Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-28
THE VlADUCT SCHEME
Plans Of The Chesapeake aud Ohio Con-
sidered by the Street Committee.
OPPOSED ny SOME CITIZENS.
Right of the City 20 Grant the
Franchise Asked on seventeenth
street Questioned-ChnnBc Ncces-
sary TO the Free bridge.


depot, but no conclusion was reached
Much time was devoted 10 hearing the
objections on the part OF citizens VINO
opposed the line Of the contemplate
viaducts through the city. When Chair-
man Allen called the body TO order IN
Committee Room No. 3. OF the city Han
Yesterday afternoon there were fully 100
Interested spectators present. while the
members OF the committee in their
seats were Messrs. Allen, Bahen, BANKS
Bloomberg, Burton. Diacont, Ferriter'
Mann, Mcdowell, Page, and KING. Inc
railroad company was represented by
Mr.. Decatur Axtell. the second VICE
president. and several Of the Chesapeake
and Ohio engineers, while Colonel w H.
Cutshaw. the City Engineer, was on mana
on behalf OF the city.
Clerk Bates read the revised ordinance
granting the Chesapeake and ONO isai--
way Company the right TO bu.ld tne
yiaducts. make the necessary changes
in the streets along the routes and erect
the proposed handsome new depot. TINS
measure. as has already been Stated IN
the Dispatch has been gone over by the
City Engineer ana Attorney ana the
officers OF the railroad.
COLONEL CUTSHAW'S STATEMENT.
After the reading Of the ordinance
Colonel Cuishaw. the city Engineer SUB
mittod the following report touching TINS
matter:
About one year ago the chief engineer
of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Company submitted preliminary drawings
OF portions of the proposed Niaduct IN
tended by this company 10 run through
hes oil ~ nlONp 1EG0G
gar-Works 70 their yards below Fulton.
The several points presenting difficulties
in the location and construction by these
plans were mentioned IN a communica-
ton to the chief engineer. Except few
brief discussions of these points with the
engineer the matter rested until De-
cember. when fifty-twO blueprint draw
ings. together with printed form OF or
aiuance, were sent 10 the Council, ana
on 9th of December referred by the
Committee on Streets to the City At
torney and myself 10 examine and con-
fer with the officials OF the railway COM
pany and report back 20 the committee.
After a careful study by the city At
torney and myself of the plans and ordi-
nance. the second vice-president and two
attorneys of the company, the City At
torney, and myself met and discussed all
the points involved, and communications
und amended form of the ordinance
. were sent to the railroad authorities.
In March q reply was received and l at
once wrote TO the second vice-president
Of the railroad company to let us know
when TO call your committee together
TO 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 in considering
this railway matter.
BUILD UNDER A NEW FREE
BRIDGE.
The committee first decided to hear the
City Engineer in regard to the various
engineering problems involved. Colona.
Cutshaw began by saying that in his
opinion the steel viaduct proposed should
pass above the railroad bridge by the
construction Of a bridge above the rail-
road bridge. because IL was desirable 20
have q clearance Of at least fourteen feet.
he quoted from letters which he had re-
ceived from proper authorities in ST.
Louis. Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago,
which expressed similar views. The En-
gineer was opposed to the lowering OF the
Free bridge. which was now ony l.o
feet above the fiood-lne OF 1914.
The ColOners remarks were replied O.
by Mr.. Axtell lie said that his com
p3ny was prepared, under the proposed
plan IN crossing The Free bridge to give
clearance Of at least 3 81 feet, and
possibly an inch or two more. As TO tn,
lowering OF the Free briGs. he desired
10 say that the proposed change would
not bring the b-Iy of the bridge any
nearer to the f9ol-iiLe. over the island
where a new span would have 10 be In
serted, the bridge would be raised there
from 10 feet 20 .r0m three 20 five feet
from the fooG-iu- The grade Of the
bridge on the N4rtE-strcct side would be-
prolonged, but not at the present steep
ness-ouly about one half. Should tht
city authorities oppos the scheme as e
the construction OF the yiaduct on Nintf
street, then the company would be Willing
10 abandon II. However. the company
should not be compelled 10 cross the Ere
bridge in accordance with the Engineer
views
Mr.. Bloomberg was Of the opinion tina
the committee should first consider IN
sdylsability OF constructing a new FREE
bridge II one was needed, he was wiling
TO vote for II, the money TO be expended
BY the railroad company on the old bridg,
to be used as It's proportion OF the entir,
expense.
THE N1NTH-STREET VIADUCT.
The committee here went into the con
sideration Of the Chesapeake ana Ohio
proposition 10 build a vladuct over Mint
street. Major Frederick II. Scott. presi
dent Of the Richmond and Petersbur.
Railroad Company. opposed the measure
saying that il would cause at least 500 90
damage 70 the city. lie called attention
TO the fact that this structure was by n
means necessary 70 reach the propose
new passenger depot Eighth street wa
already practically closed now, he urged
huf d
ried out very serious injury would resul
TO his road, as well as to much privat
property
Major c. Bossieux. who was next heard
said he did not object to the scheme
which was one OF the best things tha
could be done TO promote the interests o
the city OF Richmond. He was in favo
OF granting thnse privileges, but In
company should make some concession
in turn; for instance. 1t should abolls
the round-house at the foot Of Gamble,
Hill.
On motion of Mr. Bloomberg. the cues
ton in regard to the construction OF IN
Ninth-street viaduct was laid on III
table.
PROPERTY-OWNE HEARD.
It was decided TO hear all parties VIII
objected TO the crossings as proposed b
the railroad company. and that each sid
De granted fifteen minutes for discussion
Mr.. Morris OF the firm OF Davenport
Morris. who owns four large warehouse
on Seventeenth street. and two on Doc
street, objected to the plan under whic
DOCK street Is TO be crossed by the via
quot. III this was carried out, he sale
his hrm would be deprived OF the entlr
use OF Its waterfront. lie read a length
paper, wherein he opposed the lrnpres,
ment In It's present shape as reouirin
100 many sacrifices on the part of Ii
~ city.
NEVER DECIDED TO THE CITY.
CAPTAIN John A. Coke. who also OF