Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-13
AQUEDUCT BRIDGE
IS IN NO DANGER
U. S. Engineers Office Finds
Nothing to Justify Alarm
as to Ice Jam.

No fear that the Aqueduct bridge will
not be able to Withstand present ice con-
ditons and prospects of a sudden thaw
in the upper Potomac IL entertained by
the United States engineers oifice OF the
District of Columbia.
survey of the ice conditions has been
made by W. P. Harrison. principal as
sistant engineer. attached to the Office.
He found nothing to Justify alarm.
The river Is open. he observed. and
is Of the opinion that even were It not
so. sudden thaw. under general con-
ditions. would not prove a menace TO
the safety Of the bridge. While the
piers are old. most Of them constructed
IN the earlier half OF last century there
Is no reason to believe they are not
sound enough to meet any prospective
pressure from ice in the river.
" such. small insgnifcance does the
ensineers' ONCE regard the situation that
the periodica inspection Of piers will
not Jake place until next month, as orig
ard look over the masonry: repairs
necessary will follow While il is known
that much of the old mortar has washed
OUT from between the blocks of stone.
y IS not believed that the metal work
has undergone consequent corrosion SUI
Inspection Made In 1919.
In November, 1912, INSPECTION was mazda
oy divers. Their observations resulted In
repairs necessary at the time. The course
OF time would not yet nave brought about
dangerous conditions, it is said.
The United States engineers officer re-
CARDS the metal framework of the bridge
as In much more feeble condition tnan
the piers. The bridge, in the opinion of
experts is subjected to strain OF traffic
much more severe than the superstruct-
ure was built to stand. The car dine is
regarded as especially wearing
A bill for bridge to replace the Aque-
Duct bridge Is now pending in Congress
ihere Is prospect that the measure will
be favorabiy reported out of committee
Tentative plans for a new bridge have
been drawn by the United States engi-
neers ONCE. This bridge would be built
entlreay OF concrete and located on a site
In the immediate vicinity.
Inc plans provide for a roadway eighty
feet wide, about double the width OF the
present structure. which is only forty
three feet from outside to outside. 1t
contemplates four spans, surmounted By
arches OF ABOUT quarter arc OF a clfcle
simplicity marks the general design AZ
prepared.
District Craft Busy.
Both the District flreboat Firefishter
and the harbor Police boat vigiiant spent
the morning in the vicinity of the AQue-
duct bridge breaking up the ice in all
enHrt to relieve POSSIBLE danger to the
bridge structure. The FireAghter looked
after the heavier ice below the bridge
while the Vigtlant worked around the
piers to relieve the jam.
A continuation OF fair weather, such as
that Of yesterday and today: according
to Engineer Commissioner Harding, will
remove any danger that may have men
aced Aqueduct bridge from Jam OF heavy
ice. Maj. Harding based his opinion or
the report of District Engineer OF Bridges
McCoombs. who reported last night that
personal survey OF conditions made by
him yesterday convinced him that unless
a sudden pronounced thaw or continuous
heavy rains in the watershed along the
upper river should set In. no apprehen-
sion need be felt over the fce