Evening star., 1913-02-23

have taken lively interest in the national CITY
and river. In 1893 President Jackson strongly
quate bridge across the Potomac river to replace
the old Long bridge built in 1908 by private
subscription. which had been swept away IN IN
part by a freshet. Jacksons plan contempa tea
"A noble structure, in part of granite, aud which
to cost between $1,000. oeo and $1,000. ooO'
according to the varying estimates Of engineers
But the spirit of false economy finally prevailed
even over the iron will Of Old Hickory, and the
bridge rebuilt cheaply with solid causeway
embankment, numerous piers and the low lying
structure which from that day have made 1t 10
Washington a notwithstanding dam. The en-
gineer who built the bridge refused to predict
a long life for it. and threw the blame for 81 its
existence upon a scrimping. short sighted Con
gress. Periodically the freshets have broken eI,
through some portion of the obstruction. often
turned upon and flooding the city before they
succeeded in knocking out the dam. Periodically.
with assinine persistence. the old structure has
been restored Even the great and progressive
railroad to which the BRIDGES use was condi.
tionally donated in 1870 has not been ashamed "a
to maintain this threatening nuisance. ana II
exists today in all its dangerous obstructiveness
and original ugliness- disgrace to the railroad.
tfon whose historic river is thus defaced and
whose city is thus endangered The
Potomac is practically bridgeless so far as mod
eru ADEQUATE structures concerned.
For years the Potomac thus kept the east and
the west in touch until at last the railroads
took up the work and linked the sections with
bands OF steel By means of the river and the
wide -sprea ding streams which unite to form It;
the nation from its capital extended westward
an arm a hand and outstretched fingers. grasp
ing the Mississippi settlements. holding them
firmly to the Union. AS 1t was thus IN the PC
ginning bond between east ana west. so Ine
Potomac should be bond between north
and south, connecting instead OF separating them
While the latter sections were at swords point
in sentiment: or in fact. practicaiy priageiess
Potomac. holding them apart might as symbot
have been natural and defensble But now IN
the reunion of the states. the Potomac shonij
re-enact it's historic part as a unlner ana Dind
together through adequate connecting prluges tue
once hostile sections. . ~,
The grandest and most fitting memorial with
which to commemorate the centennial or tne
a miracle working century has developed WOULD
he memorial bridge across the Potomac 10
Arlington whose national patriotic function
should be to connect the Unions capital with
the state of the late COnfederacys capital. to
bridge the watery chasm between the sections
10 unite the nations city of the living with the
city of the nations dead: a cemetery now truly
national. since with the bones Of those who died
save the Union in civil war have been laid
the remains of men from south and north and
east and west who died for the whole great and
reunited republic Let the memorial bridge SYM
bolZe this reunion, this national expansion ana
development.
The report of the president of the Wash
ington Board of Trade. Myron M. Parker,
in 1891, contained this:
The completion OF the bridge across the Eastern
branch at the extension of Pennsylvania avenue
has been a great benefit, and has opened up a
section of the District that Will add to the
future growth of city. Our attention should
TO Arlington at the end OF New York avenue.
Arlington is of the most historic points
about Washington and Is annually becoming
and AT Arlington are buried
distinguished generals of the war are fast find
ing this resting place. With this bridge.