Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-23
CAN LIVE In THE AIR.
Mr.. sURewYN sUa oesTs AN Aopl-
IloNAL USE FOR THE vlADUcT.
Tho Brosd-Ssrcot Bridge viii Be Built
Soon ~ the City will Give
tho Franchise.

The chances OF the Broad-street VIA
duct being built in the near future are
much better than most people think.
There is 10 doubt that the structure
will be erected within a very few years,
and it is possible that twelve months
hence there will be level walkway from
the East to the West ends
The city is now giving the subject
careful consideration and the only OBJ
,taclo seems 10 be the lack Of funds that
can we'll be spared from her treasury for
the needed Improvement. The scheme
meets with almost universal endorse
mont and the Church Hill people are
eamorous for the bridge, which they
think would greatly enhance the value
Of property in the East End.
Shonli the city decide that her
financial condition is not such as to adj
nit Of this outlay, the Council wonld
only have TO grant the franchise TO III
sure the establishment o. the viaduct
The DESPATCH Is a receipt Of positive
information that private corporation
has been looking into the matter. and II
certain concessions, among them the
,ight 20 use the street and 10 charge toll,
can be obtained from the city the bridge
viii be put up In two or three years at
the outside, and probably IN a much
shorter time.
WHAT 1T WILL COST.
knowing that Mr.. G. p. i. Burgwyn,
one Of the best-known engineers in
Eichmond, has had large experience in
work Of this kind q DiSpGtch reporter
called on him yesterday afternoon and
sought an expression OF his views re-
p,riing thiscontemplated improvement.
Nh Burgwyn said he had given the
f1b,ect much thought and had done
some little figuring on 1t. He was OF
oninion that aniron viaGuct with wooden
flooring and paved with hickory blocks
in the roadway could be put up FOR an
emount somewhere between 3Sj, 600 and
SlOD.UO0 Such viaduct would have
roadway of twenty-one feet and five
foot walkWay on either side for foot pas
eengers. This would make It's entire
width thirty-one feet just one foot less
than the Free bridge His idea IS to
rqn II from Twelfth aud Broad to Iwen-
tvfourth street, which would make 1T
nearly dead-leyel.
HOW SUPPORTED.
II would only be necessary, explained
Mr. Burgwyn, 10 have the yiaduct sup
ported by single iron columns 100 feet
apsrt except IN the middle, where the
extreme height would require two. The
structure. according to Mr.. Burgwyn's
hee. would consist of continuation Of
cult levers, each of which would be one
hundred feet near length. This bridge
would be about 5000 feet long, and at
the highest point-the Chesapeake Id
Ohio depot--it would be ll6 feet above
the street level. As q curious fact MIR.
Burgwyn stated that leaving out the dis
comfort and difficulty Of ascending and
descending the hills not moro than iif-
teen OF twenty feet in distance would be
saved by the change of grade.
TIE COLUMNS.
The columns 10 he used in supporting
the structure would not comply, contin-
ned the engineer, with the usual accept
alton OF that term. They would be
neither round nor square, but flat. That
is. they would be built Of iron plates fas-
tened together with rivets and angle
bars. They would have much the APP
pearance Of iron-lattce work. AT the
top they will branch out on both sides
like letter T.. No abutments will be
used. but these iron columns will be an
chored 10 masonry imbedded below the
level Of the street This will make 1t
mmplv impossible for the bridge to col
lapse or blow over. 1t would also make
il much stronger than q railroad bridge,
which is set on top OF the stone abut-
ments and pillars.
HIGH BUSINESS POINTS.
One source Of great profit in connec-
ton with q yiaduct, the engineer re-
marked, had been overlooked. That is
that booths for commercial purposes
can be built or bracketed out on either
SIDE. He remembered seeing while III
Florence two magnificent picture gal
lories over half q mile apart, which were
connected by bridge across the Arno.
This structure was also used rs an art
gallery aud Was one of tho prettiest he
had over seen. Projecting out on both
sides were little booths for the sale OF
lewelry, trinkets, and oatables OF various
kinds. All OF them did fiourishlny
business and vera among the busiest
places in the city.
A residence on yiaduct you'd not be
the worst thing in the world. There
would he no danger of dampness. Elec-
trio lights, water connections and sewer
age could be provided for, street-cars
would be always on hand, and provisions
could be had near by If desired. If any
breeze was blowing in summer it would
be a good place to catch it. The rent of
these booths alone would more than pay
the interest on tine investment
This plan was also adopted on the i'm
mense Hollorn yiaduct in London and
the hlalto bridge in Venice.
NOT SO VERY HIGH.
When questioned as to the compare
tive height OF the bridge, Mr.. Burgwyn
said II was not excessively high, and
could be built Just as strongly as one not
half so tall. The Kenzna viaduct re-
Gently constructed by one OF the newer
railroads in Pennsylvania 4. is 800 feet
above the ground.
The great safety OF the proposed
Broad-street structure would lie in the
fact that all of the iron-work would be
boted 10 masonry laid IN the ground.
u would be simply impossible TO move
H. Horses, street-carS, and heavy loads
could pass over as quickly as they
choose