Evening star., 1951-07-31
Officials Stress
Need for Bridge
From Alexandra
Priority for Building
And Finance Left in
Dispute at Hearing
By Harold B. ROGERS

CUIlSGTuCIlOn ana financing was
left in dispute.
Witnesses from the three juris-
dictions testified about need for
the bridge before a House District
subcommittee. Legislation is under
consideration to authorize con-
Struction.
Chairman Smith of the subcom-
mittee announced another meeting
will be held shortly to discuss fur
ther the points in dispute.
The Smith subcommittee ap-
proved and sent to the full Dis
trict Committee for action a bill
to grant extra pay to police and
flremen for working on holidays.
Would Provide Double Pay.
The measure would provide
that officers and members of the
Metropolitan, the White House
and the United States Park Police
forces and the District Fire De-
partment get two days pay for
work on holiday instead of one
days pay,
Officials of these agencies all
testified for the bill during brief
hearing.
The legislation for the Potomac
River Bridge. sponsored by Rep
reSentative Smith. Democrat, of
Virginia, was considered at length
by the subcommittee in a public
hearing with several witnesses.
The District spokesman objected
to the bills provision that the cost
of construction should be partly
paid for by a 1-cent increase in
the Districts gasoline tax.
The bridge would be of greater
national benefit than a help to
District motorists, according to
the city officials, who suggested
to the subcommittee that the
project should be paid for by the
Federal Government.
Willing to Discuss Sharing.
District Engineer Commissioner
Bernard L. Robinson, questioned
by subcommittee members, said.
however, that District leaders
would be willing to sit down with
Federal and Virginia authorities,
to discuss how the cost of the
bridge, estimated at about $18
million. should be divided.
He pointed out that the new
Fourteenth street bridge was paid
for entirely by the Federal Gov
ernment.
Virginia officials, headed by c.
S. Mullen, chief engineer of the
State Highway Department, and
his assistant, Burton Marye.
strongly recommended the project.
They approved the bills proviso
that Virginia authorities should
pay for approaches, but not for
the bridge itself.
These officials were joined by
c. L. Watkins, Alexandrias direc-
tor of public works, in a plea for
early action because of the diff
Guilty Alexandria is faci g in try
ing to preserve from encroach-
ment by building of the right of
way to the proposed bridge.
Approach Blocked by Houses.
This point was emphasized also
by John Nolen, planning director
of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission. He said
that one of the best approaches
to the bridge has been blocked
already by construction of row
houses.
The Bureau of Public Roads,
according to Deputy Commissioner
H. E. Hits. said the Alexandria
bridge was one of several projects
under study, but no priority has
yet been given to it.
Pressed by subcommittee mem
bers to speed up the study on the
question of priority, Mr.. Hits in
sisted 1t would take four to six
months to come to any conclusion.
Col. c. H. Whitesell, District As
sistant Engineer Commissioner
agreed.
Tax Raised Temporarily.
Col. Whitesell said the District
Is faced with the problems of what
projects in the whole highway
system to set up for priority con-
struction, how much money will
be needed, and what the gasoline
tax will have to be.
The District gasoline tax has
been temporarily raised from 3 to
4 cents until next July, but will
revert to 3 cents unless it is
changed by Congress.
Representative Smith empha-
sized the need for the bridge, not
only to relieve traffic congestion,
but to provide an extra crossing
in case of "a national emergency.
He suggested that it be built
strong enough to carry railroad
traffic.
Traffic Route Described.
Federal officials feel an extra
railroad crossing should have high
priority because the railroad
trestle here is the only major
bridge OF its kind carrying such
traffic North and South along the
Eastern Seaboard.
The traffic route from the Dis
trict end, Col Whitesell explained,
would begin at the so-called
Shepherds Landing, follow Over
look avenue, South Capitol street,
the AnacoStia valley and Kenil-
worth avenue and connect with
the Observation-Disclosures park
way now under construction. This
link, Col. Whitesell said, would
require construction by the Dis
trict of about miles of new