Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-27
PASSING OF GRADE CROSSINGS
What Other Cities Have Done to Danish a
Public Evil.
EXPENSES JUSTIFIED BY THE RESULTS
of the Gigantic Task In CHI
cngo-Mnrveious Change wrought
in the City of uTa in
Four Years.

Four Years.
The manner in which other cities g~rappled
win the problem of abolishing railroad
grade crossings forms an interesting study.
particularly so to the people of Omaha.
IL has been a prolific source of irritation
and agitation here for twenty years, and ia
likely to continue for years to come. The
pickering and dallying over the reconstruct
ton OF the Sixteenth street viaduct illus.
trates the snail pace of great bodies when SO
ulsposeu, and illumines the difficulties, IL
not the indisposition, of city fathers IN
pressing the settlement of public rights on
friendly corporations. Some robust op-
tmists expect to live to see that structure
completed. Perhaps they will. But they
are young, and youth has hope to burn.
chicago wrestled with the grade crossing
evil Tor many years, but without much sue
cess until 1898. when the enormous traffic
Of the Worlds Fair forced a change In
anticipation of the rush the Illinois Central.
In 1892, reconstructed its roadbed along the
lake 'front.' and bridged every crossing as
far out as SEVENTEEN street. The enormous
traffic and the freedom from accident dur
ing the Worlds Fair period proved the wis
dom of the management and amply justified
the increased expense.
Saving of Time and Money,
That was the beginning of the end. AL
ready millions have been spent in raisins
roadbeds and bridging streets, and millions
are yet needed to finish the plans. 1t is
said the Chicago & Northwestern alone
spent $4,000, 600 in raising its roadbed
within the city limits and bridging all in
tersecting streets. A dozen other corpora-
lions are spending large sums and within
hVe years grade crossings in that city will
be a memory. Persistent agitation and
vigorous political pressure were necessary
to compel the railroad corporations to
spare the lives Of people obliged to cross
their tracks. They protested the change in
VOWED such expense that to undertake It
meant bankruptcy. The work is now so we'll
advanced and the gain so apparent that the
protestants acknowledge the authorities did
the right thing in calling their fearful
oluffs. 1t is asserted in the case of one
corporation that the money heretofore paid
IN maintaining crossings, for damages to
persons and property and for death claims
Will pay interest on the money required to
abolish grade crossings.
what Buffalo is Doing.
The city Of Buffalo is another shining ex-
ample OF what can be accomplished when
the authorities take a determined grin on a
puoilc project. Prior to 1895 grade crossings
were as numerous there as flies around an
arc light. The evil had grown to such pro-
portions that something had to be done.
City oflicials argued and threatened. but,it
ended IN talk. Corporation managers ad-
INJURED the evils complained Of and filled the
aldermanic ears with lavish promises. mean
while increasing the number of crossings
and occasionally gathering in a street for
purposes. At last an obscure law
maker appeared in the state legislature and
procured the passage of a bill creating a
to plan and prosecute the work.
inc Dill provided that the cost of the via
aucts and subways and property damages
should be paid, three-fourths by the railroad
and about one-fourth by the city.
A start was made in 1896. In the succeed
ing three and a half years what would he
as a miracle in these parts has
peeh wrought In Buffalo. One tunnel under
Main street, six viaducts and three subways
were completed up to the close of 1898. at a
cost of $1,OS2, 6O4. "a, the city's share being
$221, 9O5.35 A viaduct on Hamburg and
two intersecting streets, built in the
form or an l., was completed last July at n
cost OF $369,S97.87. Viaducts are now in
course or construction on Elk and Van
streets and on the Abbot road.
estimated to cost $3.50, $50. The. completed
and those under way represent an
outlay for construction alone of 81, 243, 1921
OF which the city will pay 1924, 492. SO. Dam
ages TO property are not included in these
The amount in every instance ia
by the commission. No award
made to property owners until the viaduct
Or subway Is completed. 1t is estimated that
The aggregate of damages and the cost Of
condemned will equal the cost of
The structures.
Built to Stay,
The proportion of subways to yiaducts ia
mall, the level character of the country rem
iering them unsuitable. AS a rule the grade
of the roadbeds are not changed. All
manages OF grades are made on the streets.
me approaches are buttressed with stone
walls built at the lot lines, are curbed and
suttered and paved with dressed stone laid
n cement. The viaducts proper are of steel
Usually the width OF the street. with foot
ways on each side, and all foored with
asphalt. II a street intersects any of tina
approaches 1t Is raised and paved precisely
Is the main approach. Where streets pass
lnder the viaduct stairs are built on the
.ornes. A noticeable feature of these via
iucts Is the walls of steel plates, Ave feet
Ugh, separating the wagonways from the
idewalks.
Buralo's yiaducts are OF the best TYNE of
Masonry and steel bridging. Even to a
IoVice their appearance conveys the impress
lon OF massive strength and durability. Az
local nnthnGiaCt avnrnuuaI a., ar ".