The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-04-09
D. K. GIVEN
MEMORIAL
BRIDGE
Report of Arlington Commits
sion to Go to congress-5ills
Will Be Submitted.

Plans for the construction of q
memorial bridge across the Po-
tomac river between the Lincoln
Memorial and the Arlington Ma
tional Cemetery and the develop
ment of the territory adjacent to
both sides of the proposed bridge
at a total cost of $14, 750, 900 were
approved today at a meeting Of
the Arlington Memorial Bridge
Commission held in the White
House with President Coolidge
presiding.
Will Go To Congress.
/ The report of the commission,
together with its recommendations,
will go to Congress in a few days.
Bills providing for this vast project,
the greatest OF its kind in recent
years in the National Capital, will
be Immediately introduced into the
House and Senate.
The plans call for the expendi.
ture of nearly $4,000, 900 within
period of ten years, work to
begin Immediately. The money will
be used as follows:
Memorial bridge proper. $3.50 900
Bridge plaza and water
gate ................... 1000 900
Columbia island .......... 2,S80, 600
Parkway and memorial en-
trance to cemetery. 1896, 900
Extension of B street east
ward to Capitol and wild
IT., ening- to 100 feet. -. 100000
street from Washington
circle to B street 100 900
Total ................s 14,75O, 600
Held Most Economical
Inc commission says it is their
opinion that this proposal is the
most economical and advantageous
one of those suggested and that
the expenditures of the sums in.
VOWED are justified by the impor.
tant results to be secured.
According to the plan. during the
flrst year 100000 will be spent for
the preliminary work OF organizing
engineering forces, preparing work.
ing drawings. grading and dredging,
retaining consultants and LETTING
contracts for actual constructAFn
work on bridge.
For the second year. $2,5O1009 is
to be spent on the river PIERS, en-
abling workmen to complete one half
OF this job. Another $2,500,0O0 is
sought for the third year to con-
plete the piers and begin construc-
ne AA nneSrvs
ture.
The fourth year $3.50, 900 is to
be spent to complete the arches and
span, also, for the plaza and water
gate at Lincoln Memorial avenue
across Columbia Island, twin bridge
over boundary channel, parkway to
cemetery and driveways in cemetery
Ito finish one-half Of this job.
One million dollars each year for
the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and
tenth years is provided.
I'm 1.-The last five years the COM
MISSIONS report says, "the formal
treatment on Columbia Island will
go forward with the filling Of the
island by the dredging in Virginia
channel and by dumping from
trucks. The Memorial entrance to
the cemetery and all landscape work
will be finished at the end OF this
period, including the improvement
OF street and Twenty-third street"
The bridge as now planned, the
report says. consists of nine spans
"a draw span at the center. thanked
on each side by four masonry spans
of graceful profile, having a total
length between terminal pylons of
2,S1S feet, a total width of ninety
feet in the clear and a roadway
sixty feet wide between curbs. hor-
dered on each side by sidewalks OF
fifteen feet in width.
Granite will be used for the fac
ing of the bridge, the material not
only being of great beauty, but
also of most enduring quality,
especially when in contact with or
in the vicinity. Of water.
The Washington entrance to the
bridge is marked with two pylons,
located about 500 feet from the Lin
coin Memorial. Similar pylons are
placed at the entrance to the shore
road and are repeated at the Vir-
ginia entrance of the bridge. They
are 40 feet high and are adorned
on the sides with sculptured groups
and appropriate inscriptions, and
surmounted by eagles symbolic OF
the United States Of America.
Connecting Of the Lee Highway
with the bridge is provided in the
plan.
For nearly seventy.five years
there has been much agitation for
a memorial bridge across the Pc.
tOnac river, the report states. Tt
was first suggested by President
Andrew jackson.