The Washington times., 1914-07-12
Big Meeting tuesday Night Will
Protest Against Relocation
to the East.
BUSINESS LEADERS SEE
DISASTER IN SUCH MOVE
Virginia People Also Would Suf-
fer Should Termini Be Shift
ed Down Stream.

RaIIvinr to the war cry, Save the
Bridge influential business men OF
Georgetown are making rapid plans
today for the big mass meeting OF
citizens to be held Tuesday night to
protest against relocation of the AQue-
duct bridge at any point east of the
center Of Georgetown.
All Of the city's commercial orsani-
zations are to be besieged in the bridge
light, and their support for a George
town bridge is to be earnestly sought
Georgetown members of the Chamber
Of Commerce, Board of Trade, Retail
Merchants Association and other or
eanizations are preparing to bring the
Georgetown trade situation before
these bodies at the earliest possible
moment
Plans are also afoot for a special
allied meeting of the Georgetown Citi-
ems Association to take action in the
matter and to record the fullest pro-
test against relocation of the bridge
cast of Georgetown.
offutt Favors Center Location.
G. w. Offutt. one of Georgetown's
Oldest business men and leader in the
movement to save the bridge, declared
today that relocation of the Washing
ton terminus of the Aqueduct bridge
east Of the center of Georgetown would
he q genuine disaster. not only to busf-
ness men, residents, and property hold
ers of Georgetown, but to the Virginia
u sers of the structure as we'll.
Economic conditions of the entire
section, within a radius of half a mile
Of each terminus of the present bridge,
would be disrupted 1t is essential to
this community that the new bridge be
located near the present site. The well
fare of thousands is dependent upon it.
Should a new Washington terminus be
determined upon, ii should not be east
Of the center of Georgetown. So far as
I am personally concerned l would not
object to a terminus as far east as Wis
consin avenue. but the farther west II
Is, the better it will be for Georgetown
and the residents and business men of
Virginia it serves"
Against Eastern Location.
J. A. Oliver. temporary secretary of
the organization, started to voice the
protest of Georgetowns thousands
against a relocation east of the center
II Georgetown, said today, that any
attempt to remove the bridge terminus
from the center of that section, would
laad to chaos.
Before washington had a recognized
NIsiness district he said, there was
established trade between George
own and Alaxendria and Fairfax
~ounties across the Aqueduct bridge
own TO enormous proportions. as
e,inced by the amount of traffic. Great
lsiness houses along NJ street from
Q, sconsin avenue to Thirty-siXth street
largely dependent upon the Virginia
ade that they have built for many
.cnerations. To take away the bridge
= Ould be a crushing loss.
Virginia supply houses" he said.
gently built up in Rosslyn are equal
dependent upon bridge to the
H. eart of Georgetown, as Georgetown is
cir trade center. relocation of
~ to them. They would have TO
I'-locate, and the business district Of
&" street west of Wisconsin avenue
ould inevitably fall into decay with
I bridge facilities to Rosslyn. So far
as my personal interests are concerned,
q would be better to have a terminus
? far east in Georgetown as possible,
ut II is essential to the welfare of the
immunity that the bridge be located
As far west as possible TO meet engi-
1sSring and traffic conditions"
All In the Fight.
These sentiments are echoed by all
georgetown business men who propose
- make a bitter fight on any bridge
lection east Of Wisconsin avenue.
The big banner prepared Yesterday
as been hung on the corner at Wis
0onsin avenue and NJ street calling
Upon the people to rally and save the
ridge. In slaring letters two feet high
L calls attention to the fact that a
ocation for new AQuedItct bridge east
~ Rock Creek would be a death blow
o. Georgetown business