Evening star., 1926-12-28
ARLINGTON BRIDGE
CHANGES ORDERED
Architects to Revise Plans
for Approaches to Memo
rial Structure.

Architects of the Arlington Me.
mortal Bridge will be directed imme-
diately to revise their plans by re-
study of the terminals on both sides
of the river to include changes sug-
gested in the approaches of both the
Washington and Virginia ends Of the
bridge by the Commission of Fine
Arts.
Lieut.. Col. u. S. Grant. Sd, execu-
tive officer of the Arlington Memo
rial Bridge Commission, said today
he would Immediately communicate
with the bridge architects in his Of
flee and with the firm of Mcklm,
Mead & White, the contract arch1-
tects, requesting them to make an
other study of the east and west APP
proaches of the bridge to provide for
placing the Virginia end of the struc-
ture literally on the west bank of
the Potomac, and a treatment of b
street northwest that will swing 1t In
O. continuous thoroughfare around
the Lincoln Memorial to the eastern
terminus Of the Arlington Bridge
Water Gate Plans Unchanged.
Plans for a water gate and landing
at the east end of the bridge on the
banks of the river Immediately west
unchanged.
The changes suggested by qhe coIn-
mission and indorsed by Col. Grant
have come in ample time, C4l. Grant
said, to avoid further delay and FUR
ther EXPENSE in preparation of plans
or in carrying them out. In tact.
Col. Grant said there may be a slght
saving in the entire cost OF tn e brldge
by the suggested new treat tment OF
the eastern and western approaches.
B street, under the suggeS ted new
plan, will swing around the Lincoln
Memorial to the eastern terminus OF
the bridge, and will join In with
roadway extending south into Poto-
mac Park, Of equally distinctive
treatment Col. Grant emphasized
that the Potomac Park roadway must
be as dignified as the roadway con-
Meeting the bridge with b street.
Western Terminus Project.
The re-study of the Western term
inns of the bridge on the Virginia side
80 made necessary. the Fine Arts
Commission said. by a plan prepared
in the office of the Secretary or war
which will bring the lands OF Arnng.
ton National Cemetery substantially
down to the Potomac River. rms
will involve utilization of the property
now occupied by the experimental
farm of the Department of Agrlcui-
tur, and transfer of the farm 10 some
other point in or near washington.
From the Virginia end OF the orldge
a wide roadway, to be know n as the
Mount Vernon boulevard, Will run
southwark to the home of the FIRST
President, while the Lee Highway Will
start west from another terminus on
Columbia Island connecting with the
bridge itself.
B street is visualized in the sug-
pes+ed changes as a broad thorough
fare of the very highest class
throughout it's entire course from
the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial,
fanked on both sides with public
buildings. "an opportunity which
even the treatment of Pennsylvania
avenue does not afford"
Plans Under Way.
In the meantime work in prep
aration for the construction or
water gate Immediately north OF the
eastern terminus of the brJdge is
going ahead in connection with con-
struction of the piers in the river bed
on the Washington side. The steps
of the water gate will form landing
places for canoes and small boats, and
piers at either end will be provided
for larger craft.
The east end of the bridge will be
on a line approximating the center of
the Mall. Treatment of the area be-
tween the east end of the structure
and B street, which runs north of
the Lincoln Memorial, is the area
under discussion on the Washington
side of the river.
Col. Grant said the architects will
be urged to make immediate studies
of this portion of the bridge ap-
proaches with the view of incorporat-
ing the suggested changes in the
finished composition.
Copy of Commission Letter.
The letter sent to Col. Grant by the
Fine Arts Commission follows:
Dear Col. Grant:
Your letter of December /, with
reference to the Arlington Memorial
Bridge, received careful consideration
by the Commission of Fine Arts at
their meeting on December 2. 1926.
THE rapid increase in the number
of interments at Arlington and the
prospect that in the immediate future
the national cemetery must be en-
larged, has led the Secretary Of War,
in consultation with the Commission
of Fire Arts, to make plans for TAX
ing in the area formerly included in
by the experimental farms of the Ag-
ricultural Department. This area was
allotted to the Agricultural Depart
ment by an act Of Congress, but the
obvious necessity of the enlargement
of the cemetery and the manifest in
adequacy of the lands for the expand
ing needs OF the Agricultural Depart
ment have led to the uniformal acqui-
escence OF all concerned in this en-
largement of the cemetery.
THE plan as prepared in the Office
OF the Secretary of War and ap-
proved by him bringssthe lands of the
cemetery substantially down to the
Potomac River. This will necessitate
a restudy of the terminals of the Me-
mortal Bridge on the Virginia side of
the river. Obviously the time has
come when that restudy should be-
gin, and the Commission of Fine Arts
recommend that the architects Of the
Memorial Bridge be asked to make
such restudy Of the Virginia termi-
nails as shall adapt them to the pro-
posed new conditions. In this con-
nection the beginnings of both the
Lee Highway and the Mount Vernon
boulevard should be included.
What the Law Provides.
ALSO, the act providing for the
Memorial Bridge involves the treat
lnent of 3 street north from the Cap