Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-13
THEY FAVOR A PLAN
To Erect a viaduct Over and
Across the Tracks.
FOR THE BENEFIT OF MANY
A Bridge Cor Willis ms and Other Streets
Cogent Reasons Why II Should
Be Early Adopted


committee on the petition Of Henry ID.
Loscher and seyenty-six Others who
Ask Tor . viaduct over the railroad
tracks crossing Goodrich. Bartlett and
Williams streets has created . small
sensation IN railroad circles, though
officials are wary about saying what
action their roads may take In the
matter. The committee in their report
recommend that the construction OF
such viadnct over the tracks al
Williams street he declared . necessary
public Improvement. The feeling
among the aldermen WAS that part OF
such IN improvement might fairy he
horne by the railroad companies them
selves and IL is claimed by many that
the railroads will be obliged TO sustain
a just proportion OF the cost of such an
Improvement.
The council preferred TO leave definite
action on the question with the inconi-
ing council and this feeling prevailed.
The matter was laid on the table Tor
one month. The special committee
have, however. asked the officers OF the
various roads crossing the streets ~
question, to meet with them tomorrow
evening, when the matter will receive
mutual consideration.
scope of the improvement.
The proposed improvement will cost
in the neighborhood of SIS, 900 Tor the
viaduct proper, not including the ap-
proaches and the damages which would
surely he demanded from contiguous
property owners. It is proposed 10 ex-
tend the vladuct, including approaches,
from South Division street on the east
10 Ellsworth avenue on the west. BY
street, it would act as an outlet for Bart.
running the viaduct through Williams
lett and Goodrich streets. which are
also crossed 10y the tracks and IN the
neighborhood Of which freight trains
are made up. The viaduct would cross
Spring and Iona streets on the east
side of the tracks and passing Calder
street on the west side where II enters
Williams. In all the proposed I'M
provement would cover about tive
blocks, so much territory being neces-
ssry to enable easy approaches. As the
tracks in this vicinity are surrounded
by elevations it is thought that the
work of constructing approaches would
be comparatively easy.
Railroad Men Speak.
When interviewed upon the subject
by reporter for The HERALD. Secre-
tary j. ii. =. Hughart of the u. X. & l.,
said: IL have gwen but little thought 10
the proposed Improvement but there is
no question but it would lie . most de-
sirable thing. 1t would furnish needed
conyeniences to the railroads and
would insure grester safety, and faciii-
20 fra rfaf IN tho nflllsf. L
shall be very glad to meet with the
committee, as I desire 10 learn more
about the matter. 1t has not yet been
formally presented to me anu the first
knew of u was from reading the first
report of tl,e viaduct committee"
General superintendent Agnew OF the
| G. &. w. NJ, said: "It would be a most
desirable improvement from = railroad
point of view and would wonderfully
facilitate the handling Of freight cars.
We are now obliged to clear tie cross
ings at the streets along the route of
the proposed viaduct every i've min
utes in the day and it Is, of course, a
great hindrance IN making up long
trains. The blocking of thoroughfares
is u great inconvenience to traffic and
| viaduct would obviate all that. The
cost is something of q poser, though, as
| the yiaduct is long one and would
have to be very wide to be of practical
value. | shall be glad TO meet the
council committee, though the matter
can receive serious attention from the
general manager alone"
Mr.. Briggs Was Surprised.
Fred NJ. Briggs. general agent for
| the Michigan Central said:
This is rather q sumner TO me as
what you Tell me rs the first / have
heard of the matter. will see that
| II is at once brought 10 the attention of
the officials IN Detroit and they Will
doubtless appoint or send rome one TO
| attend to the consultation with the
council committee Thursday night.
| Tn eproposition is of such really stu
| pendous proportions that don't grasp
IL in its entirety vet. A rough estimate.
as understand IT, puts the cost of the
| yiaduct proper at S55. 900 dollars. In
such estimates of public works the first
| estimates are always too low and this
one docs not include the approaches
and the damages to sbutting property.
These latter would be heavy as the
filling in for approaches would result
in tie condemnation of much Will
Jams street properly which would be
placed far below the grade. Whether
the improvement would result in emf
ficient benefits 10 make il profitable for
the railroads 10 20 into II is question.
| IL we could be cure that IL would turn
| the traffic from toe nelghboring streets,
such as Bartlett. 6oDdricn and the
| like into Williams and make that street
an outlet to Granville avenue, the
benefits to us would make il well worth
our while TO share IN the expense.
If II would take the whole
stream of traffic of the grade
crossings We could make up
trains much more easily. The Pear
and Bridge street bridges have of mecca
city turned tire traffic from the inter
mediate streets and presume the via
duct would do the same in streets
around it. III the railroads share of
the eexpe nse be not too bnrdensome
shall look for favorable action from
tnem."