Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-11
RAILWAY OPPOSES PLANS
Appeal Against Condemnation Yer
dict Not to Block Work.
IMPROVEMENTS UNDER WAY
Engineering Department of the Lo-
cal Government Will Be Kept Busy
for Some Time to Come.

work on the construction of the two
hundred d-and-seventy-fiye-t thousand dollar
concrete bridge which is to span Rock
creek, connecting Q street in Georgetown
with Q street in Washington, is expected
to begin not later than June 15. AL
though an appeal has been noted by the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany to the verdict Of the condemnation
jury. the local government officials are
inclined to the view that this will not
serve to hold up the work.
The building of the bridge will necessi-
tate the removal of rear section of the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany's car barn. The Supreme Court of
the District of Columbia confirmed the
verdict of the condemnation jury and
according to the opinion of the local
authorities this confers upon the Dis
trict of Columbia the right to take pos
session of the property. the claim being
advanced that the appeal can only affect
the question of the amount to be paid
for the land.
1t is expected that the corporation
counsels Office will render decision
within few days as to whether the en-
gineer department shall proceed at once
with the construction of the bridge.
Plans for the structure were completed
long ago. and specifications are ready to
be issued. Probably two months will
elapse from the time bids are called for
until the work begins, and it is expected
that at least two years will be required to
complete the bridge.
Other Bridges Under Way.
Bridge construction work will keep the
engineer department of the local govern
ment busy for some time to come. Work
10. h. l~<4 y>1 v,ln
for the structure which is to replace the
present pipe bridge spanning Rock creek
in the line of Pennsylvania avenue, while
finishing touches are being put on the
specifications for new bridge in ZOologi-
cal Park. Engineer of Bridges d. E. Nc
Comb and Assistant Engineer Of Bridges
w. A. Draper are in charge Of the plans.
The Geological! Park Improvement will
be completed by summer, it Is antici-
pated. 1t will replace the rustic log
bridge on Adams Mill road, near the
cages where the wolves and coyotes of
the Zoo are Quartered. The new bridge,
VIII be construcfed OF reinforced con-
crete. and Will have aArough. stone face.
It VIII have span of eighty feet a
twenty -four-foot roadway and six-foot
sidewalk. Its cost will be 10000.
The question of what kind OF bridge
shall be substituted for the pipe line.
structure spanning Rock creek, In the line
of Pennsylvania avenue, is being consid-
cred in the ONCE OF the engineer OF
bridges. The rought specifications which
served as a basis for the 100000 which
Congress decided shall be spent on this
Improvement call for a girder bridge OF
three spans.
Suggest an Arch Bridge.
In view of the appropriation by Con-
gress for the Improvement Of Rock Creek
valley the construction Of an arch bridge.
it has been suggested. would add greater
beauty to the valley and contribute more
to the envirOns Of that section, as planned
for the future. than would girder bridge
displaying straight lines.
The new Pennsylvania Avenue bridge
Will be much wider than the one It is to
replace and therefore, condemnation pro-
ceedings for the purpose of acquiring the
necessary ground will have to be insti-
day said that the specifications will be
completed by the time the condemnation
proceedings are finished.
This bridge, according to the plans ten
tatively agreed upon. will be constructed
of steel and concrete. 1t will have a
width of seventy feet, consisting Of a
ffty-foot roadway and two ten-foot side
walks. The Capital Traction COMPANY
will be assessed one-third of the cost of
constructing the bridge. BY the terms of
the bill authorizing the Improvement the
railway company will be required to re-
move its tracks from the NJ Street bridge
spanning Rock creek and lay them across
the new Pennsylvania avenue structure.