, 1872-10-18
VIADUCTS.
Views Of the President Of the
Burlington 6 Quincy
Railroad.
Also What Pfoperty.0wners Think Of the Pro.
posed Bridging Of South Side
Thoroughfares

bfr. Walker, President Of the Chicago. Bur-
1ington l. Quincy Railroad Company, was called
upon, yesterday, for his views On the viaduct
question, and especially with reference to the
erection of viaducts over the Burlington GUM
cy track at Michigan and Wabash avenues, and
State and Clark streets, as contemplated by the
report of the Council Committee On Railroads,
an account of whose action was giyen in IRE
TRIBUNE Of Thursday.
MR. WALKERS VIEWS.
A1r. Walker said that something seemed to be
necessary to protect citizens and accommodate
the railroads. Viaducls were successful IN
Boston; they were very common IN Eu-
rope, and the one at Ha1sted street was
great convenience, and seemed to give gem
eral satisfaction. He did not see any other way
to solve the difficulty. Horse power was simply
impracticable. Each freight car would require
four horses to draw it, and even then the Dusi-
ness could not be done if every minute in the
twenty-four hours in day were occupied, and
the streets b1ockaded all the time. The
amount of traffic over the road was enormous.
There was more freight sent over the road in q
day than used to be sent over the Harlem line in
a week, when that road hauled it's freight cars
from the warehouse in Centre street, New York,
to it's depot up town by horsepower. It was not
the freight Of the Chicago, Burlington l.
Quincy only that covered those streets. a
large proportion Of the freight belonged to the
illinois Central, which sent freight on its main
line to Chicago by way OF the c., B. & O., and
none Of it vas transfer freight to or from the
Michigan Central.
The city would have to join in the expense Of
constructing. the riaducts the proportion to be
determined by agreement. Fiaducts could be
made to improve the streets, and be ornamental
as we'll as useful. The rise would break the mo-
notony Of fatneEs and as the sidewalks would
also be raised, no injury could accrue to abut-
ting property. The track might be sunk nine
feet, though that would be almost too deep, as
it would make q steep grade for heavy trains.
Eight feet would be better. The height over
the roadway would be about nine feet. A smoke
stack required 161H feet in the clear. The in
chned plane approaching the yiaduct would e1-
tend about 200 feet on each side.
Nothing could bo done in the matter until IN
arrangement was made with the Michigan
Southern Road, whose track WAS crossed near
Clark Street. II the grade Of the G., B. d. @.
ed to correspond.
Mr. Walker said further that it was the de-
sire Of the company to accommodate the public
in every way possible.
WHAT PEoPEaTY-owSEgs SAY.
The owners Of property in the vicinity of the
has @ Rer property aqas Noaa Gs be ss ds
preciated, and the danger on the
tloroughfares in no way diminished.
They are determined to resist the alleged i'm
provement, shielding themselves behind all the
legal barriers they can find, and if they are to
have Viaducts, to postpone their arrival as long
as possible. They denounce the present tracks
as a perpetual switchgard." Some Of them
think no freight should CROSS the streets ct all,
that freight destined for the city should be
stored in the warehouses Of the c., B. d @, on
the West Side, and that freight should BE- trans
fe1red only at transfer depot, to be located out
side the city, on the South or West Sides II
passenger trains must cross the streets, they
should be propelled by horses.
MEETING TO-DAY.
The Railroad Committee of the Conncl will
meet to-day and further consider the subject.