The daily gazette., 1882-10-23
THE B.&O'S NEW ROUTE.
COUNCIL VIEWING STREETS
1T WILL RUN THROUGH.
THE ROUTE GIVEN IN DETAIL
Plans Shown and Explained by the
Counsel and Eneineers-Banquet After
the Tiresome Tramp.

proposed route of The new Baltimore q
Ohio road through Wilmington on Saturday
afternoon, heing conveyed from the City
Hall in barouches.
Besides the councilmen there were in the
party James l.. Randolph, of Baltimore,
Chief Engineer Major Samuel Candy,
Assistant Engineer Capt. W. ii. Smith,
Right of Way Agent, and Levi Q. Bird, Esq,
counsel for the Baltimore and Ohio railroad;
Daniel Council, Superintendent of Delaware
Western railroad Myers G. Conwell, Chief
Engineer of the City of Wilmington Henry
G.. Turner City Solicitor; Joseph X.
Adams and Robert II. Taylor, cx-members
of City Council, and representatives of the
daily papers.
The party were driven at once to the
corner of Twelfth and Union streets, where
with maps and copies of the proposed ordi-
nance careful survey was made of the line
run and staked out by the railroad engineers.
The new road will strike Union street. which
Is the boundary of the city, about 100 feet
south of Eleventh street. The principal
object of the meeting was the examination
of the grades as laid out by the city engin-
GERS, and how they would be affected by the
| railroad.
Where It is to cross Union street the grade
will be raised 4-10 feet above the regula-
| ton, change which will be of decided
benefit to the city, turning the water and
making the drainage better 1t crosses
| Pennsylvania avenue So feet south of the
| centre of Union street, the grade of that
| avenue being raised about the same as the
street. The next streets crossed are Thir-
| teenih and Lincoln, at their intersection,
| about l u feet below grade.
Fourteenth street is crossed LOG feet north
| of Scott street and that is where the first
appearance of an Inconvenience arises. The
prop, sition is to cross that point 4-l0 feet
| above grade, but Engineer Candy thinks
the city grade can be changed, at the ex-
pense of the company, and the drainage
run to Lincoln or Union street without any
difficulty whatever.
Just beyond Fourteenth street, Scott
street is crossed diagonally, 139 feet east of
| the former. The proposition is to raise the
grade $40 feet above that fixed by the city,
but Engineer Randolph suggests that a
hollow or indentation in the street be made
and a bridge thrown, allowing the roadway
| to run beneath. That would be the most
desirable plan, and the drainage could be
accomplished by connecting with the sewer
at Fourteenth steeet. The roadway and
cutters Of course would be paved, and 1t is
more than likely the bridge will be placed
there. 1t would rest on three rows of posts,
one at each curb and one In the centre Of
the street, dividing the two road ways.
A sufficient grade or declinatiou can be
obtained under the bridge in distance of
800 feet, 250 feet each side OF the bridge, and
the grade will not be difficult one for
vehicles.
As soon as Scott street is crossed the road
reaches lot of 81 acres, bounded by Scott,
DUPONT and Fourteenth streets and Della
ware avenue, which is owned by the railroad
company. On it they propose to erect
workshops, round house, freight and pas
scnger stations and whatever other buildings
are needed, besides having yard for drill +
ing and standing of rolling stock.
Sixteenth street is run, but not graded,
across the lot, and that tho company ask
the privilege OF closing up, as otherwise it
would interfere with building operations, in
the event of their obtaining the rights asked
for. The street, while belonging to the C ity,
is said to have never been decided to 1t, and
its closing would be Of no loss or injury,
inasmuch as Delaware avenue is but two
thirds Of q block away at one side of the
| lot and only half block at the other. A
resolution will no doubt be offered in Coun-
| Gil TO vacate the street, and IL passeu the
matter will be taken to the Legislature for
confirmation.
Delaware avenue will be crossed on a
bridge IA feet above the roadway, about llO
feet north of DUPONT street, just west of the
Logan House and between that hotel and
north of DUPONT street, 0-10 feet above
! the grade. At this point, instead of filling
up, it is suggested that the grades OF both
Gilpin avenue and DUPONT street be
materially changed, that of the former re-
yerscd SO as to incline to the north instead
of the south, passing under bridge ~ ieet
, above the roadway, on the same plan as the
proposed one at Scott street.
From Gilpin avenue the grade begins tC
| c,n MI of 81 nj aVQnnp the lifV prad(
will be raised 8 9-l0 feet without any detri
! ment to the adjoining property, most O.
which is owned by the company. Shall
cross avenue is crossed 81 feet north of Dt
| Pont street.
! Lowering avenue is crossed, almost at thu
: grade laid down by the city, at its inter
q section with DUPONT street. The line rum
. Just about where the north sidewalk Q
. DUPONT street would come, and opposite st
z James Catholic church, which is not ap
n to be affected by the railroad. About mid
o way to Wawasett street the road makes
= curve of degrees to the right, crossing
o diagonally the intersection OF Wawasett AM
DUPONT streets, 3 feet below the prcsen
o level.
The edge of the south bank Of the Brandy
y wine Is soon reached, and there the trestl
o work will begin as an approach TO the briug
. across the stream, which will be lOS lee
3 above low water. The total length of tn
trestlcs and bridge will be about 200 fee'
The members of Council followed tn
Is line faithfully and took decided interest
10 the very clear explanation of the propose
II plan.
A bee-lne was made over fences, throug
turnip patches, up banks, over guliief
and In and out of hooks and corners.
The city fathers, from President pro teI
Bailey down, showed themselves experts
climbing fences, and when the brewery
where the carriages were sent In advance
was reached, over an hour had been cor
ls sumed, and there was not dissenting VOC
,o to the statement that the railroad company
III engineers had well considered the city's IL
es terests and the few changes in the grade
Is was remarked as bit of skilliul cnginee
n ing doyetail work.
is The carriages were again taken, landin
Nc the party at the Ebbitt House, whei
m a most excellent banquet was prepare
@. for the tired gentlemen. Levi
q. Bird. ESQ.,, officiated as host, an
n, very entertaining one he made, viii
e, Mr.. Bailey presided over the interestir
ey scene.