Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-07-13
FUSS OVER BRIDGE
HELD UNNECESSARY
Local End of New River Span
Sure to Be in Georgetown,
1t Is Declared.
ANY MEMORIAL" PLANS
TO BE FATAL, HOWEVER
Commissioner Course Criticised at
Capitol-Georgetown Citizens
Call Mass Meeting.

The Star today obtained Information
which serves to show that there IL little
likelihood that the Washington end of
the proposed new bridge across the Poto-
mac river will be located anywhere else
than in Georgetown. 1t is stated that
the site now undeh the most favorable
consideration is. SO far as the Washing
ton end is concerned. at 34th and VI
streets.
Persons in public life closely connect
ed with the formation of other than
engineering plans for the proposed new
bridge today characterized all the pub
lie discussion that has taken place in
regard to a possible change of site for
the bridge that is to take the place of
the outworn Aqueduct bridge as neither
more nor less than futile.
At the same time a member OF the
House Of Representatives who will have
much to do with the passage OF any
law which will give the District Of Co
lumbia and the state Of Virginia a new
channel of communication. ventured the
prediction that II any person comes for
ward with any proposition to take ad-
vantage of the public interest at this
time in the proposed new bridge. and at
tempts to saddle on the bill that will
have to be passed any project in connec-
ton with a memorial bridge. the me-
mortal bridge proposition will carry
down to defeat the idea of a bridge to
replace the Aqueduct structure.
Defeated by Memorial" Project.
Washington could have had a new
bridge in place Of the Aqueduct bridge
time and time again within the past
fifteen years." was the statement made
to a reporter for The Star today, 'if il
had not been that some senators and
others interested in the matter, and
not always the same senators. either,
have tried to put through at the same
time some project in connection with
the long-discussed and long-proposed
memorial bridge"
In some circles at the Capitol there IL
today a disposition to criticise the DIS
trict Commissioners for making public
the correspondence in regard to the pro-
posed new bridge. 1t is stated there that
the District Commissioners have nothing
to do with the possibility of new
bridge across the Potomac river mas
much as the District Of Columbia is. IN
effect, in the same position as that Of a
state and bridges between boundary
waters of states are the direct concern OF
Congress and the War Department. Such
bridges are stated to be avenues or inter
state commerce. solely under the contro
Of Congress committees having charged
of such matters and of the Corps of En-
gineers of the War Department, wher
Congress consults that Department
At the Capitol today there Is exhibited
some resentment at the fact that the
District Commissioners allowed the prof.
ect to become public through publication
of the details of the correspondence II
is stated that the District Commissioners
were consulted in regard to the so-called
Carlin bill providing for a new orioge
merely as a matter of courtesy at the
request of Representative Carlin and not
with the idea that they have any super
visory powers over the proposed bridge.
1t is stated that the state of virginia
was not consulted and will not be.
Resent "Fog" Stirred Up.
Some members of Congress are led
to such an exhibition of resentment
by the fact, they state. that SO much
fog" has been stirred up over the pos
sible site of the bridge that their
work may be delayed. This, they say.
has been shown by a proposition that
has now been made that there shall
be a commission appointed to study
the subject. This commission, 1t Is
said, would probably require years
no further study of the subject is
said to be necessary, certainly no
further delay.
It was pointed out today that mem
with the law that will have to be
passed to authorize the bridge are well
acquainted with the subject: that 1t
has been studied by them with army
engineers for a long time: that army
engineers have furnished members of
Congress in hearings and in written
reports which are on file with all the
precise, detailed information their skill
and experience can suggest.
One answer from members of Congress
interested in the subject to the proposal
that there shall be a commission is that
1t will be as easy to pass bill providing
outright for a bridge as 1t would be to
pass a bill for a commission.
Meanwhile, public discussion of the pro-
posed sites mentioned for the possible
new bridge continues. and the residents
of Georgetown in particular are taking
great trouble to protest against the re-
of the site from that locality.