The Washington times., 1917-01-25
Secretary Baker Personally In
dorses Extra Appropriation
Asked by Engineers.
RECOMMENDS s1,5oo,ooo
Original Sum to Be Raised
Nearly so Per Cent, Accord
ing to Amendment.

an increase of nearly so per cent in
the appropriation for the Key bridge,
has transmitted a letter to Congress
strongly urging favorable action.
Secretary Baker accompanied his
letter with a draft OF an amendment
TO the Key bridge bill, increasing the
<1.O00,00 appropriation to $1,000, 900.
In his letter Secretary Baker says
the bridge as planned will cost
81, 451 900, exclusive of land purchases.
Congress already has made 500, 900
of its original appropriation for the
bridge. proper Immediately available
and $4,000 for land purchases.
Appropriation Of q, 400 500.
To make the appropriation suffi-
cient to cover estimated costs, Secre-
tsry Bakers amendment provides for
an appropriation of 81, 400 900, which,
with the 100000 already available,
. I.5O0, 900, with the $4,000 f6f land
purchases added.
Secretary Baker has added the
strength of his personal Endorsement
to the request for an additional ap-
PAOpIAdNlOh AAiIOuBh LCdI Nhdl
Congress is shown the Importance of
the increase 1t may fail in the jam
at the close of the session and the
bridge construction be delayed. The
Secretary in his letter the President
of the Senate and Speaker OF the
House said:
Secretary Bakers Letter.
referring to the act OF Congress,
approved May Il, 1916, to provide for
the removal of what is now known
as the Aueduct bridge across the
Potomac river and for the building
of a bridge in place thereof and fix
ing the cost at not more than 81 ,000.-
600. careful and extensive studies
show that with the increased price
of materials and labor a satisfactory
and creditable single-deck bridge will
cost, exclusive of land purchase, not
less than 81 ,363,000 for connection
with NJ street in Georget own ami $685.
600 additional If an approach to ITos-
pect street is provided.
Approach Desirable.
This latter approach is very de-
sirable, and, in my judgment, should
be combined with the structure.
Il have, therefore, the honor to
recommend that the act referred to be
amended by placing the cost of The
bridge at not more than 81 ,590.0 900,
exclusive OF the acquisition of neces-
sary land. A draft of the bill is sub
mitted herewith"
The amendment submitted to Con-
Eress by the Secretary provides, as
in the original bill, for division of
costs between the Federal and Dis
tTict governments. The draft OF the
amendment provides:
Amendment Submitted.
That the limit of cost for the
bridge across the Potomac river as
fixed by the act of Congress approved
May Is, 1916, entitled AN act to pro-
vide for the removal of what is known
as the Aqueduct bridge, across the
Potomac river, and for the building
n a bridge in place thereof be and
is hereby extended to 81 800 900, ex-
elusive of the amount necessary for
securing proper plans and for acquir-
ing any lands, easements, rights, or
property necessary for the construc-
ton OF said bridge and the ap-
proaches thereto, and authority is
hereby granted to the Secretary OF
War to enter into a contract or con-
tracts for the completion of sad
bridge in an amount not exceeding 81,
100000. exclusive of the amounts
heretofore appropriated for the said
bridge, one-half of the said sum Of
$l.4O0,OO0 to be payable out OF any
money in the Treasury not otherwi sc
Appropriated and the other half out
~ he - h. ;of 80
lumbia."
Necessity of Approach.
In his letter to the presiding Of
ficers of both houses Secretary Bak-
er lays particular stress on the neces-
sity of providing an approach to
Prospect avenue.
The most important feature of the
approved bridge plans is that pro-
viding for this direct connection with
Prospect avenue by means of the via
duct across NJ street at Thirty-fifth
street.
At present the only means pedes-
trians have OF reaching the northwest
section of the city above NJ street af-
ter crossing the Aqueduct bridge is
by climbing a high flight of steps at
Thirty-sixth street. Vehicles cross
ing the bridge from Virginia must go
east on NJ street to Thirty-fourth
street to find a good roadway to the
streets above N street, and even then
there is a stiff hill to climb.
Direct Connection.
BY means of the viaduct across NJ
street direct connection will be af-
forded between the Virginia shore ana
these upper strets. For the first time
direct connection will be given with
two car systems, the Capital Traction
lines at Thirty-fourth and NJ and the
Washington Railway and Electric at
Thirty-fifth and Prospect avenue.
The bridge will be a paraboIic arch.
structure with open spandrels. There
will be five arches 200 feet long over
the water, one OF $50 feet over Water
street, and one of $50 feet over the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal
Division OF Space.
There will be a roadway proper of
eighty feet, with a fifty-six foot traf-
nc roadway, accommodating double
street car tracks. and an eighteen-foot
motor and vehicuIar traffic roadway
on either side of the car tracks.
There will be a ten-foot sidewalk IN
either side.
l.