Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-07
Truman Favors
Twin Bridges
Over Potomac
Stand May Influence
House Committees
Action on Proposal

The White House revealed for
the first time today that Presi-
dent Truman favors twin bridges
across the Potomac River to re-
place Highway Bridge.
In a letter from White House
Secretary Matthew j. Connolly to
Commissioner John Russell Young
made public at the District Building
it was disclosed the President favors
the plan of the District Highway
Department and Public Roads Ad-
ministration to construct two one
way spans of four lanes each across
the river instead of a single two-Way
bridge with six lanes.
Revelation of the Presidents stand
caused predictions that the Chap
man subcommittee of the House
Interstate and Foreign Commerce
Committee, which since January 8
l945. has mad a bill to construct
the twin bridges at cost OF
ST ,000, 900. is likely to 60 along with
the Presidents views.
Controversy Delays Report.
Months of time consuming con-
troversy have held up reporting OF
the bill to the full committee and
the House. Chairman Chapman
postponed reporting the bill only
yesterday until after he and his
committee make a second tour Of
the bridge site Tuesday.
| Tho rnlan cIlnrprfaI thu D,.oS
ident calls for the construction Of
one bridge at the site of the present
| structure and the other about 60(
yards downstream, halfway between
the present bridge and the railroad
span.
District Highway Director H. c
Whitehurst and Public Roads Ad-
ministrator Thomas H. Macdonald
together with the Fine Arts Com.
mission and the Board of Trade
have been the chief proponents Of
this plan.
Ickes, Grant Opposed Plan.
Its chief foes have included for
mer Secretary of the Interior Har-
old L. Ickes, Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant
III, chairman of the National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commission
and the National Park Service. The
opponents favored the single spane
The presidential attitude was seen
as rebuff to his former Cabinet
member, who once last winter took
Mr.. Truman to the top of the Wash
ington Monument to look over the
site involved.
It is believed that Secretary OF
the Interior Krug does not neces-
sarily share the views of his prede-
cessor in the issue.
Capt Whitehurst and Mr.. Mac
Donald have been fighting since
January, 1945. for Congressional au-
thorization for the two bridge plan
Would be Financed Jointly.
If approved, the two bridges
would be constructed jointly out of
District and Federal funds as a
project of the postwar Federal aid
highway program.
Mr.. Connelly's letter said copies
were being sent to the Park and
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lie Roads Administration. The Com
missioners indicated they plan to
notify the appropriate COMPRESSION
al chairmen of the presidential sup
port.
In opposing the two bridge plan
the Park and Planning Commission
spokesman contended it would be-
unduly costly and do violence" tc
the Jefferson Memorial and other
aesthetic features of the Mall area
Cost of the project has been est.
mated at 100000.
Mr.. Ickes said the two bridges
would give the Jefferson Memorial
a "two-bit shooting gallery back.
drop as cars, trains and trucks move
across like mechanical ducks
The District and Public Roads
support of two bridges is basec
on studies of present traffic move.
ment and projected increases.