Evening star., 1942-07-18
U. 5. Engineers Study
Plan for New Bridge
Over Anacostia River
Stondord Oil Co. Makes
Only Objection to
s., SOC, 900 Spon

Plans for the proposed $500 900
South Capitol street bridge over the
Anacostia River, near the foot of r
street Sc, were under coitsidera-
ton of the United States Enginer
Office today. following hearing
there yesterday when only one OBJ
lection was raised to the bridge
site. 1t was made by the Standard
Oil Co.
The project will be studied fur
ther by Maj. D. A. Phelan, District
engineer, and his experts before a
report on the matter can be sub
mitted to the Secretary Of War
through the Chief of Engineers.
Approval of the plans by the Sec
retary is essential before constsIc-
ton can begin.
SI,000. 900 Available.
The bridge, however, which was
under consideration before the war
started, now is virtually postwar
project, it was explained at the
hearing By Capt H. c. Whitehurst,
director of highways of the District.
An appropriation of $1,000,000 Is
available from the highway fund
to start construction. On account
of the scarcity of critical materials.
he said, the District does not plan
to push for construction now. The
plans have been approved by the
District Commissioners, the Fine
Arts Commission and the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission.
The only opposition expressed yes
terday came from F. w. Miller OF
the marine department of the
| Standard Oil Co. He said the
bridge would extend partially over
the company's Washington marine
bulk terminal on the west bank Of
the Anacostia River. This was an
important terminal, he pointed out,
because in 1941 the company landed
there 174 loads of over 30 900 900 gall
Ions OF gasoline, heating Oil. kero-
sene and heavy fuel OIL The new
bridge, he said, would make 1t i'm
| practicable for the company further
to use its present dock.
After suggesting that either the
site Of the bridge should be changed,
or a new dock site should be found,
he indicated that his company now
was attempting to find new dock
site. Disclosing he had conferred
with several officials connected with
the bridge project, he said, In re-
port filed at the hearing 1--WE have
assured them and now assure you
that we will do everything In our
power to work out practicable So
luton"
Change Held Impractical.
Capt. Whitehurst and John Nolen,
| jr., of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, said it
would be impracticable to change
the present proposed site Of the
bridge. Others who spoke In favor
Of the present site included: Comdr.
Preston Marshall, u. s. NJ, assistant
captain OF the Navy Yard; X. E.
Baetner of the Washington Gas
Light Co., who said his company
wanted the right to carry is to 20
inch main on the bridge; J. p.
Mutchler OF the Public Roads Ad-
ministration; 1t w. s. johnson.
u. S. NJ, Of the Naval Air Station
F. M. Masters, consulting engineer
for the District, and Ellie s. Hoh-
man of Barry Farms Citizens Asso-
citation.
The bridge would be . seven-
. span highway structure with q
Swing drawspan." Clearance for
boats at high tide would be IS feet
!, with the draw closed and there
would be two openings Of $50 feet
in width each with the draw open.
Piers would be Of stone and the
superstructure of structural steel.