The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-20
THE PROPOSED VIADUCT.
ARG UMEET ADMITTED FOR AND
AGAIHSr ITS CONTRACTION.
Some OF tho Property Holders on Broad
Street are Bitterly Opposed to IL.
Church Hill People wantit.

The Committee on Streets held a called
meeting In Room No. OF the City Hall
! yesterday afternoon at o'clock to dis
cuss the petition Of the Virginia Electric
and Railroad Company. which asks foI
permission to construct a viaduct and
railroad on Marshall or Broad street.
There were present Chairman Curtis and
Messrs. Allen, Bahen. Brauer. Gray, Car
ter, Thomas, Turpin, Strattan. and
White
After an informal discussion Mr.. Car
ter. OF Marshall ward, moved that a fran
chse for such a structure on Marsnal
street be granted. Mr. Turpin said that
he thought the committee was about 10
deal hurriedly with a gigantic matter
He did not believe the body realized that
this petition also asked for permission 10
build both a viaduct and a railroad. None
OF the facts as 10 the character OF 'he
proposed viaduct were before the com
rnittee and they appeared TO be GONG
into the question bIindly. Mr.. iurpiiI
said he did not think the city needed
such n yiaduct or any more railroads.
and he was opposed TO the plan. Ihis
new scheme was but a "thumb-screW
upon the old company, and would eventu-
ally have to be bought up by that cor
poration. He suggested that some OF the
representatives, OF the Virginia Electric
and Railway Company, a number of
whom were present, should explain to
the committee just exactly what they de-
sired to DO.
NO THUMB SCREW business.
Mr.. +. A. Catlin,. of the company, frst
denied Mr. Turpin's statement that thls
10. tl4-gTI
the old organization. The company mad
been organized from pure business mo-
lives. and for the reason that such means
Of TRANSFORMATION was needed on Broad
street. The company. ne said, had gwen
nm the idea of viaduct on Marshal
street. They considered now that such
a scheme would be impracticabie.
Mr.. Catlin explained who were con-
nected with the company. Ihey were
good. honest businessmen Of TINS COM
munity. who did not enter the scheme
as "fakirs."
In regard to the matter Of indemnity
MIR Catlin thought that the city En-
gneer and Attorney, and a smal SUD
committee from the Committee on streets
could confer with representatives, OF the
company and reach a mutual agreement
with regard to this question.
Captain John a. Coke also spoke In
favor Of the petition. He would connect
himself with the company II the privileges
were granted. He did not know any
thing that tended 50 much TO the pros
per'ty of the city as the transit that
this corporation proposed to furnish. He
did not think 1t should be the policy
Of this or any city to require a COM
pany TO build a road unless 1t would
give rapid transit.
NOT ADEQUATE.
He said that the present roads were
not adequate. One-thrd Of the people
who would go to the suburbs on Sunday
were not able TO do so on this account.
He added that by the proposed line trains
Of cars could be attached to one motor
and everybody could get the free. pure
air Of the suburbs every Sabbath.
Mr.. T.. r. d. Myers. Jr.. spoke also
Of the advantages such a line would give
to Richmond, and outlined the proposed
plan of erection.
Captain John NJ. Higgins. representing
those who attended the recent Jefferson
ward mass-meeting. appeared in opposi-
ton to the viaduct. He said that such a
bridge would do incalculable injury TO
the property Of Jefferson ward and spoke
of the great cry against IL by the pro-
PERFORMERS and voters Of that vicinity.
He urged Of the committee that the
privilege be not granted.
Mr.. Julian Bryant pointed out the great
benefits the people Of Church Hill would
derive from the construction Of the
road, and thought such viaduct and
road would be a great advantage for
Richmond.
On behalf Of Trinity Methodist church,
Captain John ii. Frischkorn spoke against
any such a movement. His church, from
the pastor down to the sexton. had voted
unanimously against the granting of such
a franchise. The church property was
worth $4,000. and would be ruined by a
viaduct over Broad street
Captain l.. T. Christian as a private
property holder on Broad street. made
an earnest and vigorous appeal against
the petition. and Mr. Shields. another
owner Of real estate on the same thorough
fare. said that there was $4,000 worth
of property on Broad street between
Fourteenth and Twenty-second. which
would be deteriorated by half
MOTION TO RIPPER.
At this juncture of the proceedings
Mr.. Stratton moved 10 refer the whole
question 10 a subcommittee consisting
OF the chairman and subchairman and
the City Engineer and Attorney.
Mr. Turpin made a vigorous fight
against such a motion. He read a petit
ton from the First Baptist church,
which was represented through Mr..
George Il. Davis and also a petition
from the First African church. appealing
TO the committee to refuse the request
from the Virginia Electric and Railway
Company. Mr.. Turpin said he thought the
ought not TO refer the matter
at all, but should vote fl down. He did
not have a scintilla of an idea that the
money for the naturalization Of such
a scheme was in sight.
After some further discussion, Mr..
STATIONS motion prevailed by a vote
Of TO as follows:
Ayes-Messrs. Allen. Gray. Stratton,
Thomas. White and the Chairman-6.
Noes-Messrs. Bahen. Boyllin. Brauer
and Turpin-5.
Mr.. f. T. ID. Myers, Jr., presented a
petition on behalf of the Church of the
Holy Trinity Moore Memorial. for a
certain encroachment on Laurel street.
and permission to construct an archway
over the alley by the church. The matter
was referred TO the City Attorney for
his opinion as 10 the committees right
to make such a grant.
Cleaning the Fountain.
The basins OF the fountains were