Evening star., 1925-12-08
-FOUR VIRGINIA
BILLS AFFECT D. c.
Bridge Above Georgetown
and Removal of Old Aque-
duct Span Sought.

Four important measures in which
District residents are particularly in
terested have been introduced by
Representative r. Walton Moore.
Democrat, of Virginia, who is looked
upon as the principal spokesman for
the National Capital in the House be-
cause his district Is the one nearest
to Washington and because of his life.
long residence here and his strong in
terest in legisla ton affecting the Dis.
trict of Columbia.
These measures provide for the con.
struction Of a bridge to replace the
old Chain Bridge, up the river west
of Georgetown: to cede to the State
OF Virginia sovereignty over a tract
of land located at Battery Cove. near
Alexandria: for removal of the old
Aqueduct Bridge, which has been re-
placed by the Francis Scott Key
Bridge and for a boulevard to Mount
Vernon.
Perhaps few know that about Al
acres of the District of Columbia are
located within the limits of Alexan-
dria, Va. This land was some time
ago reclaimed by dredging and made
use of during the war. in connection
with the sh:pbuilding plant of Alex
andlia.
Ownership Now Question.
4 question was raised as to whether
the land ia owned by the Government
and constitutes part of the District of
Columbia, it's original location having
been outside of high-water mark
which Is the boundary between Nir-
ginia and the District, or whether it
belongs to Virginia. Two or three
years ago the Supreme Court of the
United States decided the question
adversely to the Virginia claim. The
bill cedeS the sovereignty over the
land to the State of Virginia, but pro-
vides for the sale of the land itself by
the United States at a figure named
in the bill, but as to whether the
cession will be made and the price
for which the land will be sold will. of
course. depend on the action of
Congress
Bridge Bill Asks $3.50 900.
The Moore bill would authorize the
Secretary of War to construct Il new
steel truss bridge to replace the old
Chain Bridge. which connects Canal
road in the District Of Columbia with
the Leesburg turnpike in the State
of Virginia. This bridge would have a
roadway. - feet wide and footway =
feet wide. Mr.. Moore's bill provides
that a new abutment shall be con.
structed at the Virginia end of the
bridge to replace the existing defective
abutment. and that the abutment at
the Canal road end of the bridge and
the existing piers shall be SO modified
TO suit the new structure.
1t authorized an appropriation of
$3.50 900 for the new bridge. The ex,
listing Chain Bridge was built across
the Potomac River in 1874. and is now
known as the Chain Brio
S19O.O0O to Remove Bridge.
Mr.. Moore proposes that work of
removing the old Aqueduct Bridge be
turned over to the Secretary of War
and would authorize an appropriation
Of $50 900. Any balance remaining
from this appropriation might be ap-
piled to such protection and improve
ment work on the Virginia side of the
river in the area ircluded in the ap-
proacheS TO the Aqueduct Bridge and
the new Francis Scott Key Bridge as
may be deemed necessary TO insure
that surrounding conditions har-
monize with the design of the new
bridge and endanger it in no way, he
points out.
The Moore measure provides that
the masonry bridge abutinent on the