The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-10
ELEVATED TRACK PLANS.
Those Drawn by Engineer Brown Pre-
scented to the Works Board.

The Board of Works received yesterday
the plan prepared by the elevated track
commission of the Commercial Club for
doing away with surface tracks if the In
dianapoIis Southern Railroad is built. The
plan was formulated by Charles Carroll
Brown. at one time city engineer of In
dianapolis, who has made extensive inves-
legations into the problem OF track eleva-
ton. Accompanying Mr.. Browns draw
ings was a written communication furnish
ing the explanation. The plan was pre-
pared from information and figures secured
at the office of the city engineer. The plan
in outline follows:
''It will be seen that if the railroad
crosses the Belt road at the grade of that
road ii is about nineteen feet above the
ground surface. L understand that the
road is considering the prOpriety of cross
ing under the Belt road. This can be done,
and the elevation can begin at any desired
point provided the height of sixteen feet
above the curb is reached at Morris street;
If the elevation of high water estimated
from the data supplied by the city engi-
neer's office is correct, the water will
stand at times four feet, above the ground
surface at the Belt road.
THE usual height fixed for elevation of
rail above the curb at street crossings for
elevated structures is sixteen feet, allow
ing about fourteen feet head room. IT is
easy to keep this elevation at each street
crossing until McCarty street is reached.
If no change in present street grades is
to be made, the elevated structure be
brought from this point by an easy slope
to the street level at Merrill street, and
Merrill. Henry and South streets be
crossed at grade.
Two OF these crossings are very impor-
tant, and that at South street is the most
important of all. The elevation can be
above the surface or partly in elevation,
and two or three feet in depression of
Merrill street. Here again the elevation
can be stopped and the railroad line
brought on a slope of l per cent. or less
TO the street level at South street. This
will eliminate the Merr!ll-street grade
crossing, but will practically close Henry
street and will leave South street
AT the conference with the members of
the Board of Public Works Friday, Dec.
their earnest desire that the South-street
grade crossing be eliminated also. This
can readily be done by continuing the ele-
walton Of the railroad TO South street and
then coming down TO the grade of the
Union tracks. The distance from South
street to the junction is short and the slope
of the railroad must be- some amount be-
tween / and per cent. The per cent
slope is doubtless frequently met with on
this road.
highest point. where Ii is four and one
half feet higher than at Kentucky avenue
foot higher than at Senate avenue and
five and One-half feet higher than at Hi
nOis street The sewer is about thirteen
feet below the surface Of the street being
the remnant west OF Senate avenue of the
large main sewer, which formerly carried
the drainage from points east of Virginia
avenue TO the large sewer in Kentucky
avenue. but which now goes into the large
Senate-avenue sewer. So far as the drain
age is concerned. therefore. the street can
be lowered at the railroad crossing as
much as eleven feet If desired If IL is
lowered eleven feet and the track is ele-
waited five feet, the standard head room
will be given and the railroad can reach
the Union Station tracks by a slope of 1
per cent. If the street is lowered six feet
and the track is elevated ten feet, the rail-
road will require a per cent. slope to
reach the Union tracks. Both plans will
require excavation of South street and
relaying of pavement and street-railway
tracks from Missouri street TO Senate ave-
nue..
THE cost OF the deeper excavation will
be the greater by the amount of earth
removed and the increase in height of re-
tanning wall It's only advantage will be
TO reduce the slope up which to run from
the Union tracks. and the railroads engi-
neers will readily determine how much
extra expense of deepening the cut in
South street is justified by the reduction
I'm this slope. The higher elevation and
consequent less cut will demand less re-
construction when the Union tracks are
elevated. the only additional expense to
the Southern Railroad i'm that event being
the reconstruction OF the 500 feet of track
or so from South street To the junction.