Evening star., 1922-01-05
LAND TRAVEL Wins
IN BRIDGE DISPUTE
Given Right of Way Over
Water Traffic in Crossing
Potomac.

Land traffic Is given preference over
water traffic by the War Department
in deciding the long g-continued contro-
versy over the operation of the draw
spans in the Highway bridge and the
Pennsylvania railroad bridge over the
Potomac river at Washington.
For many months complaints have
been made to the department Of de-
lays in the delivery of United States
malls from the south and in the ar
rival and departure of trolley cars,
vehicles and pedestrians moving to
and from this city and Virginia and
points south. due to the frequent
openings Of the bridge spans mainly
for the passage of tugs towing barges
laden with sand and gravel.
Regulations Are Revised.
On the recommendation of Gen.
Beach. chief of engineers of the Army,
Col. Wainwright. assistant secretary
of war, today approved revised regu-
lations to govern the operation of the
draw spans Of the two bridges in
question. The point in dispute be-
tween the land and water interests is
decided in one of the revised regula-
tionS. which reads:
ITO prevent undue interference with
land traffic. tugs or power boats ha-
bitually using this waterway cine
Potomac river at WaShington) shall
be entitled to an opening of the draw
span of either bridge during the
periods from 10 am. to IL am. and
from pm. to pm. and from pm
to am, when the clearance gauges
read more than 16.7 feet; provided.
however, that when the gauges read
less than 16.7 feet the bridges shall
be opened for such craft at all hours
except between 500 am. and $50
am" The existing closed period of
the draws of both bridges is from
$50 am. to $50 ann.
Three Tugs Blamed.
The action of the War Department
was based on reports made by Maj.
Tyler, the District engineer officer in
charge of the improvement OF the
river. including the government
bridges. Public hearings were held
on the issues involved. designed to
reduce interference with land traffic.
Those reports show that during the
past six months three tugs. the Her
bert, Minerva and Mead, operated by
two local sand and gravel companies.
were responsible for 81 per cent of all
tie draw openings during that period.
setting them practically in the class
of a favored industry Maj. Tyler
said that the interference to railroad,
street cars and highway traffic in con-
sequence of these openings was ma
terial.'
In submitting the revised regula-
tions to the Secretary of War, Gen.
Beach made the following comments:
THE new regulations provide that
the bridges shall not be opened eX-
cept during certain :l6urs for the pas
sage of mechanically propelled Ves-
sells that habitually use the river, un-
less the river be at such flood heights
that vessel 1917 feet in clear height
could not pass the closed draw.
Flood Heights Rare.
These flood heights rarely occur.
Such regulations will not delay the
movements of vessels whose super
structures do not project more than
16.7 feet above the water line, as ves-
sells of that height can pass under
the bridges at all ordinary tides with
the draw closed. The restricted Pc
riods provided or any extension of
those periods that would serve the in
tended purpose are not believed sufti-
cient to permit the local sand and
gravel companies to continue business
with tugs exceeding 16.7 feet in
height. To carry on their business
they would probably have to alter the
superstructures of their tugs SO as to
reduce the elevation of the pilot
house.
OBJECTION is made by the naviga-
ton interests concerned to a change
in the regulations of the nature that
has been outlined on the ground that
the lowering of the pilot houses
would reduce the efficiency of the
tugs, since it would restrict the pilot 8
view and would cut down the space
available for quarters and galleys.
The plea was advanced by them that
compliance with federal laws relating