Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-06
Truck Elevation In Chicago.

Whatever may be her hereSleS ana De
fCiencies In the matter of the overhead
trolley system. Chicago is far ahead of the
average municipality. and particularly
ahead Of Washington. in her treatment OF
the grade crossing problem The tracks
have been elevated and depressed In the
windy city during the past seven years
with such frequency and regularity that
before very long the entire network of rail-
ways cOnverging there will be on grade.
adding intellectually TO the peace and safety
OF city life and to the efficacy and economy
OF the railroad systems. The latest annual
report of the Chicago department of public
works. just at hand. contains the record
OF this enterprise in such terms as to make
the Washingtonian grow envious. 1t would
appear from this document that the work
of grade crossing abolition has been under
taken by the city councils by means OF
ordinances passed from time to time apply
ing to specific roads and crossings. with the
result that by thus dealing separately with
the individual corporations the majority OF
the nuisances have now been abated with
out cost to the city. table showing the
results thus attained from January l. 1892,
10 December 81. 1898. gives the total mile
age of tracks elevated in that period as
O.4s and of tracks depressed 5T.6I. Thus
it appears that only little more than one
fifth of the tracks were placed below the
street level. the general rule being eleva-
ton rather than depression 1t Is further
noted that at the close of the past year
there remained to be elevated under ordi-
nanCes in force only 14.3 miles of tracks,
comprising IS grade crossings. 1t is not
disclosed in the report whether the ordf-
nances then in force included all the re-
ma tracks g nOSSihla that
the councils still had some work to do in
this direction. But that would seem to be
a mere detail of administration now that
the principle has been established that
grade crossings are incompatible with
municipal development and safety and the
reads are accepting the mandate of the
people and expending money literally. The
total estimated cost of this work under the
ordinances thus far passed is Sl6,SOOOo. of
which approximately So. 700,oOO had been
expended al the close OF 1898, leaving S4,-
2:;n.0oO yet to be expended. Though not
specifically stated in the report. 1t would
seem that this money, paid entirely by the
railroad companies. covered the entire cost
of the work. The mayor in his message
speaks of the fact that the elevation OF
the rOadbed and tracks has given employ
ment in the past year to fully 10000 men,
directly and indirectly. without one dollar
Of expense to- the city" The superinten-
dent of the city department of track eleva-
ton. in his report, mentions a certain work
by the Fort Wayne road and its lessee,
thu Pennsylvania. thus:
The said companies, in addition to the
elevation Of the rOadbed and tracks, have
procured and dedicated for the purpose OF
public street a strip Of ground 33 feet in
width This street was graded.
Curbed and paved with cedar block pave
ment. sewers and water pipes were pro-
vided. and all done at the expense of the
railway companies.
This exhibition of railway generosity
might We'll serve as a text for municipal
consideration here in the District. Accord
ing 10 Illustrations contained in the report
the work in Chicago is Of excellent quality.
the viaducts being masonry and steel in
good patterns. with an occasional tendency
toward ornamentation- Particular atten-
ton is called by the superintendent Of the
department to the abolition during 1898 of
what h. terms THE most dangerous grade
crossing in the United States if not in the
entire world" in the neighborhood of 18th
and Clark streets. where the tracks Of five
various angles. together with two street
car tracks. Here alone is a triumph in
municipal administration. Chicago might
properly be proud Of this achievement if
il constituted the sole work of a year
Washington. with its petty problem of two
terminals and no steam road intersections,
may well note and follow this admirable
example