting the work Of narrow.
| ing the structure the Commissioners Will
| insist that the bridge. with width or
| forty feet instead OF fifty feeE and four
| inches .the present dimensions. will be
sufficient to insure safety of travel.
1t Is doubtful, in that event, if they
will recommend an appropriation for "a
new bridge.
Should Chief Justice Clabaugh grant
| the Injunction the Commissioners. il has
| been ntimated, will completely condemn
the bridge. eliminating the operation of
street cars as well as of pedestrian and
| vehicular traffic.