The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-12
BRIDGE Trouble Feared
Swetland Street Approach Is Said to
Be Impracticable.
OVERHEAD VIADUCT WANTED
Many Councilmcn Ridicule tho Proposed
Grade on the West Side and Say
EThat the Bridge VIII Bc AL
most Useless.

There is prospect of trouble over
the location of a western approach TO
the Linden Street bridge. An element
of opposition to the present plan OF an
approach on SHETLAND street has reared
itself in each branch of councils, and
inquiry into the matter tends to show
that the opposition has good reason for
it's belief.
The question at issue does not in
volve the bridge proper, but If what Is
claimed is true the structure Is to be
only an architectural folly, thing or
beauty and a joy forever, and but lit
tie else. The matter has gone so far
that an effort will be made in councils
to secure the passage of an ordinance
for an overhead viadust from the end
of the bridge to Ninth street at an
estimated cost of $500 1t is claimed
that unless this course Ia adopted now
the city will be forced to pay about
5000, 900 damages when the viaduct Is
built in the future.
According to the present plan the d.
rect vehicle outlet from the bridge will
be down a grade of about per cent to
Seventh street, past the Robinson
brewery property at a slight incline or
over / per cent and from Eighth TO
Ninth street overanimpracticabl grade
of over 10 per cent. lit is this last sec
ton of the route which presents the
difficulty that councils will try to
solve. The grade might be lessened by
a fill of two and four-tenths feet along
a., 1,,t
involve damage which the courts
would be called upon to decide and
which Z. Robinson's Sons would fight,
with more or less reason.
The Robinsons' Option.
This concern gave an option to the
city for q strip of land ten feet wide on
the north side of the street, betwe-n
Seventh street and Wright court. On
this strip rests the brewery boiler house,
which would have to be torn down.
The option is for s15,700, Of which $9,05S
is for the boiler house.
But, aside from the proposed i'm
practicable grade and the Robinsons'
costly option, there is a more impor-
tant matter for consideration. West
Side councilmen are unit on the
statement that over the SHETLAND
street approach at the proposed grade
there would not be sufficient travel to
warrant the building of even a foot
bridge. This same view Is taken by
many business men and others who
might use the bridge and its approach.
They claim that the bridge is being
built for three special purposes, viz:
To overcome the present grade cross
ing on West Lackawanna avenue, to
furnish a direct route for far West
Siders to the central city and to do
away with the steep grade on West
Lackawanna avenue, which now pre-
vents heavy trucking on that thorough
fare. 1t is claimed that the proposed
Swetland street approach will not over
come any of these features, because OF
it's heavy grade.
Immediate Action Ncc.s sary.
The overhead viaduct idea has
reached point where sketches and
an approximate estimate of cost have
been made by the city engineer. The
supporters of the idea argue that dur
ing the next few years the Robinsons
propose erecting on their property a
new brewery plant which will involve
a cost of from sl50,00O to $500, 900. This
fact suggests the question of what will
the city's position be in the matter
two years hence when viaduct will
have been found necessary, but when
its location will be occupied by tower
ing and valuable brewery structures?
In promoting the overhead viaduct
idea an obstacle is presented by the
possibility of preventing access to the
bridge from the territory lying imme-
diately beneath the viaduct approach
All the land owners in that section in
Guiding such important ones as the Jer-
sey Central company and the Robin
sons, stipulated in their options that
the bridge should be constructed so as
to permit them convenient approach.
1t will be seen that unless some special
provision Is made the overhead ap-
proach would entirely prevent access
from the territory lying beneath 1t.
However, 1t is believed that this con-
tingency can be met satisfactorily.
The Sub.Appronch.
1t is proposed that from a point on
Blickens court, south of Swetland
street Chickens court runs at right
angles to the bridge and is the first
street beyond its western enD, an ele-
waited roadway be built toward the
river, turn made northwest and a
connection made with the viaduct
where 1t joins the bridge This plan
would give an easier grade to Main
avenue and the bridge proper than
would the proposed grade of SHETLAND
street.
What the result of the viaduct plan
will be is a conjecture. It's supporters
in council are many and they are SAN
guine of success. They contend that an
outlay of $4,000 now is preferable to a
monument of useless iron or an ex-
penditure of at least four times that
sum in the near future.