Evening star., 1939-12-03
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Pennsylvania ave-
New BRIDGE Over nue." says The Star
Eastern B.onch of November 30, 1889.
'is at last approach
ing completion and 1t is now only a
question of a short time before it will
be opened up to general travel. 1t was
expected when the plans were first
drawn that it would be completed more
than a year ago, but number OF unex-
pected delays have arisen, and now. un-
less something entirely unforeseen
arises, 1t will be opened by the 1st OF
next March.
1.-The nee6 OF such a bridge in that
neighborhood has long been felt. 1t will
offer a convenient entrance to the city
to large class Of people on the Mary
land side of the river who are now COM
PEELED to come around by Benning Bridge
or by way of Bladensburg. 1t will open
up portion of country which has hlth-
erto been comparatively inaccessible and
will bring to East Washington class OF
trade which is now diverted into other
channels Land which has formerly
been considered undesirable is taking on
an active market value and it is conf
IDENTIFY expected that in short time
there will be a large number OF stores
and other business houses opened up
along the eastern end of Pennsylvania
avenue, which will be supported largely
by the trade Of the country people from
the other side of the river.
"It seems strange that that section OF
East Washington should have been
without a bridge for so long, for the
present bridge is built on the exact site
of former one which was burned down
many years ago. In 1875 an act OF the
Maryland government incorporated the
Eastern Branch Bridge Co. and author
lied them to build toll bridge 20 feet
in width. with a draw, to extend from
the Washington shore diagonally across
the river to the lands of Matthew Wake
field. During the second war with Eng
land, on August "a, 1914, this bridge was
burned by the American forces under
Capt. Creighton while the British
troops were in the neighborhood Of
Bladensburg and approaching Washing
ton. The fences from all the neigh
boring houses and farms were piled upon
the bridge and several barrels of gum
powder placed under it and its GSsruc-
ton was complete. The following year
Congress authorized the Navy Depart
ment to pay the claims of the Eastern
Branch Bridge Co. for the loss they had
suffered in the destruction of their bridge
and it was Immediately rebuilt. In 1845
or 1846 it took fire from sparks from
small steamer which was used to carry
passengers to Skagsby camp meeting
ground and was partially destroyed. 1t
was never afterward rebuilt.
"The construction of the bridge was
authorized by act of Congress, approved
February %, 1887. The contract was
awarded and work began on October 10,
1887. Early In November an excavation
was dug for the west abutment, but this
was promptly filled up by employees Of
the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad, who
claimed that 1t was on their land. The
and requested not to interfere with the
work. The railroad company in answer
stated that the abutment, which was 10
Gated feet to the west of their west
ern track, should have been placed far
ther away. 1t was found that so far from
really owning the ground, the railroad
company had no right there.
"On November 18 workmen again be-
gan excavating the trench, but while
they were away at dinner the railroad
employees filled it up again and when
work was resumed after dinner they got
into the trench and by force Of superior
numbers compelled stoppage of work.
Soon afterward the district attorney ap-
piled to the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict for an injunction to restrain the
railroad company from any further In
tegfe1enee."