The Socialist press., 1914-06-20

PAo'0u, you udy UT Hldy uoI iueulInIo upon the fact that these tracks cross ing the reclaimed land of the Potomac river were a tense and interesting question generation ago. It was question which was involved with that of the illegal railroad occupancy of the Mall. of the large reservation at the intersection of Maryland and Vir- ginia avenues and of certain streets and reservations in South Washington as storage depots and shifting yards.
 The matter of the location of the railroad tracks over the new-made park land, raised from the river at great cost, was associated intimately with the questions of the demolition of the Long bridge and it's replace ment with a modern structure and with the elimination of grade cross ings in the city The Long bridge was in possession of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad company by virtue of an act of congress approved June 21, 1S70-an act which authorized the railroad company to take possession of and extend it's tracks across the bridge under the condition that the company maintain in good condition the said bridge for railway and or dinary travel
 The campaign for the elimination of grade crossings in Washington, the removal of the railroad tracks and terminal from the Mall and the tear ing nf tho hriIr tba building of bridge which would not dam the Potomac river and cause dis astrous flooding of the city at periods of high water was one of the great campaigns conducted by the people of Washington and the friends in con- gress of the national city. The older people of Washington recall the bit terness of that long contest. That campaign is too big question to be more than touched upon in an after noon ramble, but man may consider a single feature of it while looking at the vine-grown embankment under which are two openings-one on the Washington channel side and one on the Virginia channel side-which ad- init of safe and easy passage between the northwest and southeast sections of Washington's remarkable river park.
 The first Long bridge was built in the construction of bridge from the end of Maryland avenue to Alexan- ders island having been approved by President Jefferson February 5, 1908. The bridge was built by private company, which was authorized to charge tolls. The company was call ed the Washington Bridge Company, and the sale of stock up to the sum of $200,000 was authorized. In the list of the incorporators. officers and stockholders may be found the names of many of the representative men of early Washington. The north and south ends of the bridge were burned in August, 1874, and the bridge was destroyed by a freshet February 22, 1881. By an act of congress approved July IA, 1882, the United States bought the rights and property of the Washington Bridge company and di- rected the reconstruction of the bridge.
 Up to that time the bridge had been a structure built on piles from shore to shore. Various acts of congress may be consulted. and there was great deal of indecision as to what type of bridge should be built. There were numerous plans and number of changes of plans, but in 1884 con- gross decided to rebuild the bridge somewhat after the model of the old CT structure, but to construct a cause way 1860 feet long "on the shoal or shoals over which the present bridge passes. by filling up by solid en- bankment. in part, if convenient, of earth obtained by dredging the river channel" That was the origin of the Long bridge causeway.