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

Another Meeting of the Council Conn
NIT ee and Railroad Managers.
The Joint committees Of the city council
and chamber Of commerce met in the conn
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
ines. The st. Paul & Manitoba railroad
company was represented by j. j. Hill, the
Northern Pacific by HI. 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,
CITY Attorney Murray and Mr.. Sewall.
The building OF a viaduet or bridge over
the Fourth street crossing was taken up as q
main issue and discussed st length. Mr..
Porter explained the principle of construct
ing viaducts in Chicago. The company
built the bridge and sustaining walls be-
meath, covering the right Of way. The plans
were drawn by the city, and after being
agreed upon the structure was put up by the
company. After completion of the bridge
or viaduct the structure was maintained by
the city, the same as street. 1t was simply
question as to whether the company should
go over the highway or the public go under
the bridge.
Attention was here called to former un-
derstanding between the city and the rail-
nh L.
agree on plans and the latter to pay its
share of the expense. During the converse
ton that ensued the railroad manager dilat-
ed on the unfair position assumed by the
city.
The relative merits Of the bridges and
yiaducts 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 q bridge or
visduct over the Fourth street, Westminster
and Lafayette avenue crossings.
Chairman Rhodes stated that he bell eyed
the railroad company awaited the sense ot
the city.
A prolonged talk followed and it was de-
| 1nitely agreed that the railroad companies
should construct the bridge or viaduct with
abutmeuts and that the city build the sp
proaches.
Mr.. Lee offered the following resolution
which was adopted:
ReSOlUed, That the question of railroad cross
ings over the different streets of the city bt
referred to the Mayor, Dir. Rhodes, the city at
torney and Gen. q. A. Becker on the part oi
the city; hIr. Porter, of the Omaha road, Mr.
Ilsley of the Lake Superior road, Mr.. Sargent
of the Northern Pacific, and Mr..
ELL of the Manitoba road, for the
purpose of preparing memorandum, which
shall show plainly the principle upon which
the railroad crossings shall be constructed
and what shall be done by the railroad com
panies and what shall be undertaken by the
! city of st. Paul.
ReSolved, That this committee be requested
| to report their pro- ceedines to meeting of this
committee, to be held at the council chambe,
! on Wednesday at P. n.
On motion the committee met instanter
and long discussion resulted in the adopt
ion of the following agreement offered by
| Gen. Becker:
In the matter of the railway crossings
over or upder the streets within the city
limits, it is understood that it is the province
of the city council to determine when an6
where and how such crossings shall be made
whether at grade by bridges over, or road.
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 cros-
sing requiring bridge over the railway
tracks is adopted by the common council
the railroad companies interested shall build
the abutments and the superstructure over
their right Of way, and in case of roadways
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, and
the city shall build the approaches thereto.
And after such crossings are completed in
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.