FIRST DEFICIENCY APPROPRIATION BILL, 1922.

HEARING CONDUCTED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE, MESSRS. MARTIN B. MADDEN (CHAIRMAN), JOSEPH G. CANNON, DANIEL R. ANTHONY, JR., PATRICK H. KELLEY, WILLIAM R. WOOD, JOHN A. ELSTON, JOSEPH W. BYRNS, THOMAS U. SISSON, AND JAMES A. GALLIVAN, IN CHARGE OF DEFICIENCY APPROPRIATIONS.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1921.

ARLINGTON MEMORIAL BRIDGE COMMISSION,

STATEMENT OF LIEUT. COL. CLARENCE O. SHERRILL, EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ARLINGTON MEMORIAL BRIDGE COMMISSION.

PLANS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF ARLINGTON MEMORIAL BRIDGE.

The CHAIRMAN. In connection with the Arlington Memorial Bridge Commission, you have an estimate of $25,000. Will you tell the committee why this matter is urgent at this time?

Col. SHERRILL. The reason for its being presented in this deficiency bill is that the grading around the Lincoln Memorial and the road plans have now approached the point where it is necessary to have the plan for the Arlington Memorial Bridge completed, in order that there may be no money wasted or inadvisedly spent in continuing the grading around that structure. The principal reason why it should be done is because the Arlington Memorial Bridge and the Lincoln Memorial are very closely connected from the architectural standpoint, or from the landscape architectural standpoint, and, therefore, this plan should be completed now in order that the bridge plans may harmonize with the plans for the Lincoln Memorial, which is practically completed. There is also another reason why the President considered it necessary to submit this estimate-not necessarily in this deficiency bill, but at this time and that is that the Lincoln Memorial will shortly be finished. This commission was created a number of years ago, and it was only to carry out the intent of Congress that it was decided that the plans should be made in the near future.

The CHAIRMAN. So far as the completion of the landscape work around the Lincoln Memorial is concerned, it seems to have been definitely decided what that landscape work should be and how it would fit in with any possible improvement connected with the construction of the bridge. Could not that be done without any uncertainty or without making the plans for the bridge necessary at this time?

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Col. SHERRILL. The Arlington Memorial was planned with the idea that this bridge would join up with it in some way, but it was not definitely determined.

The CHAIRMAN. I notice that in building the surface up toward the driveway they have raised the elevation several feet.

Col. SHERRILL. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. I suppose that was done in contemplation of these other improvements?

Col. SHERRILL. Probably, although I think that was rather to get at the proper relief with respect to the park and reflecting pool. The CHAIRMAN. No; this is on the other side.

Col. SHERRILL. I mean the whole elevation. The ground is raised generally to give the proper grade from B Street and also from the reflecting pool on the other side.

The CHAIRMAN. I am talking about the river side, looking over from Arlington.

Col. SHERRILL. That is because when the Arlington Bridge goes in it will be necessary to have a certain elevation in order to cross without a draw; but the design for the Lincoln Memorial did not include any definite location for this bridge. In other words, there are some of the opinion that the bridge should go off at an angle so as to cross the stream perpendicularly, and there are others who hold the view that it should go off to Columbia Island, with a prolongation of the Mall. The CHAIRMAN. If it is in a state of uncertainty, it may be that the uncertainty might be resolved into a certainty if you should have more time to think about it. If we should by any mischance appropriate this money while that state of uncertainty existed, might it not be possible that you would have to come and have the dose repeated?

Col. SHERRILL. No, sir; the connection between the Lincoln memorial and the Arlington Memorial Bridge must be designed at once that is, the designers of the Arlington Memorial Bridge must make a suitable connection with the Lincoln Memorial, and that is the reason why it is essential that it should be done now.

The CHAIRMAN. What difference would it make? They have already completed the landscape side of the Lincoln Memorial. Col. SHERRILL. On the land side; yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. If they have reached the peak of the level that is going to prevail in the long run, would it not be just as easy to connect up with that level sometime in the future as to-day?

Col. SHERRILL. No, sir. If you considered completing the road plans and other work between the Lincoln Memorial and the river, I judge there would be a considerable chance of doing work that would be more or less wasted if you should do it and then have the bridge plans come in later.

Mr. ANTHONY. There is a clay bank about 10 or 12 feet high along the roadway. Is it your idea to complete the grade right up to the river and make that the approach to the bridge?

Col. SHERRILL. I have given this bridge matter a great deal of study lately, and the best opinion I can offer on that question is that there will be a continuous roadway along the Potomac.

The CHAIRMAN. Where you are filling?

Col. SHERRILL. Yes, sir. I think that probably the best treatment would be to have a roadway along the Potomac to go under the approach to the Arlington Bridge, and then the Arlington Bridge

itself would be in the locality of the Lincoln Memorial, with a suitable entrance there, with one road going in this direction [indicating] and another across the bridge in this direction [indicating] to join with the lower bridge at B Street. Here [indicating] is a small sketch which shows one idea of the bridge there. If you will notice, there is no continuous roadway here [indicating]. That road intersects about here [indicating], and it was in existence when the Lincoln Memorial was built. Now it seems that it is very desirable for that roadway to be made continuous, because the people who go from Potomac Park into Rock Creek Park should not be forced to come around by the Lincoln Memorial, but the Lincoln Memorial should be separated on account of its importance, and should be a sort of shrine. This answers your question as to what extent these plans have been made. It was in an uncertain condition.

The CHAIRMAN. This road down here [indicating] is on a lower level. This is where you are filling in [indicating]?

Col. SHERRILL. Yes, sir. You will notice that there is no continuous road there. The old idea was that everybody going in there would come to the Lincoln Memorial and go out, but that would make it a mere street or driveway. It will be better to go along this way [indicating], and the idea is to make this a continuous road into Rock Creek Park. Then, if anybody wants to go to the Lincoln Memorial, they will go there for that specific purpose.

Mr. SISSON. How do you go on to that bridge?

Col. SHERRILL. As you go on the bridge, you come down B Street, down to the Lincoln Memorial, and on to the bridge, but if you go by way of the park, you go this way [indicating]. The roadway over there [indicating] comes by the Lincoln Memorial elevation, and then comes right to the bridge there [indicating]. This other road would come right in here [indicating] on a lower level.

Mr. SISSON. You have two roads in there?

Col. SHERRILL. Yes, sir. That road there was gradually raised to the level of the Lincoln Memorial. The other day one of the prominent architects who has been associated with this memorial was quite anxious that this bridge should be carried out here [indicating] and then bend back, and there are other architects who think this the most sensible scheme. I think it is also, because it would be foolish to build any bridge obliquely across the stream. I discussed that with Mr. Bacon, who designed the Lincoln Memorial, and he insists that by all means we should build it on these lines, because it will be foolish to do something that would not be sound economically. That indicates the different views that prevail.

The CHAIRMAN. Has anybody made any calculation of what the bridge would cost?

Col. SHERRILL. Not on this site. This has been studied many times, and according to the old studies, I think, it went from the foot of New York Avenue. We have a good many detailed studies of that. As a matter of fact, this bridge has been under consideration since 1886, or for, at least, 40 or 50 years.

The CHAIRMAN. And eventually it will be done.

Col. SHERRILL. It will be done slowly. There were a number of designs made about 1897, I think, and I have a drawing of one of them here. The suggestion has been made that this drawing be modified to fit this site. One objection was that it was drawn for an

entirely different condition, as you undertake to modify and bring it over here, there will be a tendency to hold on to those things that they developed there. The architects believe that it will be better to have some design which will thoroughly harmonize with this design. Mr. CANNON. I am on that commission, and had something to do with the Lincoln Memorial. By what authority have those improvements been made reaching out toward the Washington Monument, or by what authority are you encroaching further upon the river there?

Col. SHERRILL. There has been no encroachment, but the act of March, 1913, creating the Arlington Memorial Bridge Commission authorized the completion of the plans for this bridge.

Mr. CANNON. But you are doing some work there, or you are doing some filling in there?

Col. SHERRILL. The filling in there is being done without cost to the Government at all. That is being done by the District of Columbia simply to take care of their refuse.

Mr. CANNON. By what authority does the District of Columbia do it?

Col. SHERRILL. I think that was done in accordance with your commission.

Mr. CANNON. The commission has never taken any action about that, the filling in.

Col. SHERRILL. On the island?

Mr. CANNON. Yes, sir.

Col. SHERRILL. I know nothing of that.

The CHAIRMAN. That is under the river and harbor act?

Col. SHERRILL. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. There is a road down here [indicating], but they are making one down here [indicating]?

Col. SHERRILL. The reason for that was the fact that the road had to be removed so the Lincoln Memorial grounds could be properly graded around the memorial.

Mr. CANNON. That is very likely; I am not finding any fault; but I am not aware of any legislation or any authorization.

Col. SHERRILL. My impression was that legislation was given for building a sea wall in there [indicating] with the intention of the District building behind. Congress has authorized the extension of that sea wall recently up here [indicating] in connection with the Rock Creek Park Drive.

Mr. CANNON. Who has charge of that, the District?

Col. SHERRILL. I have.

The CHAIRMAN. The Colonel has charge of that under authority of Congress.