Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-15
The Brcad-street yinduct.

RICHMOND, VA, August II, 1875.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
! can conceive Of no necessity for this
bridge. II will block up and ruin the
only thoroughfare running directly
through our city, and would prove not
only an cyesOre. but "A laughing stock.
should Il ever De built.
II has been clearly demonstrated that
I'm 800 small city as Richmond two rival
car companies cannot successfully and
prOhtahN cxist-the larger will absorb
the smaller. 1t VIII certainly not pay "A
company 10 operate the BrOad-street line
and pay the interest on the amount ne
cassary 10 build a respectable bridge. II
the same company that now operates the
electric lines in this city should secure
possession Of the Viaduct, should IL be
built. it Is not at all likely that this
c1mrany would keep up three TOutes-the
Main Franklin. and Broad-sireet lines.
The traffic would not justify il, SO that
ia the event a line goes up Broad street
II is reasonable to suppose that one Of
the other lines would not be self-sustain-
ing. and would have 20 be dispensed with.
4 bridge such IA is contemplated. "to
have two stTcet-car tracks upon II, be
sides room for carts. carridges. wagons,
BICYCLES and pedestrians would have
10 he az least ~ feet wide. Broad street
from the Chesapeake and Ohio depot to
Tveuty-third street. from curb to curb.
is only % feet wide. So that The Vladuct
would overlap the sidewalks on each SIDE
about feet. and there would be total
ruin OF all the property lying between
these two points.
\ conservative estimate of the property
living between these points would be
x,C1no and 10000. \ conservative esu-
mate for the city 70 build the Broad
street viaduct and we know by CITY
gau experience what estimates are
WORTH would be- one half million dollars
and when completed YOU can safely say
in would cost double the estimate
l. this city. with a bonded and floating
debt OF 100000, living beyond It's IN
come. i'm condition to build TINS briHse
There are many pleasant residences anu
business houses between the points halilru.
,rbose near the contemplated beginning
9nd ending OF the bridge would be de-
r,aciated In value. because Their owners
t,oull be Ike pigs In "a pen. Ihey woull
mot he able 10 get under over OF druunu
ne bridge Those midway would nave
,noir privacy disturbed by the cars
running above or even with thelr h""S'
IONS and for the entire distance "o'
Ii, tho residents on both sides. nut the
o",s .,,ns would be annoyed by the
Air, and filth from tins brluse pv'iis
-, A., their houses and faces ana IN
-, while the entire section would
q 5.,,,1eJ of the class of popula non
~, nov occupy it, Have these peop"
no rights 800. 49,, hafore the
,,,,,,,cu a petitiOn. signed not Only ny
-. nropertv-owner. hut 10y every resi-
-, LIN but one or two EXCEPTIONS
~. resented 10 the Council committee
4 tbo subject was relegated 10 VI"
90 -, ~ oblivion. where IL should nave
rested forever. 10 ,,.ho orn
:, ,.o,,ld seem that the people VINO own
..a nronerty between these points shouiu
W ,hts matter our Church hiil
,~ia,,1s contend that a Nidduct VIII en-
h,nce the value Of their property. Grant
q, uas the city any right 10 inJure one
,.rt ~ her people TO benent another 2
-. any one doubt that every doliai ;
anb.rcament of values on Church hiii
h,, tho building Of yiaduct would De
-. than lost 20 the city by CORE
snond,ng DEPRECIATION In the valley gene
NV and especially along the line OF
- ,,oposed bridge? II would be "a rob
kIny of peter To pay Paul. business that
,,,a moi benefit the city at large but
,,t.ht iuure 90 the benefit Of few
@hn,ch- nm people, who own property at
the extreme East tnd.
vou very pertinently ask the question,
a. there any probability OF the viaduct
I'm, bullt by any combination of pri-
.o,a ,naiyiduals?' and YOU answer the
'os,,on. "At present we see none. And
~, can rest ISSUED that IL II Will not
800 individuals TO build II, II viii most
sssuredly not pay deDt-1dden CITY 10
assus wy VALLEY