Evening star., 1922-03-22

the old turnpike between Washing
ton and Leesburg. is completed. as ic
expected to be the case during the
present year, there undoubtedly will
be heavy travel between Washington
and the Great Falls by way of the
Chain bridge. The approach to the
falls on the Virginia side is much
easie and closer than on the Mary
land side.
Chain bridge has had a very inter-
esting history. A bridge was built
across the Potomac river at Little
Falls in 1897, which was destroyed
In 1904. Another bridge was erected
shortly thereafter, but this bridge was
also destroyed. Four years later
bridge supported by chains was built,
and this in turn was destroyed about
| two years later.
On February %. 1911, Congress au-
thorized the directors of the George
rebuild the bridge and empowered
that company to call general meet
ing of the stockholders with view
to levying an assessment for rebuild
{ ing the bridge. Up until 1888 these
structures were under the control of
private parties.
Congress appropriated $150.000 on
, March 2, 1S33 to aid the citizens of
Georgetown to purchase and make
free the then existing bridge over
Little Falls, and the act of the
Georgetown boards of aldermen and
the common council. approved March
II, 1888, provided for the purchase of
! The bridge and for declaring the same
Tree.
1t should be noted that at that time
| the approaches to the bridge and the
abutments on both sides of the river
were in federal territory, as it was
not until 1916 that an act of Congress
provided for the retrocesSion to the
! state of Virginia of that portion Of
the District of Columbia formerly
ceded by that state.
The act of Congress, approved March
3. 1853, making appropriations for the
civil and diplomatic expenses of the
government for the fiscal year ending
June 30. 1854, appropriated $4,000 to
be expended under the direction of
| the President of the United States for
the construction of a bridge across
the Potomac river at Little Falls.
An appropriation of 100000 was
made by act of Congress, approved
June 10. 1872. for rebuilding the then
existing bridge and it also provided
that the bridge should be rebuilt as a
substantial iron structure upon plans
to be approved by the chief of engi-
neers of the Army and under his su-
pervision. The bridge so authorized
was constructed under contract be-
tween the United States and the
Phoenix Bridge Company in 1874, and
is now known as the Chain bridge
L.
care OF the Benning, Anacostia and
Chain bridges was made by Congress
in the sundry civil supply bill for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1850, APP
proved March 3, 1879, as well as
$500 for replanking and painting
the Chain bridge. since which time
the District of Columbia has con-
tributed to its maintenance. From
1854 to 1850 the Chain bridge was
maintained solely as a federal bridge.
This is one of the important struc-
lures started by the federal govern
ment which have served their purpose
for many years, but which are now
out of date, unsafe and wholly made
quate, that for the public interest and
welfare and safety must be replaced
| by others of modern design to meet
entirely different conditions than
those for which the original structure
was designed. The Chain bridge was
never intended, even in its early days
of greater strength than today. to
bear anything like the load It is car
The promise of Chairman Focht OF
the House District committee that he
| will get earnestly behind the Moore
bill for new bridge to replace the
Chain bridge looks toward progress
sive legislation and an Improvement
that will extend its benefits far be-
ropd the District.