Evening star., 1934-03-18

pier. from which the term Chain Bridge was
derived
This bridge was destroyed by ice and
driftwood, which lodged against the chains
and piers The bridge has been continually re-
paired up to the time of the construction of
the present one. The long stretch of rocky
flats, nearly 500 yards in width between this
channel and the canal, on the District side is
seldom covered with water. except in times OF
freshets. Immediately below the Little Falls
the depth of water is over 80 feet, and con-
tinues very deep until the Aqueduct Bridge Is
reached. So disastrous, hitherto have the
floods been to the bridges here that Gen Bab-
cock has taken the precaution in this instance
of having all the old piers raised feet addi-
tional thus giving more elevation and afford
ing more room for the ice and driftwood.
In 1872 Congress appropriated 100000 for
rebuilding the Chain Bridge, from which ap-
preparation the work has been done"
THE exact date of the building of the first
! Little Falls Bridge or Falls Bridge Gor it
early known by both names before it be-
came the Chain Bridge is apparently not
known, and before 1911" seemed to satisfy
most every one. Webbs Digest of the Laws Of
the Corporation of Washington tells us that
the Georgetown Bridge Co, organized for the
purpose of erecting bridge over the Potomac
River near Georgetown was incorporated by
cember 90, 1871, and from other sources we
find this was to be a toll bridge. Later, in
1795, the Maryland Legislature enlarged the
powers of the bridge company to permit 1t to
construct road from the bridge to George
town, which might be construed to indicate
that the bridge was up at that time. But even
if this were not the case, old friend, Mrs.
William Thornton, comes to our rescue with
her diary, where she records, under date Of
February II, 1800 that they had been in
the morning to see the bridge at the Little
Falls of Potomak."
The National Intelligencer issues Of April
27. 1904, and March l6, 1808 not only confirm
Mrs. Thorntons statement, but say the abut-
ments of the bridge erected early as
1877, and remained standing for seven years.
when, as Mr.. Bryan puts 1t, The wooden
roofed-in structure fell from its high abut-
nents of stone" Soon new bridge was oc-
cupying the site, which, however lasted only
for six months, when it was destroyed by FIRE.
This bridge was 81 feet above the ordinary
level of the river
In 1903 bridge entirely supported by iron
chains was built and remained standing until
November "A, 1910, when it, too, was destroyed.
Richard P. Jackson says: Congress authorized
the company to make a new assessment upon
its stockholders to rebuild the bridge and keep
the same IN repair, together with the road
leading thereto from Georgetown. The bridge
and road were constructed by the same COM
pany, chargeable upon and to be kept in repair
by the same company, for the use of the
public"
FOLLOWING this the chances that the
bridge at the Little Falls was destroyed
several times before Mr. Jackson takes up the
history again in 1882, when he relates that.
during that Winter, the bridge was taken down
by the bridge company ION account OF the
great accumulation OF ice in the river anG the
xof hri<aaH"