Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-09

iltctleD company road was put thcIe
or not. He stated, further. in answer to
| question asked by Mr.. Ebel. that the
advantages TO the city from the company
/ and tho revenues 10 be derived 20 the
/ city thcrefrom were enough TO warrant
I him M voting I'm favor Of that ordinance.
| Mr. kountrce asked Mr. King II he
would have voted for the measure had
he known at the time that II would en-
! tail an expenditure Of 10000 upon the
street. and probably $4,000 to property.
and the jefferson Ward Alderman
promptly replied IN the affirmative.
Mr.. Rountree: That would have been
your privilege
Mr.. ALIENS STATEMENT.
Mr.. Otway S Allen. Chairman Of both
the Committee on Retrcnchment and
Reform and Committee on Streets. here
asked permission 10 make statement
concerning this question. lie said be was
not prepared TO say that any wrong had
been done. and he thought there was
misapprchcngion on the part Of the Re-
trenchment Committee. and that an inn
proper Impression had gone ont to the
public. lie referred 90 some OF the work
done upon Broad street. aal said that it
was not only work badly needed, but
was great Improvement 20 the tho
roughfare. Mr. Allen did not hesitate to
call the committees attention to the fact
that the ordinances granted the Traction
Company had been submitted to both
branches OF the City Council for adoption.
He went on 10 say that he did regard as
serious change that az Second and
Broad streets but he felt that this was
not as material as the propcrty-owners
and the committee appeared to think II
was The chairman answered a number
Of unimportant questions regarding the
changes in the grade
Major. when you voted for the grant
Ing OF The franchise. did you suppose
that the ely would be put 10 any ma
tcrial expense? queried Mr.. Jones.
Il ala not. nor do / think that the city
has been put to any material expense
replied the chairman.
Would YOU have voted for that fran
chise had YOU thought the city would
have been put 10 any material eXpense?'
asked Mr.. Jones.
Il would have done all that could TO
have the proper safeguards thrown
around the city. and to prevent any ma
terial or unnecessary expense" respond
Cd Mr. Allen.
ITS CONDITION DISGRACEFUL.
Mr.. William NJ. Turpin. President OF
the Board of Aldermen taking the stand,
said that he was not a member Of the
street Committee when the measure was
passed. but he was at the meetings OF
the Board of Aldermen when the dis
cussiOus upon the ordinance took place.
and he did not hear the slightest intima-
ton that the city would be put to any
expense. or that Broad street would be
left in its present condition. which he
characterized as simply disgraceful. He
declared that II he had dreamed that
the city would have TO bear any Of these
burdens. he would have offered an
amendment fastening them upon the
Richmond Traction Company.
Mr.. @. Med. Blake. a member Of
the Board Of Aldermen. stated here that
If the committee desired to ask him any
questions, as a member Of the Board
from Monroe Ward. where the greatest
differences appeared. he would be glad
10 answer them. The committee agreed
TO hear from Mr.. Blake. on motion Of
Alr. Jones. The Monroe-Warl member
then took the stand. and said that the
whole rise on Broad street appeared 10
him to be from First to Fourth. and that
while il was an eyesore. # was not. he
thought, Of sufficient importance to have
caused any serious Inconvenience. II
pass over that street several times a day
and have talked with a number of people
who live in the ward, but have heard no
comp aints." continued Mr.. Blake. With
those to whom l spoke regarding THIS
matter l told Of the fact that the fran
chse of the old horse-car company eX-
piring In 1870. and took exactly the same
view that Major Allen has-that these
tracks would then be pulled up and the
street restored 10 its former condition
I'm answer 10 question propounded by Mr.
zimmerman, the witness said that he
did not think any Inconvenience could De
caused TO any merchant doing business
"a rniffe rnrnfIOWfI
Mr.. Blake said he drove over the street
at Second four or five times every day
and suffered no trouble from IL.
do you think that elevation ought to be
in the street?' asked Mr.. Zimmerman
Of the witness.
mo sir. I do not, but I DO not believe
that IL amounts 10 so much as ii is pre-
tended that it does
ENGINEER JOHNSTON's VIEWS.
The committee next called Mr.. y. Lang
etan Johnston, chief engineer Of the
Traction Company. who at the outset eN-
planned the details Of the ordinance
granted by the city to the Traction Com
pany. and then made the statement that
the lines and grades followed by his as
sistants were laid out by the City In
gineer. ana that the ordinances and Colo
uel CutshaWs directions had been car
ried out TO the letter. Mr.. Johnston
spoke Of the great quantity Of paving
done by the company, and said that from
Ninth street 10 the observation-disclosures
his company had adhered practically 10
the Old grade of the street, adding -A>t
he had been very particular 10 get the
exact grades. Speaking Of the discrepan-
cies or rises OF the grades al certain
points. 3lr. Johnston went 10 the black
board and drew diagram of what should
be- the surface OF the street. locating the
tracks at relative distances and positions
thereon, showing that by properly build
ing the tracks 20 the crown OF the street
there would be q hump on either side OF
the outer track and q pronounced one
where four tracks were used. Mr john
ston called the attention OF the committee
20 the fact that the surface of the street
was not regular saying that the street
on the south side was practically nat az
compared TO the north side. He remarked
that he did not think that his company
had missed the grade Of the centre Of the
street over 3 inches and be did not think
that the tracks had been raised inches
above the street level al any point.
Mr. Charles Sellen. superintendent of
the Richmond Railway 'and Electric
Company practically agreed with what
Alr. Johnston had said. tie stated that
the grades for tine tracks OF the City
Railway on Broad street had been I'm
accordance 20 those of the Traction Com
pany He accounted for the conditions
of Broad street at its intersection with
Second by the settling Of the paving.
Responding to q question asked him by
a member OF the committee. Mr. Selden
said that his company got its lines on
Broad street from the City Engineer.
lie thought the greatest rise in his
tracks upon the surface OF the street
would not exceed eight inches.
COLONEL cUTsaAW's STATEMENT.