, 1879-02-23

The City Council is just now in fever q
excitement concerning the construction G
viaduets, Nearly every Alderman in til
West Division is interested in having one O
! mora viaducts built, and each has motto,
to include in the Appropriation ordinance al
! appropriation or several Of them. The pol
| icy Of the city, it 1nny be considered, ha
been settled permanently, al the rail
ways are to have admission to The ccntra
parts Of tie city. The depots have beer
established in groups,-at West Kinzie ane
Canal streets, at Lake street and the ~Lakt
Front, at Madison aud Canal streets, and al
Van Buren and LaSa}le streets. To reach
these central points, the city has literally
surrendered several trunk routes, which 50
cross the streets and avenues as to reude,
the construction Of AL extensive system of
viaducts rs essential to the pubic conven-
ience, safety, and business as it is to the
operation of the railways. Viaducts over
all the railways within the city limits are,
then, part Of the necessary future Of the
city.
The railroads which enter the city over
roadways crossing the public streets, ave-
nues, and alleys, do so subject to all the pow
ers and authority Of the city to regulate the
laying Of the tracks, the grade thereof, the
rnte of speed, tho prevention of street-ob-
struction, the safety of foot-passengers and
private vehicles; in fact, the city has full
power and authority by regulation to control
the terms and conditions upon which trains
may enter and depart the city, even to the
prohibition Of the use of steam aud the SUBJ
stitution of horsepower.
In 1879 the City Council adopted q gen
eral ordinance on this subject, or an ordi-
nance which was intended at the time to
serve as the model Of subsequent action ad-
m'tt1ng railroads to the city. It was
the ordinance concerning the Chicago g.
Canada Southern Railroad Company and tho
Chicago j. Illinois River Railroad Company.
The terms aud the conditions of that ordi-
nance have been re-enacted since then, and
without substantial change. Under that or
dlnance there have been several vinducts
built by the railroads, and under that and
subsequent ordinances the railroad compa-
mes aro bound by contracts and conditions to
build several other viaducts. Gan it bo that
the present City Council is not aware of the
past legislation on this subject aud that the
council Is not aware that it requires only the
0ctlvo enforcement Of existing law to com
pei the construction of various viaducts by
tie rallroRd companies?
The City Council have power, under the
general police authority, to stop the running
't any cars propelled by steam within the
'lty limits. Ra!lroad companies operate
heir trains over and across the streets, ay-
'nnes, and alleys Of the city, to the obstruc- |
aon Of travel, at the suGerance of the city,
n ell cases where there is not IN exDress
contract to erect viaaucts, the City Council |
nay offer such railroad companies the alter
lat1ve Of SO constructing viaducts or of pro-
'elling their trains within tho city exclusive
by horsepower. The city can order the
rrest OF any engineer or other officer of a
ram who shall permit the same to obstruct
he crossing OF any street, or who shall move
hat train by any otRe: than horsepower. or
aster than at the rate of two miles an hour.
Is for the railroads 10 determine whether
hey will build viaduces, rs is required in the
Qeclal ordinances of the CITY. or ,yhatbar