Evening star., 1924-06-28
CAPITOL EXHIBITS
new BRIDGE PLAN
Span Linking Lee Mansion
and Lincoln Shrine to Me-
| m0rialize United Nation.>

nave been placed in the rotunda of
the Capitol and are attracting the
attention of visitors from every state
In the Union. Hearty Endorsement
OF the project from historical and
esthetic viewpoint as we'll as for it's
uti1itarian purpose, and as the start
ing point for great memorial high
way past Arlington national cemetery
to the home of George Washington, at
Mount Vernon, which it is hoped to
have completed by 1882 as a fitting
monument for the bi-centennial cele-
bratien of Washington's birth, is be-
ing given unanimously by tourists
visiting the Capital.
There is historic interest in this
new structure which the public gen.
orally has not yet realized. Such a
bridge first was advocated more than
eighty years ago by Gen. Jackson.
while President, and indersed by Dan
lei Webster, who was orator when the
corner stone for the extension Of the
Capitol was laid on the Fourth of
July. 1851
The part that the Potomac River
has played in the history of this ma
tion and the long hard drive that has
mad TO be made to secure the erection
of suitable bridges across this stream
nave been the subject of special re-
search by Representative Il. Walton
Moore of Virginia
Potomac u Notable River.
Those familiar with the Potomac
from it's source in the mouptains to
Point Lookout, where it enters the
Chesapeake Bay-with all of it's
anr III H.
lowland. with the variety and pic
turesaueness of its natural aspects
cannot fail to regard it as one of the
notable rivers of the world.
Upon its shores the seat of govern
ment was established, an event due
more to the insistence of Thomas
Jefferson than any other individual
that more northern location should
not be selected From that time the
Potomac has been associated with the
is with the history of Rome, the
Thames with the history of England
and the Seine with the history of
France. 1t has become a historic
the entire nation.
1t would require much time, but it
would be giving lesson in patience,
to tell of the efforts marking an ex-
tended period to span the river with
adequate bridges, but there may
properly be some reference to the not
very slightly structure called the
Long Bridge, which was for SO many
years the best that was provided.
Long Brtdse Destroyed.
In the early days Congress showed
the same sort of irritation that it now
often exhibits when compelled to turn
away from the consideration of the
larger subjects engaging it's attention
to the consideration of District affairs.
This was not the uncommon attitude
in the beginning, and in addition the
District suffered from domestic am.
bitions and rivalries. That brilliant
but erratic Virginia statesman John
Randolph of Roanoke is quoted as
saying, while he served in the House
of Representatives, that the interests
of the several parts OF the District
were as hostile as any in the Union;
that there was manifestly an Alex
terest, and within the city Capitol
Hill interest and a Presidents House
interest which were irreconcilabie.
The very first heated local contro-
yersy related to the incorporation OF
company to construct what became
known as the Long Bridge. Finally, in
1908, the charter was granted; the
work proceeded rapidly, and in May,
1909 one hundred and fifteen years ago,
President Madison passed over the new
structure to Alexandria, where he was
entertained by the citizens of that
town.
tion, destroyed by the British and
then rebuilt, and We have seen 1t re-
placed by a more attractive structure
and have seen that paralleled by the
seen the Key Bridge built. which has
an artistic distinction which neither
of the others possesses.
New spnn Long Expected.
But we now are awaiting the con-
struction of another bridge which for
something like three generations, has
been dreamed of-a structure de-
siened to be of unsurpassed dignity
and beauty, connecting the northern
and southern shores of the river and
constituting a memorial which will
stir universal pride and admiration.
Many Presidents, many statesmen,
many conspicuous citizens, some OF
them dead and some living, have ad-
vocated such q project, agreeing as to
-fhe general location while not always
IN agreement rs to the scope and de-
tails of the enterprise.
More than eighty years ago the re-
markable man who then occupied the
office of President advocated a bridge
nassing over the river, connecting the
Capital City with the Virginia hills.
AIluding to that circumstance on the
occasion of laying the corner stone
for the extension of the Capitol on
the 4th of July, 1851, Daniel Webster
in his oration said:
"Before us is the broad and beauti-
ful river, separating two of the orig
inal thirteen states, which late
pre- esident, a man of determined pur-
pose and infiexible will, but a patri-
otic heart, desired to span with
arches of ever enduring granite, SYM
bolicai of the firmly established
union OF the north and south. That
President was Gen. Jackson
Civil War Halted Plans.
The conception of Jackson, which
thus received the approval OF the
Massachusetts, senator, was not car
ried out Within a decade from the
date Of Mr.. webster's speech the Sec
'tions of the Union. which he hoped
was already firmly established. were
I'm the midst of a civil war, which
was largely fought in close proximity
to the river.
Hinder one flag fought the Army OF
the potomac and under the other flag
fought the Army of Northern Vir-
rinia. named for the region which is
washed by the waters of the Potomac.
when the war ended. when all of the
horror and bitterness which 1t had
tenrendered had become like the last
mutter of a retreating storm. the SEN
timent for a bridge, to symbolic the
patriotic and fraternal feeling of a
reunited country, revived
3, President Mckinley, who had serv-
I'd in the Union Army, was one of its
nents was John w. Daniel. the elo-
nuent Virginia senator, who had