The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-10
THEIR HOMES IN DANGER.
The Eishih-Strsst Tunnel Hay Possibly
Cave at Any Time.
vsNY RESIDENTS MILL HAVE TO MOVE
No Action win bo taken by the Committees
Until Monday, but the street will
be Barricsded at Once.

Joint session Of tho Committees on Streets
and Finance Of the City Council was held in
,be Chancery Courtroom yesterday afternoon
- consider the dangerous condition Of north
Eighth street
MAJOR Capers was in tho chair, and the fol-
lowing gentlemen we're present: Messrs. Tur-
min. Gray. Curtis. Stratton. Thomas Belvin,
# tho Committee on Streets. The Finance
Committee was represented by Messrs. Har-
Grove. Christian, Carneal and Steel.
The resolution was read by the clerk which
had been referred 20 the two committees by
AZ Common Council The resolution asked
t6at The Street Committee take immediate
stc,,s 20 restore the street 20 its former condi-
ton and that the Finance Committee pro-
VIDE the necessary funds for the carrying out
OF the work.
Major Capers thon presented tho following
communication from the City Engineer
IHE CITY ENGINEER.
"Tbe matter OF the Fighth-street tunnel
Was lv the Council referred 20 tho Joint Conn
mites on Streets and Finance. The tunnel
Is reported 10 bc IN dangerous condition.
and some OF the residents IN that locality are
very nervous and uneasy about IT, think 1t
advisable that some prompt acton snolld DC
taken IN regard 20 It. and would ADVISE
meeting o. the Joint committees as early as
practicable"
COMMUNICATIONS.
CAPTAIN Curtis presented communication
from Mr. G. H. Belvin. ylce-pre5ldent OF the
Richmond and Chesapeake Railroad Com
pany. which read as follows.
hlv attention WAS called 10 q local notice
in Richmond daily of July 9TH that there
would be JOINT meeting OF the Committees
on Streets and Finance % consider certain
resolution introduced by d. Taylor Stratton,
FISH, on Monday night last before the. Com
mon Council IN relation 10 the kghth-stieet
tunnel.
AT that time Mr. n z. Reid, president Of
tho Richmond and Chesapeake railroad, was
u the city. pom seeing the resolution IN the
newspapers OF Tuesday he Immediately saw
several members OF your committee - ascer-
tain at what time the committee would con-
vene for the consideration Of said resolution.
He WAS informed that the committee would
meet on the 18TH of tho month, and he WAS
invited % he present. He accepted the inV-
tatiOn and returned 10 New y Ork with the u.-
derstanding that he would return 10 the city
and be present on that occasion.
In this connection / beg leave 10 state
that the tunnel IS now being placed III hrst-
class condition. that the cracks complained
Of have no relation TO the tunnoi' that there
are no cracks inthe tunnel, nor has there ever
been q slide of OF fall If earth. and AZ the
proper time we will be abundantly able t.
show the same 10 the satisfaction of
Your honorable committee. IN the
meantime everything in the way ., OF
precautions will be taken 10, allay
any uneasness on the part Of the residents OF
Eighth street. All that we ask is 70 be heard
and that your honorable body will adjourn
the consideration OF the subject until the 18th
OF this month. the day on which the president
and officers Of this companyiwil be present
aud 10 which they were invited"
FIRST INITIATION.
Colonel Cutshaw, who was requested TO give
his opinion on the subject, stated that his at
tention was first called TO the dangerous con-
dltlOn Of the tunnel on Monday last 10y Mr..
Sherlev King who was laying some gas pipes
in that locality From time TO time people
had asked him in regard 10 the sato condition
and the progress Of the work on the tunnel
but he could not give them much information
However he thought that for about year
the work on the tunnel had practically been
abandoned until last Tuesday morning, when
few hands and carts were again put 70 work.
THREE HUNDRED TEEg.
The detailed plans Of the construction Of
the tunnel had never been laid before him,
except the original one. The tunnel had
been dug some three hundred feet and the
timber which was TO support the tunnel he
had been informed, was dcc0yed and apt 70
cave in Quite a number OF cracks had re-
Gently appeared on the surface OF the street
The charter made il part OF the duties of the
turned 20 s. safe condition. 10 bring the
matter properly before the city authorities he
had requested Mr.. StrattOn 20 Introduce his
resolution last Monday evening during the
session Of the Common Council.
In regard 20 the steps to be taken he recon-
mended that the tunnel be hlled in solid 10y
means OF a shaft 10 be lowered from the
surface of the street. and this should be done
at once. Some large cracks had appeared IN
the court yard OF the last house on the east
no. D. rfol NO. ed az
present 10y Mr. Petcolas. The crack
extended up 10 the porch. and another
slight crack was visible along the wall
Of the building. The house was in very
dangerous condition, and he mad advised
tie people 10 move out. The earth
IN that locality consisted of the same blue
clay as In the Church Hill tunnel. This soil
was all right as long az 1t was kept dry but
as soon ~ it became wet twould slip ont, and
Il was 70 be feared that some of the houses
would be carried with 1t. There We're sewer,
gas and water pipes laid on Eighth street,
which If broken 10y the settlement of the
ground would also create damage. The tun-
mel was twelve OF fifteen feet high, and II
would be too much risk 10 wait Tor the action
on the part of the company.
GETTING Thy WATER OUT.
About a dozen hands were employed at the
tunnel To got the water out lie deemed 10 !
advisable 70 fill IN the tunnel. for he did not |
think it would ever be built The Street Com |
Wttec should start the Work AZ once, ana an /
appropriation of 3 900 should be made by the !
Council TO defray the expenses.
Mr.. lurpin wanted o. know If the city could |
be legally held responsible for any damages, |
and several members thought that this was |
tie case
Mr. Bolton. one Of the attaches of the En- !
giueers Department who had examined the /
tunnel stated it had been excavated o. /
depth Of $50 fcet, about five feet this side OF |
tie Armory. The earth on top was cracked |
and had settled. and would soon come down. |
The timbers III the tunnel bad been smashed |
up and had IN part rOtted away. he had ia !
spected the tunnel on sunday and discovered !
number Of cracks running parallel with the |
tunnel If the ear should cave in il would /
carry along the front wall of the Armory.
Sir Gray wanted % know If the company |
had given any bond
THK BOND.
Colonel Cutshaw stated that the company |
lad gwen q bond for $1,000 to indemnity |
the citv. At the same time q check of 5000 |
had been given, which however. was returned |
N accordance with the provisions Of the /
cha ter as soon a. the work was commenced
Clerk Jacob stated that the bond had been
flied IN the Chancery Court and the document
Was sent for
Mr. Hsrgroye thought that it was advis-