Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-16
FREE GREAT FALLS
BRIDGE FORESEEN
Leaders in Congress Working
Out Plan to Greatly FaCiI-
itate Travel.

BACcso WHO AEC HOW NCEkI1k Oub n Way
In which this greatly needed new ave-
nue. for tourist travel between the
North and South can be most promtly
added to the other developments now
underway which are to be completed
as far as possible before the bicentennial
celebration in 1882 of Washington's
birth.
The Great Falls Bridge Co., already
authorized to erect a toll bridge 70 be
later taken over by tl.e Federal Coy
eminent and thrown open to traSac as
q free bridge, may be allowed to pro-
coed with the structure until such
| times as the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission takes over
the land on which the approaches are
erected, under authority in the Cram
| ton bill providing for the George Wash
! ington Memorial Parkway, or Congress
| will act directly in authorizing the
erection of the bridge with Federal
funds.
Despite the threat by the Schafer-
La Guardia amendments in the Cram
ton park-purchaSe bill to end its life,
the Great Falls Bridge Co. is proceed
ing with construction Of the proposed
toll bridge.
Compliance With Law.
BY starting work last week, Harry
| "a NCdJB bllC IOlHPdily Gh-
planned yesterday, the company is
complying with the terms of the law.
| directing that construction be started
by March 4. Two years are given for
completion Of the bridge and under
the enabling act, this period will expire
on March 4, 1882.
Representative r. Walton Moore OF
Virginia. co-author with Senator swan
son of the legislation authorizing the
| hYidoo 10 ta11II al ANfA
| explained last night that the toll bridge
legislation was enacted because of the
great need Of q crossing at or near
Great Falls. 1t was enacted. Mr.. Moore
points out, in accordance with the gen.
eral policy of Congress to allow the
construction of toll bridges where there
is no reasonable prospect of other
| bridges being built.
| ANY bridge at that point" Mr.
Moore emphasizes. will be of distinct
advantage, not only to the States Of
Maryland and Virginia, but to the trav-
cling public beyond the limits Of those
States.
mo suggestion of free bridge was
made until, during the discussion Of
the Cramton bill. of which was q
supporter, an amendment was offered
| providing in few words for such q
bridge, but not specifying where or
under what conditions or under whose
supervision it should be built. After
the adoption of that amendment an
other amendment was approved pro-
hibiting toll bridge.
II am exactly in accord" said Rep
resentative Moore, with Senator Glass
view that the bill should be modified in
one of two ways-either by making sure
Of free bridge at the expense of the
| Government, or, in default of that,
eliminating all references to bridges so
that the Great Falls Bridge Co. can 60
ahead in its work without any en-
barraSSment.
IF free bridge can be secured, that
Is OF course what I would prefer; but
in case that is not possible, do not
wish to have the toll bridge project
destroyed. have no doubt the mat
ter In all its aspects will be carefully
studied by the District committee of
the Senate" .-s,r...
Behring'S to get down to bed rock have
started and work Is under way on the
abutment which will support the
bridgehead and on the first pier lead
ing to the gorge, on the Virginia side
OF the river. Dynamite is being utilized
| to blast stumps of trees that are In
the path of construction and digging
has started to clear the preliminary way
for getting down to solid rock. This
work is going on alongside the historic
canal constructed by George Wash
ington and the first arch on the Vir-
ginia side will arch over this notable
piece Of eighteenth century engineering,
which the American Engineering
Council proposes to preserve as a monu-
ment to the genius of the Father Of
His Country.
The firm of Merritt, Chapman &
Scott OF New York has been awarded
the construction contract, Mr. Seay ex-
planned yesterday, and the associated
engineers are the Strauss Engineering
Corporation of Chicago and Meigs, Long
Beale OF Philadelphia and Washing
ton.
Historic Houses Near.
r. j. Cranston is the contractors
foreman on the job. and he is being as
sisted by A. j. Milsteads v, Trammell
and H. Trammell, who live nearby.
Houses that George Washington Is
credited with building are in the vi
entity and the historic canal con-
structed by the master of Mount Vernon
through some so feet of solid rock and
the venerable Virginia Jail are a few
minutes walk distant.
Features the bridge will embody, Mr..
Seay said, include indirect lighting,
through placing lights in the curbing;
the bridge proper will be 43 feet wide,
while a 30-foot roadway will be avail
able for motorists; an 8-foot walk on
| the Great Falls side will enable pedes-
TRANS to get good view of the scenery,
ana a 5-foot walk will be placed on the
lower side and total estimated cost of
the structure will be 81 800 900, and 1t
VIII be 1879 feet long, excluding APP
pfoaches. The bridge will be Of con-
crete and steel.
-, a connecting road on the Virginia
| side will link up with the Laesburg. Va,
pike. On the Maryland sideNthe bridge
approach will be at the Lock Tavern
Inn. at the end Of Conduit road
When the company started its work
on the bridge, Mr.. Seay said yesterday,
there was no thought of the George
Washington Memorial Parkway. which
is contemplated in the Cramton park
purchase bill. His company has spent
an appreciable amount of money, the
president said. and it has certain rights
| under Its charter, which was granted
by Congress, and those it proposes to
protect. Likewise. he added, the COM
pany has a permit, signed by the Sec
rotary OF War, authorizing the bridge
TO be constructed.
The Legislatures of Maryland and
Virginia will have to determine IL those
States are to contribute their proper
tionate share toward making the George
Washington Memorial Parkway a real
ity, Mr.. Seay asserted. and il they fail
to do so the parkway will not come into
being.
Explaining the delay in the starting
OF work on the bridge, Mr.. Seay pointed
out that Congress authorized the char
ter to the Great Falls Bridge Co. in
1928, but the chief of Army Engineers
held that the company would occupy
Government land If it carried out its
plans, and this needed another bill.
which was passed by Congress, permit
ing TINS to De done. This. coupled with