Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-08
NEW CHAIN BRIDGE
HELD IMPERATIVE
Replacing of Span Should Not
Be Charged to D. c., How
ever, Says Col. Bell.

Imperative need for a new bridge
replacing the old Chain Bridge. which
is in 4 weakened condition and en-
ttrely inadequate to meet current
needs. was emphasized at a hearing
oday before q subcommittee Of the
House District committee.
The injustice OF expecting the tax
payers of the District OF Columbia 10
contribute toward the erection of 4
new bridge was also emphasized.
The bin, introduced by Representa-
tive Moore. Democrat, OF Virginia.
would require roadway 81 feet wide.
and footpath 8 feet wide. 1t would
provide for a new abutment on the
Virginia end. the entire work 10 cost
approximately $35o.000. and the con
struction to be done under the Score
airy OF War.
Mr.. Moore said that this legislation
was drawn in accordance with the
views Of the District Commissioners.
Engineer Commissioner Bell gave a
detailed history of the Chain Bridge
since it was originally built. in 1891.
The present bridge was completed In
1874. he said. and turned over TO the
District in 1886. Since that time the
District has paid only for painting
refiooring and repair work and for the
salary of the Waterman.
Built BY L. s.
The bridge was built from United
States funds, but since 1886 has been
maintained by the District of Column
biA 1t Is the view OF the Commits
sioners, Col. Bell said. that the bridge
is of national rather than local char
acter. 1t serves a large part OF Viz
ginia and Maryland and is an ap
proach to the Lee highway. One end
is in the District Of Columbia and thu
other in Virginia.
d. E. McComb, District engineer of
bridges. told the subcommittee that
many tubular members in bridge
have never been painted and cannot
be painted or examined. He stressed
The fact that there is no way Of know
ing the state of these tubes, but that
they certainly must be deteriorating.
The bridge has been considerably
weakened in recent years. Some Of
the steel has not been painted in So
years and Is not in good shape.
The load that can be carried across
the bridge has been restricted to 8
tons. The Virginia abutment has been
damaged by quarrying, and has
moved and must be examined at regu-
lar intervals, Engineer McComb said.
The bridge is declared too narrow, and
there is no provision for pedestrians.
causing O constant hazard.
Because of the restriction to 6-ton
rucllioads, a considerable amount of
he traffic has been diverted to other
bridges. Col Bell explained that $4,000
pounds is the load limit in the District
and that the average load is from 22,-
900 to $4,000.
Opposes Charging L. 5.
Col. Bell explained to the committee
that under the lump sum appropria-
ton and the Borland proposition the
Federal Government has not con-
tributed more than 10 or IL per cent
toward the construction Of roads and
bridges in the District of Columbia. 1t
is not fair for the people Of the Dis
trict to take the burden of construct
ing this bridge, he said.
Mr.. Moore said 1t was simply i'm
possible tor the State of Virginia to
participate in this construction. be-
cause of its other road building pro-
gram now in progress, which Is of
great benefit to the District.
Mr.. McComb said that $4,000 would
be required to investigate the con.
dition of Chain Bridge. 1t cannot
he strengthened to bear more than
the present traffic without being COM
pletely reconstructed, he said
George W. Offutt, chairman of the
committee on bridges of the Wash
ington Board Of Trade, told the sub
committee that a survey shows that
the Chain Bridge is the worst Of
all the bridges In the District.