Evening star., 1925-03-10
MEMORIAL BRIDGE FIGHT Won,
TRADE BOARD TURNS TO MALL
Success of 35-Year Drive for RiUer Span Makes Or
ganisation Confident of Achieving Proper
Development South of AUenue.

THE recent action of Congress in
authorizing the erection of the Ar
lington Memorial Bridge at a cost of
$14.750,000 and the first 100000 ac-
tually appropriated means that the
Washington Board of Trade has sue
ceeded in a tireless drive for more
than 35 years, and that with the COM
pletion of this bridge another great
aim of this trade organization
velopment of the Mall south of Penn
sylvania avenue from the Capitol to
Lincoln Memorial, in conformity with
the comprehensive scheme of Capital
beautification-will be carried out.
In the thirty fourth annual report
of the board, which went to press be-
fore Congress passed the Arlington
Memorial Bridge measure. George w.
Offutt. chairman OF the committee on
bridges, carries a reminder that 'the
most ancient and honorable project
before the Board of Trade Is the
Memorial Bridge. third OF a CEN
tury has passed since the submission
of the splendid report Of your COM
mittee on bridges at that time ad-
vocating the construction of the
Memorial Bridge. and through all
these years your bylaws have an
nually contained the injunction to
your bridge committee that 1T shall
give special attention to the promo
tion of the proposed Memorial Bridge
Given Presidential support.
1T has received the support of
many Presidents of the United
States" continues the report; lit has
been approved by congressional ap-
propriations more than once since the
Fifty fourth Congress; national and
patriotic societies have urged its con-
struction. 1t is far beyond the
bounds of local Improvement and is
so truly national as to demand the
support of all sections and OF all
people"
In the board archives is a pamphlet
which shows that elaborate plans
and designs for this bridge were
worked out under board auspices a
third of a century, ago. In this re-
port is is stated:
The need of bridge. conveniently
located, has long been felt In Wash
ington, for the purpose of connecting
the heart of the city with the coun-
try on the opposite bank OF the Po-
tomac and at the same time making
the Arlington National Cemetery and
the adjacent military post at Fort
Myer more accessible. The project
has been many years under discus
sion and Congress has passed
number of acts relative thereto. Nu-
merous designs have been prepared.
showing virtually all the, variations
known to, the art of bridge building.
Designs Finally Invited.
"Latterly. the monumental or me-
mortal idea has been more insisted
upon, and this drift of public senti-
ment finally terminted in the invita-
htr No Nyaf
several of the prominent bridge en-
gineers of the country to associate
themselves with architects and COM
pete for the design of a bridge to be
dedicated to American patriotism
The judgment of the competition was
confined to a board consisting of
United States Army engineers and
prominent architects. the result of
whose deliberations was concurred in
by the chief of engineers and duly
approved by the Secretary of War.
Upon the board of awards were
Col. Charles j. Allen, Mai. Thomas
w. SymonS and Capt. ID. ID. Gaillard.
all of the Corps of Engineers, as well
as Stanford White of New, York and
James G.. Hill of Washington, as
architects. They awarded first prize
to a design, the joint work of Will
liam H. Burr civil engineer, and Ed
ward p. Casey, architect.
In the second annual report of the
Board of Trade, made in December
1891, is found this statement, made
by Myron NJ Parker, then president:
Our attention should now be turned
to a bridge across the Potomac to
Arlington at the end of New York
avenue. Arlington is one of the most
historic points about Washington and
is annually becoming more and more
so. At Arlington are buried thou
sands of our brave soldiers. The
most distinguished generals of the
war are fast finding this a resting
place. Sheridan, Ricketts,, Paul,
Belknap, Hazen, Baxter and Crane
here sleep their last sleep. To
these should be added the illustrious
Grant, Sherman and Logan. With