Daily globe., 1880-08-24
RAILROAD CROSSINGS.

Another Meeting of the Council Com
NIT ee aud Railroad Managers.
The joint committees of the city council
and chamber of commerce met in the coun-
Gil chamber, yesterday afternoon, to confer
with the managers of the several railroad
companies regarding the construction OF
viaducts and bridges over the railroad cross
ings. The st. Paul & Manitoba railroad
company was represented By j. J. Hill, the
Northern Pacific by 81. E. Sargent, the ST.
Paul & Duluth by Manager Ilsley, and the
Chicago, st. Paul & Omaha by Manager
Porter. Messrs. Lee, Wilson and Willius
represented the chamber of commerce, and
of the city government there were present
Mayor Dawson, Aid. Rhodes, Gen. Becker,
Citv Attorney Murray and Mr.. Sewall. ,
The building OF a viaduot or bridge over
the Fourth street crossing was taken up as q
main issue and discussed at length. Mr..
Porter explained the principle of construct
ing viaduots in Chicago. The company
built the bridge and sustaining walls be-
meath, covering the right of way. The plans
agreed upon the structure was put up by the
company. After completion of the bridge
or viaduot the structure was maintained BY
the city, the same as street. 1t was simply
question as to whether the company should
60 over the highway or the public 20 under
the bridge.
Attention was here called to former uu-
derstanding between the city and the rail
road managers, by which the city was tc
agree on plans and the latter to pay it's
share of the expense. During the converse
tion that ensued the railroad manager diIat.
ed on the unfair position assumed by the
city.
The relative merits of the bridges an6
viaducts was discussed and it was decided
to leave the point for future determination.
Mayor Dawson called attention to the i'm
mediate necessity of building bridge or
viaduct over the Fourth street, Westministe,
and Lafayette avenue crossings. BAD
Chairman Rhodes stated that he bell eYet
the railroad company awaited the sense o,
the city.
| prolonged talk followed and it was de-
| fnitely agreed that the railroad companies
should construct the bridge or viaduct witt
abutments and that the city build the ap
proaches.
MIR. Lee offered the following resolution
which was adopted:
! ReSotUed, That the question OF railroad cross
ings over the different streets of the city b.
referred to the Mayor. MIR. Rhodes, the city at
| torDey and Gen. G. A. Becker on the part o1
the city; MIR. Porter, of the Omaha road, Mr.
Iisley of the Lake Superb road, Mr.. Sargent
of the Northern Pacific, and Mr..
| Hill of the Manitobs road, for thu
! purpose of preparing memorandum, which
shall show plainly the principle Gpon which
the railroad crossings shall be constructed
and what shall be done by the railroad com
panies and what shall be undertaken BY th,
| city OF st. Paul.
| RESOLVED. That this committee be requested
to report their pro; eedinss to meeting of this
| committee, to be held at the council chamber
on Wednesday at P. ". @
| On motion the committee met instanter
and long discussion resulted ia the adopt
ion of the following agreement offered by
| Gen. Becker:
In the matter of the railway crossings
over or under the streets within the city
limits, it is understood that it ia the provinct
of the city council to determine when ani
where and how such crossings shall be made
whether at grade by bridges over, or road
ways under the tracks; that the extent anG
character of these crossings, whether bridges
over or roadways under the tracks, shall be de-
| termined by the city authorities after consul
tation with the chief engineers of the respect
i've railroad companies interested in such
crossings; that when the plans for any eros
sing requiring bridge over the railway
tracks is adopted by the common council
the railroad companies interested shall build
the abutments aud the superstructure ovel
their right of way, and in case of roadwsys
under the railway tracks, the railway com
pany shall make the necessary excavations
across their right of way, and surface the
same with gravel In suitable manner, anc
the city shall build the approache, thereto
| And after such crossings are completed ir
accordance with the requirements of the
city authorities, such crossings shall be
maintained and kept in order at the expense
Of the city government. Adjourned. Il