The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-27
fits 20 he derived from tho improvement
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fits 10 be derived from tho improvement
are taken into consideration.
Since the last meeting OF the City
Council whore this resolution was adept
ed. which seeks 10 compel the raili DAD
company 20 build an entirely new bridge.
] have given the matter more considera-
tion. Recently ] took a trip 10 New
York on fast train. which travelled at
tho rate Of forty-fve miles an hour. Al
ter leaving the depot in Philadelphia. l
began 10 look al the different crossings
OF streets and country roads. As you
al know tie railroad bed there Is four
tracks wide When We went over the
Schuylk.n. there were plenty Of teams
crossing the railroad tracks at the time.
Here were no blinds, but the horses did
not seem TO be i'm the least disturbed.
When We reached Trenton In New Jersey
We had passed about twenty such cross
ines. but we did not experience the least
difficulty The same system OF crossing
is In use all over the world.
no DISADVANTAGE.
The next day. while I'm New York, I
wolked up 20 Central Park and took n
cross-town line towards tho river. left
the car AZ Ninth avenue and watched the
crossing OF the elevated railroad there
for about fifteen minutes saw all
kinds OF vehicles passing but no dis
turhance was created. The overhead
road for the electric surface cars. etc.
was only u l-2 feet, while we propose TO
give 10 feet on the free bridge.
''As 20 the change in .he grade Of the
bridge. as contemplated by ms for the
Richmond side OF the bridge ] can only
say. that according 10 the statement Of
The engineer under carefully made re-
pairs. the present bridge can only b.
Kept for "a term Of ten wears. when IL will
have 20 be renewed. Whenever this work
is ordered. Il viii be very easy 10 rectify
the evil now complained OF by some Of
the Objecti0rs. IT, therefore. the
change of the free bridge
brings about any disadvantage
81 VIII cnly be temporary. But / am real
ly surprised % learn that the people Of
Manchester should have vie ned the mat
ter as il has been represented here and
that the same views are still prevailing.
In crossing the bridge to-day 1 was
stopped by a freigh train consisting Of
about fifty cars and / had to wait for
five minutes, which would have been suf-
firient time TO cross the brige from one
city 10 the other. If there had not Dcen
such imDediment.
IL have seen It stated recently In one
Of our newspapers. that the action Of
the Council tonight would determine the
entire matter. but this Is not SO. The
matter viii then have 10 go back TO the
bridge commissioners and after they have
finally passed on 10. the proper authori-
ties Of Henrico county will have 10 be
consulted i'm regard TO certain changes
which win have TO be made in one OF
the tunpikes. Then the matter will go 20
the Board Of Directors of the Chesapeake
and ohio Railway company for final en-
dOrsement The company has already
spent 500 900 for Improvements along It's
route. as il is proposed 20 be carried
ont. according 10 the provisions Of the
petition and. I think that one Of the
greatest improvements is now offered 10
the cities of Richmond and Manchester
to advance their interests
Mr.. Hart then offered resolution pro-
viding that each member OF the Coun-
eli be given five minutes, and every re-
preventative of the Board of Trade or any
other outside citizen one minute 10 dis
cuss the subject. Some objection being
raised. Mr.. Hart readily withdrew his
motion.
VIEWS or DIRECTORS.
Mr.. Sims here stated that he had not
changed his mind. and that he still
thought it was very important 10 give the
matter all attention possible. The
amount required for tho building Of the
bridge had been paid by the city Of Man
chester. and the Board of Trade had re-
Qucsted the Council TO decide that an
entirely now bridge should Zee built by
the railroad company The Chesapeake
and Ohio Railway Company now owned
the canal property i'm Manchester, and
instead of inducing manufacturing inter-
osts 10 come here, they were driving them
away. 10 was about time for Manchester
to receive the benefit Of an enterprise,
where heretofore IL had only received
a gold brick. lie. therefore. hoped that
the Council would stick 10 its former
resolution or at least TO give the citizen
Of Manchester an opportunity TO state
the reasons. why they are opposed to the
improvement. lie. therefore, moved that
the Council stand by its former resolu-
ton.
Upon the suggestion OF Mr.. Morton any
citizen present. who desired TO do so.
was invited to address the Council on
the subject.
Mr.. II. A. Bradley was the first one 10
avail himself Of the opportunity offered.
He restated his position as explained az
a former meeting OF the Council and SAID
that as one Of the members Of com
mittee of the Board Of Trade he had
never reconsidered his views and stlll
stood on the same record as heretofore.
lie had filed a petition at the time. num-
erously signed by citizens of Manchester
per presented. lie knew of nothing that
had happened since, which could change
his position. Manchester was far more vi
tally interested i'm the proposed lowering
of the Free bridge than Richmond. He
referred 10 the work done in connection
with the building of the Belt Line when
the required grsn mite was not taken from
the ouarries near the two cities. bu
from the old locks Of the Kanawha ca
nal. There was still enough stone left in
the immediate neighl crhood Of that ca
nal TO build all the piers needed 10y the
railroad between here and Newport
News.
THE STONE UNFIT.
At this juncture Mr.. AXtell interrupt
ed the speaker 10 say that his COM
pany had no idea of using the stone r.
forred to. which was not ht for the pur-
pose.
Continuing. Mr.. Bradley said that II
the railroad company was allowed 10
lower the grade of the Free bridge. the
urban real estate alone would depre-
ciate from % TO g per cent. II there had
been any change I'm the sen'i'1ent OF the
citizens Of Winchester on that SUBJECT
Il certainly had aot come under his oh
scrvation. He was in favor Of compro-
mise which. at least. TO some extent
would Offset the damages threatening the
material interests under the pending pro-
position -.,....
Mr.. Morton stated that at the previous
meeting ne had voted for Mr. Green
motion. which provided for the building
of an entirely new bridge by the railroad
companv hoping 10 secure some better
terms. but he was anxious for the work