Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-12
FALLS BRIDGE PLAN
PUSHED BY MOORE
Little Opposition Develops at
Meeting of House
Subcommittee.

A proposal to construct a toll bridge
across the Potomac River at point
just below Great Falls. made by the
Great Falls Bridge Co.. a Delaware
corporation. whose charter would be
granted by Congress under three bills
introduced in the House by Repre-
sentative Moore OF Virginia. met With
little opposition In hearings before a
subcommittee of the House interstate
and foreign commerce committee yes
terday.
Virtually the only objection raised
against passage of the enabling legis-
lation came from j. Bond Smith. rep
resenting the Montgomery County Civic
Federation. who raised the point tina,
the toll bridge. II constructed. should
not In any sense OF the word be made
to hinder construction Of q free high
way bridge across the Potomac gorge
near Great Falls, as proposed In the
plans for ydro-electric development al
the Falls, submitted TO the Federal
Power Commission by the Potomac
River Corporation. The measure should
be so amended as to forbid granting Of
monopolistic powers TO any group. and
TO forbid legal entanglements which
might be placed In the way OF con-
struction OF free bridge II the toll
bridge were constructed. he said.
Plans for Bridge.
The bridge, according to Norman B.
Landreau. representing the jreas
Falls Bridge Co. would be about $500
feet long. with two spans OF more than
200 feet each. and would connect up
with the Conduit road on the Mary
land side and the Lecsburg Pike on the
Virginia side by roadways TO be con-
structed 10 both main highways. fts
exact location has not been specified.
but the understanding Is 1t will be
constructed about mile below Great
Falls. and will not interfere with any
project for power development.
Although the War Department Is not
opposed 10 construction Of the bridge,
Maj Gen. Jadwin. chief Of Engineers,
has withheld approval OF the enabling
measure pending report from the
district engineer on the feasibility OF
power Development at Great Falls.
Brig Gen. Herbert Deakyne. assistant
chief of Engineers. told the subcom-
mittce. This does not mean. he said
that the once OF the chief Of Engin-
GERS is opposed TO construction Of the
proposed bridge. but that the engineer
Ing department. Of the Army Ii conSid-
ering all phases Of Potomac River de-
veiopment and that all are tied up TO-
gether.
Declaring that the proposed bridge
would offer The only artery Of travel
across the Potomac River between
Point OF Rocks and the now unused
Chain Bridge. MIR Moore said the pub
lie on both sides OF the river tasor Gun
structicn M the bridge and that II Is
supported by the National Capital Park
and planning Commission and the Com
mission of Fine Arts The bridge. MT.
Moore said, will be slightly structure In
keeping with the beauty Of the gorge
Al the request Of the Montgumery
County Civic Federation the original
enabling measure was amended to for
did specifically use Of the bridge struc-
turc by a railroad. This was done, MIR
Moore explained to forbid use OF the
bridge by the proposed belt raiiraad
line which was before Congress several
years ago,
Answering arguments that the value
Of the bridge may be negattSed by
power development at Great Falls, MIR,
Moore said there Is hardly any prps~
nect that such AN effort viii he carried
out tor some time, and that there h
nothing tn point IN the conclusion that
the bsidse would ruin a Mdro~elettsic
development
Advantages Of the bridge claimed by
Mr. Moore are that Il would open up
Maryland and Virginia above Washing
ton without foreins residents az The
iCantinNeA on pagu J, Column ~