Evening star., 1938-06-19

replacement, and within the next
pected to take its place, culmina ting a
long fight by civic and business or
ganizations in Southeast Washington.
Year after year Congress has been
besieged by organized citizens for
funds to replace the antiquated struc-
ture. These civic efforts were crowned
with success during the last session
of Congress, when the legislative
body authorized total appropriations
Of 100000 for a new bridge. An
appropriation Of 100000 was made
available Immediately to begin con-
struction.
Open Bids July 8.
Clifford r. White, the Districts
bridge engineer, disclosed yesterday
that bids for the new span will be
opened July g. After the contract
is let, the actual bridge construc-
ton is expected to require about IS
months. Surfacing. grading and
widening of approaches will be sepa-
rate jobs
Mr.. Whyte said construction prob
ably will begin some time in August
or early in September. The new span
will be of the steel girder cantilever
type, with a 60-foot roadway provid-
ing six lanes for vehicular traffic. Six
foot sidewalks will be built on both
Sides
The new center line Of the bridge
will be As feet downstream from the
location of the present structure.
Traffic on the old structure will con-
tinue uninterrupted while the first half
of the new one is being constructed.
Then vehicles will be routed over the
completed half of the bridge, while
the second half is being built and the
old span is being torn down.
Congress to Name Bridge.
Mr.. Whyte pointed out that even
when only half of the new bridge is
ready for use, motorists will enjoy a
traffic artery across the Anacosiia as
wide as the present structure, which is
only of three-car width. Eight piers
ana two abutments will support the
new structure
A name for the new bridge awaits
the pleasure of Congress. A bill pro-
posing to name it in honor of the late
John Philip Sousa passed the Senate
during The last session of Congress,
but failed in the House.
This will be the third structure to
be erected at that point of the Ana
costa River. The existing structure
was built in 1890. FortY-four years
before that sparks from river steam
er had set fire to an old wooden
bridge built at the instance of Presi-
dent Washington in 1795.
From l846 to 1890. the only marks
Of the site Of the old. wooden bridge
wore number of stumps whose black
ened outlines were revealed only when
the water was at low tide. Building
of the present structure eliminated
another long fight by citizens asso-
Citations.
British Threatened Bridge.
In 1795 President Washington wrote
to "the Commissioners of the Federal
City" referring to plans for a bridge
across the Anacostia River at the
site of the present structure. Then
the District was part of Maryland,
and on December "a, 1895, the Mary
land Legislature authorized the build
ing of toll bridge there.
This span was used regularly up to
1914, when Washington was threat
ened by the British. Col. James Mon
roe, Secretary of State at that time,
ordered the people in the vicinity Of
the structure to pile combustible ma
terial on the approaches leading to
Washington and to get their old flints
ready. It was never really necessary
to destroy the bridge, as it turned out
Later, after the bridge was repaired,
it continued to be operated as a toll
bridge until 1841, when travel was
restricted to pedestrians. Then in
1846 it was burned by spark from
q little steamer.
Many Delays in Building.
Then came the long period with no
bridge there at all. The present one
was built finally after many delays.
In recent years, the wooden flooring
Of the structure has been covered with
asphalt. Citizens have contended that