Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-22
TALkAB0UT VIADUCT
THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE HEARS THE
VIEWS OF THE CITY ENGINEER.
Colonel Cutshaw Asked to Secure an Estf-
mate of the Cost-To Advertise for
Electric-Light Bids.

Eiectric-iight Bids.
A meeting Of the special joint COM
mittee appointed by the Council to in
quire into the expediency and probable
cost Of building bridge or viaduct over
Broad street from Twelfth to Twenty
second was held at 6 o'clock yesterday
afternoon In the Office OF the City En-
gineer.
There were present Messrs. E. Fl. Fer
gusson (chairman), j. @. Dickerson,
Thomas p. Campbell. John Mann. Jr..
Charles /. Philips, w. M. Turpin, Will
liam II. Curtis, James II. Capers, and
Colonel W. +. Cutshaw.
Mr.. Dickerson was first called upon to
express his views on the subject but
suggested that the committee had best
hear the opinion of the City Engineer,
who was accordingly asked to express
himself upon the subject.
CITY ENGINEERS VIEWS.
Colonel Cutshaw said: ." don't think
there is any question about the advisa-
bility Of building the viaduct, but the
whole matter turns upon the expense OF
building il. / have thought Of the mat
ter for years, and always approved of 1t.
"The viaddct is an advisable thing,
not only for the development OF the city
but for the convenience of strangers. |
think Broad street the proper route and
the bridge should be Of sufficient size
and height to accommodate not only
our present needs but also our future
wants. 1t would form central tho
roughfare leading from the two leading
boulevards of the city.
81 think the appearance OF the struc-
ture would be rather an ornament
SOME SUGGESTIONS.
Without going into Details" Colonel
Cutshaw continued, "Broad street,
which is ll8 feet wide from house to
house down to Jail alley, would have
sufficient width to have built upon it
viaduct, and still leave two walkways
sufficient for sidewalks. From Jail al
lev to Twenty-frst street the viaduct
would have to be a similar structure to
that of the elevated railway at Harlem,
N. Y, as regards height.
"While every street crossed over would
be sufficiently wide to admit passage
under it, the houses facing it could also
have sufficient space before them to al
low passage.
Il think the question is OF such mo-
ment that it is worth going further into,
and as an engineer l heartily recommend
il. but il will be necessary for us to get
further information and specifications.
81 do not think any property would
have to be condemned.
"Both looking at the viaduct from
the streets below and at the city from
the bridge, it would be decided orna-
ment to the city,"
REFERRED FOR INFORMATION.
The question as to the city's ability to
bear the expense Of building such via
duct was discussed and MIR. Mann de-
sired to know whether a special tax could
not be levied to help defray the ex-
pense.
Mr.. Dickerson thought the considera-
ton OF such question premature, and
moved that the whole matter be referred
to the City Engineer to get approximate
estimates and general information on the
subject and to report back to the COM
mittee.
Mr.. Capers seconded the motion OF
Mr.. Dickerson, which was adopted.
The meeting then adjourned.
The fsiectric-Light Committees Record.
A special meeting Of the Electric
Light Committee was held IN the Coun-
Gil Chamber yesterday afternoon at 5;30
O'Clock.
This was in pursuance OF resolution
adopted at the last meeting OF the Com
mon Council instructing the committee
to investigate the alleged alteration of its
record bearing upon the electric-light
contract.
The entry in the minutes was January
s, 1886. Over this was written III pen
Gil February Sth, the correct date OF the
contract.
ONLY A MISTAKE.
Mr.. Powers, who was chairman of the
committee at the time, said the lead
pencil date was correct. Clerk August
corroborated this and read from the Dis
patch Of February 10, 1886, to prove it.
Sergeant-at-Arms Ealston, who made
the correction, recognized the change as
being in his handwriting and said it was
done at the direction of the committee
at subsequent meeting, the original
date-January Sth-being incorrect.
The committee adopted resolution
informing the Council that the explana-
ton offered was entirely satisfactory.
ELRcrmc-LIGHr CONTRACT.
The resolution passed by both branches
of the Council empowering the same
committee to advertise for bids to fur
nish the city with electric light for tho
period of twelve months or for shorter
period if practicable from the Sth of
February, 1891, was next taken mp.
| 1t was intimated that the Schuyler
Company would not bid for a shorter
period than five years. MIR. Glover
thought this would be good thing, as
it might compel the city to have Its own
plant
MIR. Traylor, of the Traylor Electric
Company. said his company would bid
for year.
Mr.. Glover suggested that the placing
of incandescent lamps should be dis
continued.
Mr.. Courtney favored a six-months
contract.
On motion OF Mr.. Carter it was re-
solved to advertise for bids for furnish
ing l34 street electric lights (the present
number) for one year from February 8,
1891.
November 18th was designated as the
time for opening the bids.
i rnr NrNuc ar MANCHESTER