Evening star., 1922-03-22
Bridge at Little Falls
To Replace Old Chain Bridge
7 INFLUENCED by the fact that
Army engineers have reported

7 INFLUENCED by the fact that
Army engineers have reported
the Chain bridge across the Po-
tomac river, a couple of miles
west of Georgetown, structurally un-
safe, and impressed by the need for
a modern bridge on this main high
way connecting the National Capital
and the south, Chairman Focht of
the House District committee has
promised early and favorable action
upon bill which has been pending
during the last two Congresses, au-
thorizing a new bridge.
The fact that automobilists have
taxed the Chain bridge far in excess
of the capacity originally intended,
and the further fact that with the
building of an improved highway on
the Virginia side, which will multiply
the number of motor cars crossing this
bridge are reasons why strong pres
sure has been brought to bear upon
Chairman Focht and other members
of the House District committee.
Because very considerable pro-
portion of the products sustaining
the city of Washington come over
this bridge is another reason-the
increasing weight of these vehlcuar
loads, many of them on large motor
trucks, daily taxing the bridge far in
excess of the strain it was designed
to carry, when it was built In 1874.
Representative r. Walton Moore OF
Virginia, whose district is connected
with Washington by this BRIDGE
across which comes milk and fruits
and vegetables for Washington con-
sumers, and raised in his district. IN
troduced in the Sixty-sixth Congress
a bill looking to a new bridge. which
was favorably reported on March 8,
1920. 1t directed the District Com
mssioners to investigate the condi-
ton of the Chain bridge and If they
found that it was necessary Tor a
new bridge to be erected they should
have plans prepared for such
structure.
The report pointed out that the
Chain bridge was built in 1874, nearly
fifty years ago. 1t was designed Tor
a distributed load of seventy-fiVe tons
per square foot. or concentrated
yehicular load of six tons. To meet
the present requirements prouGht
about largely by the heavier vehicles
used in modern highway transporta-
ton, it is necessary that the bridge
carry vehicular load of at least
fifteen tons. or two ana one-hal1
times the present carrying capacity
of the bridge. The bridge has there
fore become structurally unsafe for
mAdern traffic. the report says. which
necessitateS Il new bridge. plans for
which the Moore bill authorized.
1t appeared also from hearings held
by the District committee that sound
;ngs and Investigations must neces-
sarily be made in order to determine
the character OF the foundations pc
fore an >eNact location can be made
judiciously, and this investigation
also is prerequisite to drawing the
plans. as we'll as for determining
the character of the structure that
necessarily will be built 1t is noted
that the committee sanctioned the
expenditure of s2,500 for this pre-
liminary investigation.
In the present Congress. on April
IL. 1921, Representative Moore again
introduced this bill, which failed of
passage in the Sixty-sixth Congress.
and this bill now is awaiting action.
but promised favorable report from
the House District committee.
The District Commissioners recon-
mended to the bureau of the budget
an appropriation for the preliminary
survey which the Moore bill seeks to
authorize, but it was not approved.
when the District bill was under con-
sideration.
Arrangements now are being made
on the Virginia side of the river to
connect the Letter road, which Is an
excellent macadam road between the
Chain bridge and Langley. with re-
constructed road west of Langley.
from which short spur will run to
the virginia shore of the Potomac at
the Great Falls. Already sufficient
funds to insure the speedy construc-
ton of the highway have been gotten
together.
When the road. which is part OF