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Show Capital Is to Have Stately Approach WASHINGTON. Washington the Magniiicent, the city of beauty that has risen in l'J.j years from the little village amid the Potomac marshes, has lacked until now a stately approach. ap-proach. Although the vicinity of tli e Capitol to the east and the south affords inspiring views of the city, and although good roads come in from all directions, there has been no dignified entrance, no portal that measures up to the thrill in the heart of every American on beholding for the first time the nation's center of government. The Arlington Monument bridge is to supply the splendid approach so long needed. For almost a century the want of such a portal has been recognized. Now President Coolidge, as chairman of the Arlington Memorial ridge commission, has laid before congress the definitive recommendation recommenda-tion of a majeslic viaduct. The bridge will be 2.13S feet long between be-tween the terminal pylons and will consist of nine segimnial arches, the center span being 384 feet long and the length of the spans decreasing gradually each way, so that the end spans are 1GG feet. The roadway is GO feet wide and the sidewalks are each 15 feet wide, making the total width of the utilized deck W feet. The pylons at both entrances are -10 feet high, surmounted by sculptured sculp-tured eagles symbolic of the KepuMie and adorned on the sides with sculptured sculp-tured groups and appropriate inscriptions. inscrip-tions. As the Potomac is a navigable str.'am at this point, the center arch, much to the regret of the commission, must be a draw-opening. A double-leaf double-leaf bascule draw of steel has been chosen "as Interrupting to the least possible degree the unity of the bridge." It is hoped '.hat congress may be persuaded to declare the bridge the hsad of navigation, thus obviating the use of a draw. The commission estimates the total cost of the project at $1-1,750,000, and advises that construction be carried on over a ten-year period, the bridge to be opened to traffic within five years. The bridge proper will cost only $7,250,000, the rest of the total being expended on the adaptation of the surroundings. Including the extension exten-sion niiil widening of 15 street, the widening of Twenty-third street, the treatment of Columbia island ami the parkway and memorial entrance to Arlington cemetery. |
