The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-28
C. & @. STEEL VIADUCTS.
SEYERAL OBJECTIONS RAISED ne
YohE THE Strict COMMITTEE.
Colonel Cutshaw Opposed 10 Lowering the
Free Bridgc-No Action Taken
by the Committee.

for the purpose Of considering tho oiol-
nance prepared upon tho application OF
IN. Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Com
pany for the construction Of steel via
ducts. which are 10 run from tho main
limo and the tracks Of the James-iNNeF
division 10 The new passenger depot which
IS 10 be erected on Main street. The fol-
lowing members Of the committee were
presens. Messls Allen chairman,
lnhcn. Blanks. R0ombcrg Burton, Dia-
cont. Fcrrilcr. King. Mcdowell, Mann,
and Page. quito "a number OF property
owners interested in the scheme Were Oh
hand. and the railroad company was rep
resented hy the second Ncc-prcsidont.
Decatur ANtcu and several OF its en-
ginoors. while the interests Of the city
were looked after by the city Engineer
and some OF his assistants.
After tine ordinance had been read by
Assistant city Engineer Frank y. Bates,
the chair stated that the ordinance had
been thoroughly examined by the cry
Engineer. the City Attorney. and the
officers OF tho railroad company.
THE REPORT.
Colonel Cutshaw submitted the following
report TO the committee:
About one year ago the chief engineer
Company submitted preliminary drawings
OF portions of The proposed Niaduct in-
tended by this company TO ran through
the city from a point above The Irede-
gar Works 10 their yards below Fulton.
The several points presenting difficulties
iu the locations and construction by
these plans were mentioned ia COM
municaion TO the chief engineer. Tx
cept a few brief discussions OF these
.HH. &
cd until Dercmbei when hfty-two blue
print drawings together with printed
form of ordinance were sent 90 the Coun-
cil. and on December 2lth referred By the
Committee on Streets To the city Attor-
ney and myself TO examine and confer
with the officials of the railway COM
pany and report back 10 the committee.
After a careful study hy the city Attor-
ney and myself OF tho plans and ordi-
nance. the second vico-presidont and two
attorneys of the company. the CITY Al
torncy ana myself met and discussed an
The points involved. and communication
and amended form of ordinance were sent
10 The railroad authorities. Ia March "a
reply was received. and ! at once wrote |
10 the second Vice president of the rail- |
way company 90 let us know when To- call |
your committee together 10 take action /
in the matter.
This statement is made to show your |
committee that there has been no delay |
on the part of the city iu considering this /
railway matter.
THE NfADUCT.
IN was decided 10 first hear the city
Engineer in regard 10 the various engl- |
nceriug problems. ln his opinion. the !
steel Viaduct should pass the Free bridge |
bN the construction of % bridge above the |
railroad bridge. because 10 was desirable |
feet. He quoted from letters which he |
had received from the proper authorities
in ST. Louis. Boston. Philadelphia. ana |
Chicago, and which expressed similar /
views Colonel Cufshaw was opposed |
To the lowering ~ the Free bridge. which |
was now only l.l0 feet above The ilooi-line |
of 1871.
Second President Axtell replied that
his company was prepared under the pro- I
posed plan. in crossing the Free bridge, 10
give clearance of at least l3 3-f feet ana
possibly ara inch or two more. As TO the
lowering of the Free bridge. ho desired
20 say that the proposed change would
not bring the body of the bridge any
lower TO- che nOCd-linc over the island.
where "a new span would have 10 Doc in-
serted. the bridge would be raised from
j go feet 10 from three to- five feet from
the no0d-lino. The grade of the bridge j
longed. but not at The present stcepness-
only about one-half Should the city au-
th0rlfirs oppose The scheme as Co the !
erection of the Naluct on Ninth street.
then The company would Doe wiling 10
abandon On. However. the company should
not Dee compelled 10 cover The Free bridge
ly g0ing over the railroad bridge.
Mr.. Bioomberg suggested that the city
Engineer consider the question as To-
whether the erection of new Free bridge
was needed. ~ that was the case, he
would he willing to vote for such "a con
struction. the money tO Dee expended hy
the railroad company 10 bee used as their
quota of The entire expense.
MAJOR SCOTS Objections.
on motion of Dir. Burton. the proposed
construction of the Ninth street Niaduct
vas taken up. Major Fred. y. scott,
president of the Richmond and Petersburg
Railroad Company opposed the measure
which DE thought would cause the city
nmago of at least 100000. lie called al
.entOn 10 The fact that this structure
sas bv no means necessary to reach the
lroposed now passenger depot. Eighth
.tfeat wac already closed. seventh street
yas practically closed, and li thia new
plan was carried out very serious damage
would result 10 the Richmond and Peters
burg Railroad Company, as well as 10
private property.
Major g. BossieuX, who was next heard
aid Dc old not object 90 the scheme
which was one of the best things that
.oull happen TO the city of Richmond.
he was Jon favor of granting these pilNi-
eyes but the company should make some ]
concession lu turn, for instance, TO anol-
SD the round-house al The foot of Gam
,le's Hil.
on motion Of Mr.. Bloombere the qnes-
lion boz REGARD Co The construction of the
Sinth-street Viaduct was laid on the
able.
on motion Of Mr.. King. IL was decided
10 hear AN parties who objected 10 the
rossinrs as proposed by the railway |
company, and that each SIDE be granted
fifteen minutes for discussion.
OTHER OBJECTION.
Mr.. Morris. of The firm Of Davenport &
Norris who own TWO large warehouses
M Seventeenth street and one on Dock
.troct. objected t0'the plan under when
Dock street is to be crossed by the via
uct. II this was carried out his firm
would be deprived OF the entire use OF
rs water front he read a lengthy paper
,hcrein he opposed the plan IN its pres
nt shape as requiring too many sacft-
ces on the part Of the city.
Captafn John A. Coke. who also op-
osed this portion Of the plan, claimed
hat the Council had no power TO grant
hc right of way across the dock ana
Trough Seventeenth street The pro-
erty in front OF Davenport q Morris was
onyeyed by John Leslie TO the Richmond
Dock COMPANY The only benefit which