Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-08
TALK OVER THE PLAN
Street COMMITTEES Considers tbs c. 4
0.'s Scheme for Improvements Here.
A CONFERENCE TO BE HELD.
CITY Attorney and Engineer TO Meet
MIR. AxseI and the Conpany's En-
sineer Touching Points of Differ
tncc--Question of Grades.


Duct. connecting It's three lines In this
city, and for the erection OF a magni-
fcent passenger station on Main street
between Fifteenth and Seventeenth, were
further considered yesterday afternoon at
a meeting OF the Street committee
held for this special purpose.
The outcome of the two hours discus
sion OF the ordinance together with the
plans and specifications. was the rerer-
ence Of the whole subject TO conference
TO be held Thursday morning between
the CITY Attorney and City Engineer, on
the one side. and Mr. Axtell and the
chief engineer OF the railway company,
on the other. Then the Street Commit
tee win meet that afternoon TO receive
and talk over the conclusions reached by
the conferrees.
Last evenings session Of the commit
Zee was quite en- interesting one. There
were present Chairman Allen, ana
Messrs. Bahen, Bloomberg Burton, pa
cont. King, Mcdowell Page, and Fer
ritter.
THE CHANGES IN FULTON.
Colonel Cutshaw at once took up his
explanations where he left OF at the
previous meeting. concerning the execu-
ton OF the plans in Fulton. The City
Engineer advocated a clearance over the
street Of fourteen feet: while the railroad
company Through Mr.. Decatur Axtell,
the second vice-presidenD, thought
clearance of thirteen feet. as adopted in
many other cities, would be sufficient.
Colonel Cutshaw thought the practice
On onner cities was fourteen feet, and
thirteen feet the exception.
AS 10 the columns which are to sup
port the viaduc., Colonel Cutshaw stated
that. as a rule. they should be placed
in the middle of the street, except where
the width Of the street made n shifting
desirable. He explained in detail where
he thought the shifting should be carried
out
The next point TO be considered was
the closing OF streets and the City En-
gineer took the ground that no street
should be closed forever. There ere only
two streets. whose closing comes In ques-
ton. These are In Fulton. Should the
city determine to raise the grade OF the
streets IN Fulton, In the flooded district,
then the railway company, the City En-
gineer argued. should be compelled to
likewise raise its structures. The rail-
sx1d authorities did not agree with Col
provided for raising the streets three
feet above the highest water-mark known
az the present time.
There were several other points Of minor
importance on which the City Engineer
and the railroad authorities disagreed.
MR. AXTELL HEARD.
Upon motion Of Mr.. Bloomberg. an op-
portunty was then given to Mr.. AXteD
10 reply TO the explanations made by Col
onel Cutshaw. The representative Of the
railroad company said, IN view Of the
objections on the part OF the City Engi-
neer TO the lowering OF the streets in
Fulton, hla company would be willing TO
raise it's structure sufficiently to give
clearance of at least thirteen feet. He
laid stress on the point that the company
would give thirteen feet clearance as a
minimum, which referred only to two
or three points, while elsewhere they
would be willing 10 give fourteen. or even
fifteen feet If the structure IVES to be
raised two or three feet at Orleans. Louis
iana. and Denny streets, II would be ne
cesssry To raise the grade of the viaduct.
which might prove fatal TO the undertake
ing These were the only points he couF
recall where clearance OF more than
thirteen feet was not practicable, except
perhaps, on Marshall street. At the Free
bridge II was proposed to give clearance
OF thirteen and three-Quarters feet The
matter of inches was very important 10
railroad management. As proposed the
clearance over the Coast Lane bridge was
nineteen feet. The height OF a box-car
was. as a rule, thirteen feet. So this clear
ance would leave a man of six feet IN
height on top OF boX-car at that point
safe II one inch more was asked at the
Free bridge. only a man OF FIVE feet
eleven inches could escape at that point,
and. II still more clearance was asked
for at the Free bridge. then still more
lives would be endangered in crossing the
Coast Line bridge.
MUST HAVE PERMANENT RIGHTS.
In regard TO the permanent closing oi
the streets. Mr.. Axtell said II the com
pany could not secure the permanent
right for the establishing Of the viaduct
II would be idle for them 10 undertake
the work. In regard to that matter. th'
company was only asking what had beer
done in other places. where all such struc
lures were permanent fixtures. A similar
question was the one In regard TO the
raising Of the structure, If the city
should hereafter deem II advisable TO rails
tho streets in the flooded district OF Ful
ton. He thought the city should waive
any such contingency against what valu'
the viaduet would be to her. Under ex
listing conditions Main street could b.
raised eleven feet without disturbing tn
present plans OF the company. III sucl
con.tagencles however, would have TO b.
provided for. it would be necessary Z
raise the structure Of the depot forty
seven feet above the present grade o
Main street, a condition that would max
the erection OF such structure impossi
bile. He assured the committee that II tn
ordinance was acceptable. II was the pur
nose OF the railroad company to begil
the work within stated time, and h
did not think four years was too loni
& time In which to complete II.
When asked by Mr.. Bloomberg. Mr.. Ak
tell stated that as far as ne remembers
the height OF the viaduct over Main street
under the present plan, would be twenty
eight feet, and over Broad street twenty
six feet.
The Chair suggested conference be
tween MIR. Axteli. the engineer Of tn
railroad company. the City Engineer. an
the City Attorney. which was agreed &c
This conference IL TO be held on Thursda
morning, and tho committee decided {
meet again next Thursday afternoon at
O'Clock.
Colonel Cutshaw recommended that IN
contractor who Is tearing down the Ricf
mond Theatre be instructed to construC
covered passage-way on the Broad
street front, in order to keep the sid,
walk free from traffic. and that he be a
lowed 10 pile up the material on n
Seventh-street side up 90 the car track.
The committee then adjourned.
REFERRED TO THE ENGINEER.
regular meeting OF the Committee 9
Grounds and Buildings was held in Roo
No " OF the City Hall at o'clock IA
night. Those In attendance were Messr
Epps (chairman). Blake, Briggs, Noun
castle, Gunst. Diacont, and King. gre