2d Session. No. 625. BRIDGE ACROSS LEVISA FORK OF BIG SANDY RIVER. APRIL 30, 1912.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed. Mr. GOEKE, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 23407.] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 23407) authorizing the fiscal court of Pike County, Ky., to construct a bridge across Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River, having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass. The bill has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the letter attached and which is made a part of this report. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, Washington, April 25, 1912. Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War. The accompanying bill (H. R. 23407, 62d Cong., 2d sess.), authorizing the construction of a bridge across Levisa Fork, Big Sandy River, is in the usual form and makes ample provision for the protection of navigation interests. So far as those interested are concerned, I know of no objection to its favorable consideration by Congress. W. H. BIXBY, Chief of Engineers, United States Army. [Third indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, April 27; 1912. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, inviting attention to the foregoing report of the Chief of Engineers, United States Army. ROBERT SHAw Oliver, 62D CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 2d Session. REPORT No. 626. BRIDGE ACROSS TUG FORK OF BIG SANDY RIVER, MINGO COUNTY, W. VA. APRIL 30, 1912.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed. Mr. GOEKE, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 6167.] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 6167) to authorize the Williamson & Pond Creek Railroad Co. to construct a bridge across the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River at or near Williamson, Mingo County, W. Va., having considered the same, report thereon with amendment and as so amended recommend that it pass. Amend the bill as follows: Page 1, line 6, strike out the word "railroad." The following is the report of the Senate Committee on Commerce: The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 6167) to authorize the Williamson & Pond Creek Railroad Co. to construct a bridge across the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River at or near Williamson, Mingo County, W. Va., having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass without amendment. The bill has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the following communication from that department favoring passage of this bill: Washington, April 13, 1912. Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War. The accompanying bill (S. 6167, 62d Cong., 2d sess.), to authorize the Williamson & Pond Creek Railroad Co. to construct a bridge across the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River at or near Williamson, Mingo County, W. Va., is in the usual form and makes ample provision for the protection of navigation interests. So far as those interests are concerned, I know of no objection to its favorable consideration by Congress. W. H. BIXBY, Chief of Engineers, United States Ármy. [Third indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, April 15, 1912. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Commerce, United States Senate, inviting attention to the foregoing report of the Chief of Engineers, United States Army. ROBERT SHAW OLIVER, О 62D CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 2d Session. GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL BUILDING. APRIL 30, 1912.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed. Mr. GUDGER, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 5494.] The Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to which was referred the bill (S. 5494) to provide for a site for the erection of a building to be known as the George Washington Memorial Building, to serve as a gathering place and headquarters of patriotic, scientific, medical, and other organizations interested in promoting the welfare of the American people, beg to report the same with the recommendation that the bill, amended as follows, do pass: After the word "purpose," page 3, section 4, line 21, strike out the period, insert a comma, and add the words: Provided that the actual construction of said building shall not be undertaken until the sum of one million dollars shall have been subscribed and paid into the treasury of the George Washington Memorial Association. This bill is a proposition made to the Government by public-spirited citizens and provides that a building, to be known as the George Washington Memorial Building, shall be erected in accordance with plans to be prepared under the supervision of the Commission of Fine Arts, at a cost of not less than $2,000,000, the administration of said building, when erected, to be vested in the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. The bill further provides for a permanent endowment fund of $500,000, to be administered by the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, the income from which, as far as necessary, to be used for the maintenance of said building. It also provides that no work shall be commenced on the building until the sum of $1,000,000 shall have been paid into the treasury of the George Washington Memorial Association for the erection of the building, with a further provision that Congress may alter, amend, add to, or repeal any of the provisions of this bill. The bill carries with it no appropriation from Congress, the only request made being for permission from the Government for the George Washington Memorial Association to erect such building on Government property, as provided in section 4 of said bill. о 2d Session. No. 628. HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. MAY 1, 1912.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed. Mr. GEORGE, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 2224.] The Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill (S. 2224) to amend an act to regulate the height of buildings in the District of Columbia, approved June 1, 1910, having considered the same, report the bill without amendment as it passed the Senate. The bill amends the law in two particulars. In section 1 of the law the permissible height of combustible or nonfireproof buildings is increased from 50 to 55 feet. In section 7 of the law a change is made that permits parapet walls or balustrades, not exceeding 4 feet in height, to be raised on nonfireproof buildings above the limit of height. Parapet walls are, under the law, forbidden to rise above the limit of height. The bill was introduced into the Senate at the request of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, as will appear from the following letter: OFFICE COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Hon. J. H. GALLINGER, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. SIR: The Commissioners of the District of Columbia have the honor to submit herewith draft of a bill to amend an act to regulate the height of buildings in the District of Columbia, approved June 1, 1910, and to request its enactment. The present law regulating the height of buildings in the District of Columbia limits the height of combustible or nonfireproof buildings to 50 feet above the sidewalk, and the inclosed draft of bill provides for increasing this limit to 55 feet. Since the law was enacted a number of cases have been presented to the commissioners where the architectural effect of a building might have been improved had a greater height than 50 feet been permissible under the law It has been found that if a building is to be set on a terrace 4 or 5 feet above the sidewalk, it is impossible to get the ceiling heights desirable for the better class of residences within the limit of 50 feet. 1 |