The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-17
WANT A SUBWAY
GwINNETr STREET CROSSING
WOULD THEN BE ABOLISHED.
WORK WOULD COST $4,000
PLANT SYSTEM rs WILLING TO PAY
oNE-THIRD OF THE AMOUNT.

Conference Between the Committee
From Council and Representatives
of the Plant system and the $. It.
and I. of II. st. ny. Co. Was Held
Yesterday-AIderm Dixon Sub
Initted n Plan That Was Agreed
UpOn-DOubIe Track and Passage
for Vehicles nd Pedestrians to Run
Beneath Plant system Tracks.
for Vehicles and Pedestrians to
Run Beneath Plant System Tracks.
A subway to take the place Of the Plant
| System grade crossing at Gwinnett street
viii cost about S25. 900. The Plant System
would pay one-third of this amount. pro-
vided the Savannah, Thunderbolt and
Isle of Hope Railway Company and the
City of Savannah, the other parties at
interest, would make up the other two
| thirds between them.
1t is believed that the street railway
company will accede to the proposition Of
the Plant System by which that company
undertakes to pay one-third, provided the
city will defray a portion of the two
/
no amount, and it is the desire of the
committee TO have it get out for less
than one-third.
A meeting of the Special Council Com
mittee with railway officials was held
yesterday morning at the office of Gen.
/ Supt. W. B. Denham Of the Plant Sys-
TEN. Those present were Aldermen Dix
on, Thomas and Watson, the three men,
bers of the committee; President r. G.
Erwin, Gen. Supt. Denham, Chief Engin-
! eer T. 8. Tutwiler and Mr.. W. L. Clay,
of general counsel. of the Plant System
and Mr.. L. H. McIntire, general manager
of the Savannah, Thunderbolt and Isle
of Hope Company.
The railroad men met the committee
| pleasantly, showing entire willingness to
enter into the discussion of the plan to
/ abolish the Gwinnett and Bolton street
grade crossings, and a disposition to reach
an understanding as to the manner in
which the expense was to be met. From
the tone of the conference, it is to be
presumed that the effort will prove sue
| cessful, and that 1t will not be very long
before the actual work of effecting the
change will begin.
Two plans were submitted, drawings be-
ing inspected by the gentlemen and care
| fully studied. One of the plans was sub
mitted by Alderman Dixon, chairman of
the committee, and it was upon that that
the gentlemen agreed as answering the
needs of traffic on Gwinnett street. The
other plan was submitted by the Plant
| System, but objections to ii were such
as, when raised to make its adoption out
| of the question.
Because the plan submitted by the
Plant System did not recognize the
rights of property owners along the
street. it was put aside. Those rights.
| the committee insisted, would have to
be respected. The plan contemplated
roadways, well as a double track for
street cars, through the subway. but
that would not leave sufficient room
above for a driveway on both the north
and south sides of the street.
Alderman Dixon's plan provides for the
street railway to run underneath the
Plant System tracks, the dip below the
surface beginning on the west at East
| Broad street, and on the east about 100
feet from the Plant System tracks, the
shorter grade on the east being rendered
| possible because the ground on that side
of the Plant System tracks is lower.
Two tracks are to run through the sub
way for street cars but there is to be
no driveway. Vehicles and pedestrians
| however, VIII not De excluded. Inc
space taken up by the car tracks and
left to either side will readily admit OF
the passage of two of the widest teams in
the subway.
The subway will be paved, and the sides
and top will be constructed of granite
Above it there will be a roadway or
both the north and the south side OIL
the street, and the sidewalk will not be
disturbed. The plan is regarded as The
best that could be devised.
Mr.. Erwin advised that the Boltor
street crossing be abandoned by the Sa
vannah, Thunderbolt and Isle of Hope
Company for the Gwinnett street sub
way, when established. A large sewel
that is almost flush with the surface
would make it impossible to build a sub
way on Bolton street. Mr.. Erwin doe'
not admit the responsibility of the Plan
System in accidents at grade crossings
but, in the interest of the citizens of Sa
vannah, he would like to see them dis
carded. The traffic of the Savannah
Thunderbolt and Isle of Hope Company
he thought, should be diverted to tn
Gwinnett street subway.
Mr. McIntire was not authorized t,
speak for the Savannah, Thunderbol
and Isle of Hope Company. He wa
present merely to learn the sentimen
that might be shown and report t
President George Parsons of his compa
NY. A conference between the commtte
} and Mr.. Parsons or his representative
Mr.. McIntire, win be held before tn
committee reports to Council This re
; port will not be made at the next meet
| ing of that body