Evening star., 1916-01-07
SEEKS TO REPLACE
AQUEDUcT BRIDGE
Secretary Garrison Urges
Need of New Span at
Georgetown.
GIVES VIEWS IN LETTER
TO HOUSE AND SENATE
Tells Presiding officers That Situa-
ton Is Serious and Demands
Immediate Consideration.

SECRETARY IdTIlSOI lOudN III
rected the attention OF Congress
to the pressing necessity OF re-
placing the antiquated Aqueduct
bridge over the Potomac river at
Georgetown with a wider and
stronger structure. In letter to
the presiding officers OF the Sen
ate and the House the Secretary
of War says he concurs in the
views OF Gen. kingman. chief OF
engineers. and those OF Lieut.
Col. c. A. F. Flagler, the engineer
officer in charge OF the repairs te
the piers OF the old bridge, to the
effect that the situation is one
demanding serious and immediate
consideration" and saying that
early action authorizing surveys
and plans for the construction oi
a new bridge is highly desir-
able"
Secretary Garrison states that
the chief of engineers believes
ION account of the important
traffic and navigation interests in
volved'' that the department
should be left free in any appro-
priation which may be made for
the. purpose, "to assign the sur
veys and the recommendations
as to the site, within such limits
as Congress may fix, and also
the preparation of plans, to a
board of engineer officers" The
Secretary adds that he roncurs in
that suggestion.
Basis for Departments Action.
The action of the War Department in
this matter is based on special report
made by Col Flagler showing the danger
Gus condition of the Aeue1uct bridge.
'As result Of Inspections says Col
Flagler. made in connection with the an
nuai repairs to the piers Of the Aqueduct
bridge across the Potomac river. 1 am
compelled to report that ! do not con-
slider the bridge safe for the traffic now
using it, and l do not believe, without a
radical change in the methods employed
for the maintenance of the bridge. that
it will long be safe for traffic of any
kind.
Il therefore urge that recommenda
tions be made to the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia that the
traffic regulations for the bridge be
Immediately modified as follows:
Ga). That not more than one street
railway car be allowed on the bridge.
"tb). That the maximum weight of
wheeled vehicles permitted on the
bridge be three tons for animal drawn
vehicles exclusive of the animals) and
four tons for motor vehicles.
go. That police supervision be had
to prevent excessive overlooking of
the bridge by traffic at any time.
Id That during periods Of heavy
ice movement in the river all traffic
over the bridge be suspended.
Condition of Old Piers.
Il further urge that the condition of
the piers Cfully described in the re-
port) be brought to the attention of
Congress with a recommendation that
funds be provided soon as practical
BILE. either for the reconstruction of all
oil piers uhree are new) in the exist
ing bridge or for the construction of a
new bridge to replace the present one"
After giving a history of the old
bridge and describing the condition of
each of the five defective p ers and the
method of repairing them, Col. Fla Ter
saws:
Il consider the situation as one de-
manding serious and immediate con-
l believe that the reduc-
ton of traffic recommended, with a care
full observance of movement in the
piers, will render the bridge reason
ably safe until next spring, but still not
devoid of danger. Various sites for new
bridges have been suggested. These
sites are (a) just above the present
site, 90 foot of gath street. tc) foot of
II street, (d) the Arlington Memorial
bridge), from Potomac Park near the
memorial.
"The last is not well located to serve
the traffic now using the Aqueduct
bridge. Any of the others probably
would be entirely satisfactory.
Bridge Built in 1888.
"If rebuilding of the old piers in the
present bridge can be undertaken the
work can be done without entire stop
page of traffic. The present superstruc-
ture of the Aqueduct bridge is rather
light iron truss. which was erected in
1888. The vibration under heavy loads
on the bridge appears to me excessive.
but the superstructure is not under
charge of this office, and l have there
fore had no examination made of it,"
In addition to notifying Congress of
the condition of the Aqueduct bridge
Secretary Garrison also sent a copy of
The report of Col. Flagler. suggesting
safety regulations to govern traffic
over the bridge, to the Commissioners
IF the District. who have entire juris-
LECTION over the superstructure Of the
bridge.