The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-12-15
WILL REPAIR.
BAYOU BRIDGE.
Secretary of War Baker
States That SIS, 900 Avail
able for the Purpose.

That the bridge at Bayou Grands
viii be repaired in the near future and
that approximately $4,000 is to be used
for the work is the statement Of Sec
rotary of War Newton d. Baker in a
letter to Senator Fletcher, who. owing
to his interest in the matter, has for
warded it to c. E Dobson.
The matter has repeatedly been
brought to the attention OF the War
and Navy Departments, and Mr.. Dob
son stated that ON his recent visit to
Washington, he called ON the secre-
tary of war, and submitted the matter
to him. 1t is this reference to the
matter in the letter following, which
says that the matter was taken up for
consideration on December 9.
Plans are also being made for
placing the road under the supervision
of the War or Navy Department, ana
if this is done 1t is probable that it
will be paved Further improvements
are planned, extending the road from
the turn at the cemetery wall to Fort
Redoubt, thence to old Fort San Car
los, and beyond to the lighthouse, thus
bringing it to within short distance
of the terminus of the Gulf Beach
Highway and nearer Perdido river.
survey of this route will probably
introduced into congress providing for
the expenditure.
Following is the letter from the
secretary of war to Senator Fletcher:
Honorable Duncan u. Fletcher,
United States Senate.
my Dear Senator:
Il. I have the honor to refer to
your call at the department recently
in connection with the present condi-
ton of the road running from Pensa-
cola, Florida, to Fort Barrancas, and
the bridge over Bayou Grande, and
proposed extension of this road to
two ancient fortifications-one Re-
doubt and the other Fort San Carlos;
and to advise you as follows:
'.2. The records of the quartermas-
ter generals office show that the road
leading from Pensacola to the Bar
rancas National Cemetery was con-
structed under authority of act Of con-
gress (sundry civil approved July /.
1898, which appropriated $4,000 for
the purpose. The road was in three
parts: From the cemetery TO Bayou
Grande, about 1876 feet; bridge over
the Bayou Grande, 1,270 rect; and from
Bayou Grande to Pensacola, about 4.6
miles. A map showing location of the
road is inclosed
49, An appropriation of $4,000.
made in the Sundry Civil Appropria-
ton Act approved March 4, 1907, was
expended in the reconstruction of the
bridge over Bayou Grande and repair
of the road from Bayou Grande to the
cemetery. No repairs were made from
this appropriation to the portion of
the road from Bayou Grande 70 PEN
sacola, as it appeared from maps and
other data in the county clerks office
that the city had paved a portion OF
this road, which apparently was under
the control OF the county authorities.
"a On October rs, 1915, the quarter
master general was advised by the
quartermaster, New Orleans, La, that
a storm on October 18th damaged the
bridge over the Bayou Grande and that
it would probably require $4,000 to re-
pair 1t, and on October 2Sth authority
was given to the quartermaster at
New Orleans TO send his superinten-
dent of construction TO the Barrancas
National Cemetery to survey the
bridge and approach road from that
point to the cemetery, and to submit
recommendation as to what repairs
should be made, with estimate OF costs,
etc. and the quartermaster was also
advised that the available balance OF
----------------
Continued on Page Eighty