Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-09-16
GRADE CROSSINGS.
CHICAGO PROPOSES TO HAVE THEM ALL
ABOLISHED.
Details ct a Great Municipal Prgect-Plans Ar
ranged fr the Elevated Terminal Rail
way-To be Completed in Time
for the Worlds Far.

NEW YORK, September l5.-The
Journal of Finance publishes special
from Chicago giving the following
further details of the proposed elcyat-
cd terminal railway in that city:
The plan for the relief of Chicago by
providing am improved terminal system
for the various lines of railroads which
run into this city. has at last material
lied, aud will DE put into operation at
time not far distant by corporation
bearing the name of the Chicago Ele-
waited Terminal Railway Company.
The results desired. as is indicated by
the name of the company, are to be ac-
complishcd by an elevated track system.
10 will cost a vast amount of money to
carry the plan TO completion, but there
is scarcely doubt that early and def
mite action will bc taken.
Statistics given no lrecent meeting of
the Western Society of American Engin-
eerS show that the number of persons
killed within the corporate limits of
Chicago each year by the railroads
crossing streets and other railway
lines at % grade is between 400 and
500 per Juuum, and 10 is also
stated that one of the chief railway syS-
TENS entering Chicago paid, during
the last year, over Sl5O, 600 for personal
injuries caused 40 grade crossings.
These facts are we'll known To all rail-
road men aud 10 others doing business
100 ChicOrO whether they will admit
them or not, and 10 is believed that the
great cost of the construction of an
elevated entrance, for nny one line, has
alone prevented the attempt being made
zap to this time; but the present plan
proposes O. make the construction on
such broad and liberal basis that il
will provide ample entrance and tcrmi-
ual facilities for not less than eight and
probably ten trunk lines approaching
Chicago from the East, South and West.
IL is proposed that the elevated tracks
shall Dee carried upon am iron or steel
structure through the more tMckly pop
uiated city. and upon brick or stone
arches at points where that construction
can Doe used 20 better advantage. as prac-
ticcd i'm Philadelphia, Jersey City and In
London aud other European cities. The
company does not propose To- ask any
thing from the city 0i Chicago other
than authority 90 permit It's structure To-
cross the streets at or not less than l6
feet above the curb lines. and % do this
only upon property owned by the COM
pany. SD as NOT To- interfere in the slight
e>t degree with the Traffic of other rail-
way lines ur OF the streets.
lt is proposed to construct the lime
with 700 pound steel rails, SO that the
heaviest engines running 40 thc highest
rate of speed. cam enter the city 40 from
SOD 90 sd miles per hour if desired, with
ont creating the slightest Inconvenience
or interruption 10 the traffic and buSi-
ucS, of other railroads. or of the city.
10 is also proposed 20 construct n con-
ucct.lu with this elevated railway and
terminal system. enclosed freight yards
no grade. using hydraulic lifts, as prac-
ticcd iu England, for the transfer of
freight cars from the elevated tracks %
the enclosed yards ou the street level
thus preventing the laying of any more
railroad tracks across or upon streets M
grade.
The Union Station OF the elevated
system wiu probably Doe on State, abut-
ting ou or south of the Twelfth street
+ Vladuct thu- utilizing as 20 great couvc-
uicucc and facility for passenger traffic
+ the yiaduct. which has heretofore been
looked upon as % great dctrimcut 90
chat part of the city. IL is the mtcn-
ti0u of this company to make this ~td-
tiou 90 magnificent structure. The plan
is to have eight or ten elevated tracks
running south from the Onion Station
/ |toa point where they divcrgc. one line
. t0 the south and one 90 the west, each
/ of Tine dvergcd lines carrying from four
to sis elevated tracks.
All preliminary plans have been pre-
pared. >0 that the work can begin at an
early date; and as 10 is proposed 90 buy
every foot of land the company will oc-
|cupy. and as the improvements will
bring great relief % street and railway
traffic upon the surface, and will not i'm
Iauy way hamper traffic upon existing
lines. 10 is believed that the elevated
railway and terminals will Doe very pop
ular. NOT only with the officials and
patrons of the railroads but with the
public. 10 is the purpose OF the COM
pIuy to begin construction as soon as
. the proper city ordinances are passed.
/ >o as to have the elevated entrance and
terminals ready for business before the
opening of thc Worlds Fair.
The company proposes TO acquire
from thc Atchi>ou. Topeka and Santa
/ Fee Railroad Company. DO 90 satisfactory
arrangement can bo reached with %,
large aigoout of the real estate which
f that company heretofore acquired for
the purpose OF constructing au cu-