The Washington times., 1925-03-04

Magnificent Structure Also
Will Bind North and South.
Some Of Its Beauties

Some OF It's beauIles
/ This summer will witness the
beginning Of one Of the greatest
single building projects under
taken in the history of the Ma.
tional Capitalize beginning OF
concrete realization Of a dream
which has engrossed national
leaders for three quarters OF a
century.
The project is to symbolic the
reunion of North and South in
the form Of a majestic white
granite bridge across the Potomac
river-once the barrier between
the warning north and south. In
| furtherance of the symbol the
bridge is to be constructed on the
| line between the Lincoln Memorial
and the Lee Mansion in Airing
ton, joining these splendid re-
minders Of the careers of two OF
the leading actors in both causes,
The bridge, moreover, will serve
as the link between the Lincoln
and Lee transcontinental high
ways.
The bridge itself, while the
most important feature of the
project, will be equaled in mag
nificence by the setting which is
ITO be provided for it.
Great Boulevard Provided.
The same law which authorizes
construction of the bridge also pro
vides, as integral features Of the
project the building Of a great park
boulevard from the Capitol to Ar
lington, along the site Of B street
northwest, extended to the Potomac
construction Of a boulevard alone
Twenty-third street from Washing
ton circle to the Lincoln Memorial
development of Columbia Island
| into one of the finest formal parks
in the world; construction of mag
nificent water gates" to form set
tings for the Lincoln Memorial and
| the proposed temple marking the
starting point of the Lee Highway
on the north end of Columbia Is
land; laying out of great plazas
between the Lincoln Memorial and
the river, on Columbia Island and
at Arlington Cemetery, and con
struction Of a great memorial en-
trance to the cemetery.
Great Victory pylons, surmounted
by American eagles and bearing or
their sides beautiful statuary groups
will rise from these plazas: four or
the Lincoln Memorial plaza and
two on the western plaza.
On Columbia Island will rise
mighty columns symbolizing the
North and the South,
Ready Ten Years Hence.
Twin bridges Of granite. OF Tho
same design as the memorial bridge
will connect the Columbia Island
rark with the Virginia shore, Owe,
these bridges will cross the Arli:,g
ton boulevard and the Lee High
way.
From the Virginia shore splen.
did double boulevard, Of the most
stately beauty, lying in the center
of broad park. will extend Is rhe
memorial entrance to Arlington.
The entire project is to consume
ten years and will cost $14.7 $50 900
Of which $7,500,0 900 will be required
for the bridge. Detailed plans have
been completed by the Arlington
Memorial Bridge Commission, which
| was created by Congress in 1913
| Work on the bridge is to begin
this summer under the terms OF a
provision, carrying an appropriation
OF 100000. inserted in the second
deficiency appropriation bill. The
next twelve months. II the House
agrees to this appropriation, will
witness the completion of all the
preliminary work.
Preliminary Work Soon.
The engineering forces will be
organized during the next two
months, according to plans Of the
commission.
Equipment and instruments will
be purchased as soon as the ap-
preparation becomes available, a
working plant will be erected and
working drawings prepared,
Grading and dredging, involving
the moving Of 100000 cubic Yards
of earth and mud, will be com.
pleted.
Contracts for the bridge work will
be let as soon as the preliminary
work is well under way.
The plan for construction of a
memorial bridge from Washington
to Arlington Cemetery has been
under consideration for seventy.
five years, having first been ad.
vocated by President jackson.
In an address made on the
Fourth Of July, 1851, before q
Washington audience, Daniel Web
ster referred to the dream Of PresI
dent Jackson, as follows:
Before us is the broad and beau
tiful river, separating two of the
original thirteen States which a
late PI esident, man of determined
purpose and inflexible will, but
patriotic heart, desired to span with