The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-25
MANCHESTER'S HOLD-UP.
PROPOSITION 10 LOUER The FREE
BRfDGL QUESTIONED.
Action On the Chesapeake and Ohio'sflan
Again Postponed-1he Board OF
Trade Fighting II.
MANCHESTER BUREAU Richmond TInFs';

petition offered by the Chesapeake ana
Ohio Railway Company asking for the
privilege Of lowering the road way OF
the Free bridge In order that the pro-
posed steel viaduct might be built along
the Richmond side Of the james river.
The following members were present:
Messrs. OBrien. president: Pool. Morton,
Sims. Utz. Green. Nelson. Patran. Camp
bell. Randlett and Owens.
Before the petition was taken up, Mr..
Morton on behalf Of the Committee on
Ordinances presented m ordinance grant
ing Mr.. John g. Robertson the privilege
Of establishing 30 this city a telephone
connection on similar terms TO those
granted in Richmond.
The ordinance was adopted on motion
Of Mr.. Sims upon the recommendation
Of tho committee.
THE BRIDGE MATTER.
Tho bridge matter was then taken mp
and the letter from the Bridge Commits
sionors asking for authority 10 grant the
privilege asked for was again read. The
petition Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
way Company Tor the granting OF their
request. the contents Of which were pub
lishcd in detail in the columns OF The
Times last week. were also read before
the Council a second time.
Mr.. Sims stated he had been Informed
that tho Board Of Trade which had been
in session during the afternoon. desired
10 present q report which would be
ready within a few minutes. lie thought
30 might be we. 10 take a recess for a
few minutes.
Mr.. Campbell thought II would not be
necessary TO interrupt the meeting. quite
"a number Of citizens being present. who
| desired 10 give their views on the sub
ject and some OF whom were opposed
10 the plan. lie moved. therefore. that
the privilege Of the floor be granted any
citizen who desired 10 speak on the sub
Ject. The motion was carried. but before
any ono could be heard. Mr. Sims pre-
scented a report from tho Board OF Trade
containing n resolution stating that the
proposed alteration and change Of the
Free bridge was firmly and cmphaticaly
opposed 10y the Board. inasmuch as the
advantage derived from the Improvement
did not bear any comparison 10 The loss
and Inconvenience caused hy the same to
the citizens Of Manchester.
Mr.. Pool desired 10 know whether the
report contained tho names n the mem
hefs OF the Board Of Trade who attended
that meeting.
Mr.. Sims replied that a committee con-
sisting OF Mossrs. Puliam and Bradley
were IN attendance TO explain the action
~ tho Board Of Trade and upon his mo-
ton the privilege Of tho floor was grant
cd 10 Mr.. \. j. Bradley. That gentle
man stated that Il quorum attended the
meeting Of the Board and that the reso-
luton had been passed unanimously.
He had been appointed with the secretary
n committee 10 present their views 10
the Council. lie read n petition signed
by q large number Of business men who
are opposed 10 the lowering Of the bridge.
Mr.. Bradley then explained the reasons
OF the opposition and took the ground
that ar the details in the matter should
be decided 10y the City Council and not by
the Bridge Commissioners
MIR. AXTELL EXPLAINS.
no other citizen desiring to speak on the
subject. ON Mr.. Morton's motion the priv
ilege Of the floor were granted 20 the rep
rcsontatiycs OF the railway company.
Mr.. Decatur AXtell. second vice-prcsi-
dent Of the company. who was present
thought that there was a grave misap-
prehonsicn on the part Of the members
of the Board Of Trade. who had signed
the petition. In his opinion the details
of the plan could be discussed before any
body Of citizens Of Manchester. The
members Of the City Council Of Richmond
had taken 10 for granted that an tho
interests Of The bridge would be well
NNnN 200 vi ny NA' do AN"
with whom the railway company would
at last have 10 make The contract.
The only objection he heard of had been
the depression OF the bridge and the
| grade Of ND feet. 10y which il was feared
the damages would be increased. The
Fighting o. horses lad been amply pro-
vided for by the erecting up blinds and
a roof or q tunnel. II necessary. He cx-
poctod himself to make q number q sug-
U..fHnmn Z "a frnWInEa fIa UM"Hrffa UII"r 10
came 20 tie closing Of tic contract. II
was The earnest desire Of tho officers Of
the company 10 carry tho project through
bot the matter would have 20 be endorsed
by the board Of directors. He appre-
honded that = n meant that the company
should build am overhead free bridge. 10
would not be worth while 10 consider
the project any longer. HI did not
think. however. that tho project would De
an Improvement. but that il would he Of
benefit I'm every respect. 1t was admitted
that The proposed structure would last
more than a life time. II 1t was not
built The seven spans would soon have 10
be rebuilt by the city az a large expense.
Measured I'm day labor az an average Of
g. a day. the work meant a thousand men
for "a thousand DAYS and a large portion
Of tho work would have 10 be done by
the people Of Manchester.
AoA+A lOik iiOAAI+ FOi4ho.
Nj. Campbell desired to know how soon
the company would expect 20 begin work
and MIR. Axtell replied that If the priVi-
lcge were granted the work would be
going on now.
Mr.. Campbell then desired to know If
the company would be willing TO give the
work 10 Richmond and Manchester peo-
pie. Mr.. AXtcll replied that DE was not
| authorized 10 speak on hat subject. which
WAS outside OF his department. but the
people of the two cities bad the moral
assurance that the cOmpany's effort would
Doe to give employment 20 the home people.
lie did not think. however, that the com
pany would 80 50 far as 10 oblleate itself
10 ask cach man before employing him
whether he was from Richmond or Man
chester.
Mr.. Sims was Of the opinion that Man
chester was vitality interested in this
great undertaking. 1t thought IL was due
10 the people of Manchester to look care
fully in the matter before taking final
action. The money TO be expended would
be largely spent In the material. and a
good deal Of the work would be done by
expert bridge-builders.
When questioned 10y Mr.. Pool. Mr.
lsaacS. the engineer or the Free bridge.
stated that the iron -art of the bridge
would not need repair for ten years TO
come. If the present traffic was not ma
torially increased.
MORE TIME.
Mr.. Utz also wanted 20 have more
time 20 consider The matter. lie did not
object so much 20 the grade Of the
bridge. but TO the overhead bridge.
While he would be willing TO vote FOR the
Improvement. If il came 10 him I'm n
e.