Evening star., 1916-04-27
Secretary of War Baker Sub
mits Recommendation on
Aqueduct Project.
GEN. BLACK AN ADVOCATE
OF BATH STREET TERMINUS
Georgetown People Disposed to View
This as the 'Next Best"
Location. g.

Following his personal inspection
yesterday afternoon of the various sites
suggested for the proposed new Aque-
duct bridge, Newton D. Baker. Secre-
tary of War. today informed Senator
James P. Clarke. chairman Of the Sem
ate committee on commerce. that he
favored the construction Of the pro-
posed bridge "at or near the site of the
present Aqueduct bridge. SO as to fur
nish direct connection between George
town and Rosslyn, Va"
To the newspaper men to whom he
spoke on the subject Secretary Baker
said he regarded the foot of 34th street.
Georgetown. as the logical place for the
Washington approach. all things con-
sidered, and was of opinion that the
selection of site at 27th and H streets
or anywhere east of 34th street, might
prejudice, or at least delay. the execu-
ton of the plan to construct a me-
mortal bridge across the Potomac from
23d street to the Arlington national
cemetery.
Letter to Chairman Clarke.
In his letter to the chairman of the
Senate committee on commerce. Secre-
tary Baker said:
II have the honor to make further
reply. as follows. to letter of March 10,
1916. from the clerk of the Senate COM
mittee on commerce, in which he re-
quests such suggestions as the Sec
retary OF War may deem proper touch
ing the merits and propriety Of pas
sage Of S. Res. 120, Sixty-fourth Con-
cation of-the Aqueduct bridge across
the Potomac river.
with reference to the first section
of the resolution, which proposes to re-
what, IL any, request has been made by
any committee of Congress for his
opinion as to a suitable and proper To-
cation; and if so. his answer thereto.
your attention is invited to the reply to
that question given in letter from my
predecessor tcopy herewith) to the
chairman of the House committee on
interstate and foreign commerce, jan
uary %, 1916, reporting on H r. 759.
Sixty fourth Congress, first session, to
provide for the removal of the present
Aqueduct bridge and the erection of
new structure.
Arranged Public Hearing.
with reference to the second sec
ton of the resolution received from
your committee, which proposes to re-
quest the Secretary of War to report
what in his opinion would be a proper
and suitable location for the structure,
taking into consideration the military
necessities and requirements of the
government and the business interests
of the District of Columbia. 1 beg to
state that as the question was entirely
new to me, I have taken it up with the
Commissioners of the District of Co
lumbia and with the chief of engineers.
AT my suggestion the Commission
ers held public hearing on the subject
after due advertisement They have
favored me with a report. dated the
5th instant tcopy herewith), describing
their proceedings and stating that they
are firmly convinced that a site for the
proposed new structure at or near the
present Aqueduct bridge should be
adopted.
The chief of engineers gave the mat
ter independent study and also con-
sidered the views of the District Com
missioners. His memorandum is here
with
After due consideration I therefore
recommend that the proposed bridge
be constructed at or near the site of
the present Aqueduct bridge, SO as to
furnish direct connection between
Georgetown and Rosslyn, Va.
Review of Bridge Question.
The letter of Secretary Baker to the
Senate committee is accompanied by a
memorandum prepared by Gen. William
NJ Black, chief of engineers of the
army, reviewing the general question
of bridges across the Potomac in this
vicinity and recommending the con-
struction of the new Aqueduct bridge
ION line joining the intersection of NJ
and 34th streets. with a point in Ross
lyn near the existing bridge"
THE District Of Columbia" says Gen.
Black. sis now connected with the Vir-
ginia shore of the Potomac by three
highway bridges. viz. % the Chain
bridge. located near the District line
and approximately three and quarter
the Aqueduct bridge, between 36th
street. Georgetown, and Rosslyn, Va,
and CD the Highway bridge, near the
site of the old Long bridge at the foot
of 14th street, Washington, and two
and a half miles below the Auueduct
bridge.
Another bridge has long been In con-
temptation, to be called the Memorial
bridge. the site proposed for which is
in the prolongation of a line joining
the Capitol. the Washington Monument
and the Lincoln memorial. 1t is prob
a BILE that eventually a fifth bridge will
Diary of the District and leading to