Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-18
GRACE STREET A GOOD ROUTE.
4 New Route Suggested Tor the
Proposed yinduct.

To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
As the yiaduct Is. engrossing the atten-
ton OF a large number OF our fellow
citizens, make bold TO ask small
share Of your space to call attention TO
n route which seems ~ ME TO be the
natura, outlet from Church Hill, and also
TO possess the extra inducements OF less
cost both In the matter of condemnation
damages and Of construction. Mr. j. +.
MAYER advocated the selection u Grace
street before the Council, bat itS claims
seem to have u-en lost sight OF IN the
clamor for Broad street. But. as brevity IS
the essence of everything now before the
public. allow me 10 say my little speech,
and retire 1t is very true that Broad
street is the route but the bitter oppOsi-
ton manifested by the property owners
on that thOroughfare should have iie
weight when viewed through their
glasses. Now, rather than array our citi-
zens in hostile classes, iet us see how the
Grace-stroet route will iii the bill. Com
mence the street railway line at Broad
and Twenty-fourth streets, around
Twsnty-fourth TO Grace. down Grace to
Twenty-irst, at which point the viaduc;
will commence, extending IN straight
line down Grace street 10 the point y
which that street is crossed by Shockoe
creek, thence by serpent.ne curve into
Broad street, entering that street just
below the ahey between Mayo street and
Shockoe creek, thence up Broad street
To- College or Fourteenth street. connect
ing at tho latter point with the street
railway line TO be extended down 10 that
street
On this route granite piers could be used
at TWenty-iirst and Sixteenth streets.
and at intervals across the open valley
lying between the creek and the point
az which the Vidduct would enter Broad
street, something which could not be
used on the Brodd-street route anu whine
the first cost OF these might be more than
the stecI-truss work generally used, they
would outiast the latter and call for
smaller outlay as 10 repairs or renewal
Again. the property on Grace street from
Tw.nty-hrst 10 Sixteenth streets-gener-
ally speaking-.s not of 50 valuable a
character as that on Broad street and
damages claimed would be less.
or the viaduct might, AFTER crossing the
creek. be run al such an angle
street IL about the same point
but this course would require the purchase
and ra1ing OF the buildings on Broad
street South side from Fourteenth 10
Mayo streets. ana also zfo1g the east side
OF Mayo street To a point about hall
way between Broad and Ross streets, ana.
while 1t might thus be more slightly
from an architectural point-yet the cost
would be much greater. Passenger-lifts
could be constructed at Twenty first.
Nineteenth. and Seventeenth streets, thus
giving ample access to the viaduct. This
route also would carry the viaduct far
above the proposed Chesapeake and Ohis
Yiaduct Tor its connection from Broad and
Sixteenth 10 Dock and Seventeenth streets.
To sum up the many advantages Of this
route would consume too much OF your
valuable space, hence / throw this out
only in the nature OF a suggestion from
one who Is by no means an authority on
yiaducts, bu. would like to have the
rights of all given proper consideration
~ the matter. ana would vote for the via
duct over either of the three streets now
before the pubIlc-Broad. Grace. or Mar
shall-believing IT to be public neces-
sity. and something which must come
sooner or later.
Now. as To paying therefor. let an issue
Of bonds be made in such denominations
as would be taken up by men OF small
means: many such desire a good invest
ment, but are unable to purchase bonds
Of large amount. Ny humble judgment
is that the issue would soon be taken by
our own peoplc-and many thus inter-
ested in the success OF the viaduct who
otherwise would care nought therefor;
and, with the masses financially inter
ested, a general public oversight would
be secured which would be a. good thing
in many other municipal matters.
II you deem my views worth publishing.
l shall appreciate your courtesy, IL not, 1
shall think none the less OF my many
friends in your management.
Sincerely yours, VIADUCT.