Evening star., 1925-03-15

Hampshire avenue, or EarlNS IoIht
facing Analostan Island This me-
mortal will attract much attention to
that part of the parkway and so will
expedite its development.
John Ericsson Memorial.
East of the bridge site at the inter
section of Twenty third and streets
south, which places it at the south
west corner of the Mall, will be. the
John Ericsson Memorial, now under
way.
With the erection of these two me-
morials and the completion of the en-
trance to the Memorial Bridge, Will
come completion of all the parkway
development in that section, includ-
Ing the riverside OF the Mall, west of
the Lincoln Memorial. That includes
a shifting of the present waterside
drive farther away from the memo
rial to allow rore adequate setting.
The new drive will be closer to the
shore and about feet higher than at
present.
In the fourth year of the bridge
building program. when the arches
and superstructure have been fin
ished, and the draw span installed,
work will be begun on the plaza be-
tween the Lincoln Memorial and the
Memorial Bridge and the water gate
at the Lincoln Memorial The avenue
across Columbia Island will then be
constructed. and the twin bridges
over the boundary channel linking
the project in with the Lee highway
The parkway from the bridge to the
cemetery and driveways in the ceme-
terry will be about half completed
that year
Orna nfentation of Bridge.
In the fifth year the program calls
. bridge
and the twin bridge over the boundary
channel. All work started the year
before will be finished. thus providing
access across the bridge into the
cemetery over a completed avenue
within five years.
During the Following five years
the other great feature of the
project-widening and developing of
b street north from the Lincoln Me
mortal to the Capitol and of Twenty
third street from the Lincoln Me
mortal to Washington Circle will be
carried out
1t must be appreciated that the
entire project authorized by Congress
recognizes the Importance of the final
feature of a parkway extending from
the Capitol straight west to the
Potomac River and that of a plaza
whence radiate the bridge and i'm
portant park roads, including access
10 the Lincoln Memorial and the
river bank. The bridge and the
shore road are symmetrically ar
ranged with respect to the continu-
alton of the axis OF the Mall, both
the road and the bridge being pro-
vided with entrance plans.
Great Flight of Steps.
A monumental flight of steps be-
tween the bridge and the road Will
lead to the river, the whole COM
position thus forming a water gate
giving access through the Mall with
it's important monuments to the Capt.
toll The steps leading down to the
river bank form landing places for
small boats, with piers at either end
Of the steps affording landing places
for larger boats.
The parking on B street north will
be extended to the river bank, and
b street south will be Strengthened
so as to be parallel to the axsi of the
Mall, terminating with a round point
at it's intersection with the Twenty
third street extended to the south
ward of the Lincoln Memorial. This
round point is the site of the
Ericsson memorial. for which funds
are in hand and on which work has
already been started.
The Memorial Bridge itself will be
feet at least will be used.
Bridge Low ns Possible.
In order not to interfere with the
view of the Lincoln Memorial as seen
from Columbia Island, the bridge has
been kept as low as possible consistent
with sound engineering and economy.
1t has nine segmental arches, the CEN
ter span being 1874 feet long, and the
length of the span decreasing grad
ually each way todard the shore, so
that the end spans are 166 feet. The
bridge is to be 2,13S feet long be-
tween the terminal pylons. The road
way is so feet and each of the two
sidewalks Is feet wide, making to-
tai width of 80 feet.
The architecture has been kept as
simple and severe as possible, the
structure mainly depending for its
beauty upon the perfection of its gen
eral proportions and it's adornment
with significant Scripture pieces of
the highest quality of design.
Location of PyIons.
The Washington entrance to the
bridge will be marked with two py-
Ions, located about 500 feet from the
Lincoln Memorial. Sintlar pylons
are placed at the entrance to the
Virginia entrance to the bridge. They
are 40 feet high and are adorned on
the sides with sculptured groups and
appropriate inscriptions, and sur
mounted by eagles symbolic of the
United States of America The sym
bols also are the only sculptured or
naments on the sides of the bridge,
where they are shown in large discs
on both ends of each of the river
piers. The sculpture on the sides OF
the four pylons represents in different
ways the recognition of the common
bonds and aspirations of the Nation
and the final triumph of the idea Of
a permanent and complete Union.
Progress of Nation.
The pairs of figures on either end
of the piers of the bridge represent
symbolically the outcome OF that mar
monious Union. the result OF the eher-
sies of the entire country IN the
arts of peace-that is, those lnVen-
,ions and accomplishments in science
and art particularly connected with
the history of this country. Thus
will be symbolized the agricultural,
engineering, religious and education
al progress. Thus is visualiZed the
entire conception of the design OF the
bridge, differentiating this memorial
from all others and making the rea-
son for it's existence intelligiple at a
glance.
Columbia Island Work.
The Columbia Island development
linking up with the Lee highway and
giving a fitting Washington entrance
TO this transcontinent boulevard is
expected to attract attention Of city
architects from all parts of the'world.
Even before the reclamation of Co
lumbia Island by the dredging opera
tions of the Corps of Engineers had