Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-02-09
THE RAILROAD BRIDGE ACROSS THE
CUYAHOGA RIVER.
History of the ATair---Mr. Roberts
Resolution in the City COunciI."The
Right of Way Granted

On account of the pressure on our col
umns we omitted from our yesterday morn
ing's report of the City Council proceed
ings, the lengthy resolution of Mr.. Rob
erts, granting the Cleveland and Toledo
Railroad Company permission to occupy
portion of Front street, on specified condi-
tions. We publish it below, as it finally
passed the Council after having received
many and quite essential notifications.
This Railroad Company have long been
desirous of removing their freight depots
and yard to the west side of the river, and
run out their trains on the Northern Divis-
ion to Elyria, to join the Southern Divie-
ion at oberlin, over line to be made be-
tween those two points, and thus avoid the
unnecessary expense of using the Columbus
track from Grafton and Berea. Bnt before
this removal of depots and yard to the
West Side could be effected the right of
bridging the river at some convenient point
must be secured. The Company and the
City Council have been for two or three
years in disagreement as to the location of
the bridge, the former wishing to cross
north of the Old River Bed, where they al
ready own the land, and the latter insist
ing that the bridge should be thrown over
at point south of that Bed. The Compa.
ny finally prevailed, having obtained per-
mission from the State authorities to cross
whoro they wished.
Mr.. Roberts introduced his resolution in
the Council on the 10th of January, which
was referred to the Board of City Improve
ments and Special Committee, who report
ed to the Council last Tuesday evening.
Themain features of the Report are these
The Cleveland and Toledo Railroad Com
pany must give bonds ofindemnity for $500,
600; pay two-thirds the cost of paving
Front street; pay the city $50, 900 by the
LIST of July; give proper facilities for open
ing the mouth of the river; make the bridge
at their own expense; allow any railroad
running into the city the privilege of using
their tracks in Front and Lloyd streets, on
condition they get the consent of the City
Council and pay the G. & T. Company pro
rata proportion of hecost of the work pave
Front street between Water and the west
line of Spring streets before November 10,
1865, and the remainder before August 1,
1856; and build the bridge on the plan and
operate it under the conditions given IN the
report of Mr.. J. Blickensderter, Jr , by order
of the Court of Common Pleas.
A communication from the C. st. R.R.
Company was received and read afte the
reading of the Report, Objeetiog to the pay
ment of $50, 900 as exorbitant; and obiecting
also to the time of payment, and to the
grant to other Railroads of the privilege of
using the tracks on the mere payment of a
pro rata proportion of the cost of eonstruc-
ton.
Mr.. Roberts original resolution was then
called up, discussed, amended, and finally
passed in the form given below. The c. &
T. R. R. Company have now the privilege
of occupying Lloyd street and twenty-eight
feet wide Of Front street, next north of the
centre line, provided they give bonds of in
dempity to the amount of $500, 900; pave
one-hslf the width of Front street; pay
$4,000 into the City Treasury; allow the
Cleveland & Pittsburgh and Cleveland,
PainesvilIs & Ashtabula Railroads to use
their tracks on the street, on their paying
pro rata share o. the cost, or have an equiv
alent in interest, and make any necessary
Improvements and bridging, in case the
Old River Bed shall be opened into the lake
as harbor.
This resolution, as amended and finally
passed, is asfollows:
WHEREAS, The Cleveland and Toledo Rail
J road Company have long been desirous of
crossing the CuyahOgs river at some point
between the Light House street Bridge and
the northsFly line of Front street, their petit
tion to shaG sn5 having been presented to
} this body some FIVE months since, and
which petition is still in the joint hands of
the Board of City improvements and
Special Committee OF this Council and
whereas, 1t has been the uniform practice
of the municipal authorities of Cleveland
to concede the railroads centering at this
point, any and all necessary facilities for
tracks, depots, &c, consistent with due re-
gard for the general interests of the city,
as evidenced in the privileges granted to
the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati,
Cleveland, Painesville and Ashtabula,
Cleveland and Pittsburg, Cleveland and
! Mahoning, and Atlantic and Great Westerv,
roads and whereas, There does not an
pear to be any good and valid reason wbv
portion of the measure and priyIIeges
accorded to other roads should not lie con
ceded to the Cleveland and TOiedr, road
and whereas, The Cleveland am, Toledo
Railroad Company have obtaineII pernnis-
sion, from what they deem com ostent State
authority, to construct, maint ain andoper-
ate bridge across the Cuyrlhoga river at
Front street, upon the IegI .Iitvt proprietv
or feasibility of which, ,thV, Council does not
propose at this time Co. cypress an opinion;
| therefore, be it
sRes0lUed, Thaa permission is hereby
granted to tho Cleveland & Toledo Railroad
Company to oeeTpy Lloyd street and 80
much of Front street north of the centre
line, not to exceed twenty-eight feet, as
may be necessary to construct, maintain,
and operate double track in said street,
the same to be laid down as near the centre
line of the same as may be, upon the fol-
lowing terms and conditions, to wit:
1st. Said Cleveland q Toledo Railroad
Company shall execute their bond to the
City of Cleveland in the sum of $500, 600,
conditioned for the prompt and faithful
payment of all damages sustained by the
City Of Cleveland or any of its citizens, By
reason of the use or occupancy of said Front
street by said railroad.
I'd. Said Cleveland & Toledo Railroad
Company shall have the width of all that
portion Of Front street between the Cuya-
hoga River and the easterly line of Spring
street, commencing twelve feet from the
northerly line. Also that portion of said
Front street lying between the eastsrly line
of Spring street and the westerly line of
Water street. The Chip to be grsded and
paved to such width as as may be hereafter
determined by the Board of City Improve
ments, under whose supervision and direc-
tion all grading and paving shall be done
The paving to be done with such materials
as may be approved by the Board of City
Improvements. The paving to be done on
| or hafnra the Lat deY of JanuarY. 1866 or