Evening star., 1924-06-27
BRIDGE FLOOR GIVES
WAY UNDER TRUCK
Eight PIanks Break as Load
of Lumber Is Taken Over
Pennsylvania Ave. Span.
POLICE START INQUIRY
Structure Has Long Been Con-
demned by Citizens-Extensive
Repairs Are Planned.

Eight planks Of that "rickety old
pennsylvania avenue bridge" com
planned of so often by Southeast Cit
izens' Association committees as un-
safe, gave way under the right rear
wheel of a five-ton truck of the Tri-
State Trucking Corporation of this
city today. as it was nosing its way
to the far side under a big load of
lumber
What prevented a serious accident
was the fact that the portion of the
bridge which gave way was the
planking between the single set of
street car tracks, which transverse
it, this set of planks being only three
feet long, laid crosswise on the
bridge.
The accident is expected to revive
interest in the proposal to replace
this structure with one more modern
and in keeping with the approach to
the National Capital.
New Bridge Favored.
Engineer Commissioner Bell and
Commissioner Rudolph today both de-
clared themselves in favor Of a new
commissioner
soon as an appropriation can be OBJ
tained from Congress. Commissioner
Oyster is known to be for replace
ment of all bridges that have been
in service for many years and become
inadequate.
Maj. Bell pointed out that the
engineer department is preparing
now to refioor the bridge and to
nho1
project to be paid for out of the
gasoline tax fund. The abandoned
tracks of the East Washington
Heights Traction railroad will be
taken up when the repairs are made.
In today's accident the rear wheel
of the truck sank far below the axle,
but the other wheels sustained the
Veh1cle and workmen are now un-
loading the truck to pull it out
Police Start Inquiry.
Police from the fifth precinct were
rushed to the scene to guard against
any danger that might arise from the
break. An investigation is under
way by the police department to see
whether there was a violation of the
regulation, as printed in signs over
each end of the bridge, prohibiting
vehicles whose weight including the
load is more than six tons from go
ing across 1T, and photographs were
taken of the truck and the break in
the flooring
pany, who was on the scene, said
that the truck was one of a five-ton
capacity, but he declared that the
ioad was not regarded as an ex-
tremely heavy one. Tbs lumber on
the truck consisted of joists and
boards for building and a number of
WINDOW frames and trimmings.
Bridge Declared Safe.
Numerous complaints have been
filed with the District authorities in
the past anent the condition of the
bridge. but the general opinion ex-
pressed by the District experts was
that, while the bridge made for
rough riding on accoun, of the
planks in it, it was perfectly safe for
traffic, coming within the weight Inn
1tation as cited above.
Among the civic leaders who have
been most active in advocating the
replacement of this bridge are DR.. c.
M Emmons, A. g. Hermann, Capt
The, bridge on which today's accident
occurred has been in use for nearly
tnirty,five years, having been built
Inc scene or the accident is about
100 yards from the far end of the
bridge. The truck was hugging the
right side, with its right wheels in
the middle of the street car tracks
Had the break occurred further to the
left those planks might have plunged
the truck, load and ALL into tre Eastern
branct below.
None Is Injured.
There was no injuries as the re-
suit of the accident, and traffic
across the bridge was not impeded,
police directing motorists around the
spot where the break occurred. At
noon it was expected that it would
be the work of only a few hours to
get the truck unloaded and out Of the
rut.
Several observers of the break,
although by no means technical ex-
perts. expressed the opinion that the
blanks which gave way were rotten,
from all appearances.
The Commissioners decided not to
close the bridge because OF the ac-
cident. A traffic officer, however, was
placed on the structure to direct We
hicles away from the spot where the
truck broke through the flooring
while repairs are being made.