Evening star., 1936-05-20
EMERY DISCUSSES
CAPITAL BRIDGES
First Span Built on N Street
in E1788, He Says in
Tracing History.

Tracing the history Of Washington's
bridges, from the city's first span,
built oh M street in 1888, to the re-
Gently completed Calvert street struc.
ture, Fred A. Emery, president Of the
Society Of Natives. last night ad-
dressed the seasons final meeting Of
the Columbia Historical Society in the
Mayfiower Hotel.
His comprehensive survey Of bridge
development In the District included
history of ferry transportation across
the Potomac, which began at Little
Falls II. 1888. where Chain Bridge now
stands.
Nine years after completion Of the
M street span, Emery said. the first
bridge across the river was built
at the Little Falls site. Washington's
population, now over $4,000. was
then cbunted at 5000 residents, who
lived In 362 houses with morasses
galore spread between the settle
ments.r
Tell Structure Erected.
That forerunner Of Chain Bridge
was constructed by the Georgetown
Bridge Co. and was a toll structure,
the speaker declared. Many spans
were Washed away by Spring floods
before the present structure was
opened in 1874. Branded as unsafe
since the most recent flood here, the
bridge. has been closed pending re-
pairs scheduled for completion this
Summsr.
Not until 1909 was the Long Bridge,
predecessor Of the present Highway
Bridge, erected at the foot Of Four.
teenth: street southwest. Damaged by
recurrfnt Spring freshets, the span
was nany times rebuilt and repaired
until the current structure was opened
in 1905 after three years construction
at cAst Of $1,ls6.o00. Emery said.
Span Opened in 1s4o.
FordFunner Of the Francis Scott Key
span, 1.-THE Aqueduct Bridge, located
at the foot Of Thirty-sixth street, was
opened about 1840 after eight years
construction. Quoting from q letter
from the District engineer Of bridges.
Emery declared an extension Of the
old Chesapeake & Ohio Canal was
once carried in a fiume laid on the
structure. A towpath and roadway
were built along the hume This
unique structure was completed in
1886.
In 1923 the present span, named
after the author Of The Star Span
gled Banner" was opened. Construc-
ton cost $2,500,oo0. From 1908 to
1928 Key lived at 35ls M street. with
in FLOCK Of the spans site.
Opening Of the Arlington Memorial
Bridge in 1882, Emery said, was the
realiz5tion Of a desire expressed by
President Andrew jackson while he
was fn the White House. jackson
wanted a bridge Of granite across the
rivet s'as a symbol of the union of
the North and South" Most expen-
sive o. the Districts spans. the struc-
ture Fas built after a congressional
appropriation Of s14,750.000 was au-
Lhorized. In accord with Jacksons
desirea the bridge is constructed Of
North Carolina granite.
First Railroad Bridge.
The first railroad bridge, Emery
continued. was opened by 1873 for
the alexandria & Washington Rail.
road. The present span Is a second
hand structure, moved here from q
site on the Delaware River at Tren-
ton. y J.
Often designated as the million
dollar: bridge" the Taft span over
Rock Greek Park along Connecticut
avenue was opened in 1907. The CAL
vert street bridge, recently recon-
structed, was completed in 1891 as
the first modern span across Rock
Creek Park, Emery declared.
The. speaker closed with a discus
sion sof the Pennsylvania avenue
SOUTHEAST bridge, with the first struc-
ture there built in 1903, the navy
yard bridge at the foot Of Eleventh
street southeast, first constructed in
1919, and other smaller spans In the
Rock Greek area.
The meeting closed with a vocal
solo by Frank K. Sanderson, with his
wife accompanying him at the piano.
Society President Allen c. Clark an
nounced the next gathering will be
held November II.