The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-18
THE |. AND G. N. TUNNEL
PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS SUB
MITTE0 TO THE COUNCIL.
Action Postponed Upon Request Of Cen
ersl Manager Tree, Who VIII Arrive
in Houston This Week.


of the railroads can be compelled to
build tunnel under street crossing
Houston wiz have, in the next three years.
a tunnel at every crossing" declared Il
prominent railway Official yesterday, aud
he added frankly: II heartily mdorse the
effort to improve the crossings and elni.
nate the danger and delay occasioned by
passing trains through the city, but the
city should be willing TO bear part Of the
expense"
The EFFORT OF the council to induce the
international and Great Northern rail.
road TO construct tunnel under the cross
ing on Preston avenue bids fair to succeed.
In fact, the railway officials are, appar.
entity. as anxious as are the aldermen
themselves to agree upon proposition
and TO have the Improvement ia operation
nc soon as possible.
ia response TO u resolution OF the coun-
eli asking that plans be prepared for said
tunnel the officials OF the International
ana Great Northern readily complied aud
Mt j. A. Lowell, assistant engineer, ar.
RIVED in the city yesterday with the re-
CURED plans ana specifications He met
the mayor, city engineer, aldermen of the
tlrst, Second, rhlrd and Fourth wards
ana other city officials at o'clock and
submitted the plans, which were received
ana fled, Further consideration was most
poned, however upon advice from General
Manager Leroy Trice to the eject thut
nc expected to be in Houston some day
this week for the purpose of consulting
with the city officials. and that he had
requested Manager mn of the Galveston
Houston and Henderson to meet him here.
aandiGSatlons are that the matter will he
hnaily settled during Mr., Triccs visit
II VIII be remembered that Mr.. Trce
submitted proposition two or three
Years ago for the construction OF a tun-
a. fh. Dr..
aud that he offered to do all the under-
ground work. under the tracks. II the city
would bear the expense Of making the OK
cavations Tor the approaches. This pro
posal was not accepted. The council de-
manded that the railway bear all the ex
pehSe or the Improvement, and II Is stated
that when the opinion of the then city at
torney was asked he replied that the CITY
could not compel the railroad TO comnly
with the demand.
me legal status OF the case Ia NOT vet
definitely settled
Mr.. Trice stated n dav or two ogo that
on a recent trip East he remembered tho
desire Of the people Of Houston for n tun.
mel under the crossing and that he per
apnaiN Inspected similar crossings I'm va
rlous cities and made careful injuries A.
a result II bis investigation ne strongly
recommends viaduct Instead OF a funnel
Many cities which have tried both prefer
INC VladnCt. Many advantages are claimcd
Tor the vidauct for instance, there is no
uraluage 10 cause constant care and OK
pehse' ana above all, there Il no damage
10 abutting property aud the cost OF con
structton Is considerably less.
Mr.. Tricc will doubtless urge these
claims and endeavor to reach an agree.
ment with tho council.
AS before, the only difficulty To he on.
countered is the proposed division Of tho
expense OF constructions II Is stated TINT
a majority Of the aldermen want the raG.
road To bear the entire cost and the rail.
way officials declare that It is lmi osslble
tnat any, agreement will ever be reached on
that basis. "
Ihe, proposed tunnel will cost in the
neiehborhood Of SGo0'0, and the city viii hd
asked 10 pay about onc.third Of thc
g amount Tho. viaduct would cost about
100000 and, the city's portion Of the OK.
pense would he about $4,000 accordinc
to the railroad officials.
Ihc railway officials say TINT IN tho tun.
mel Is 10 be built the plan sho,ild he agreed
upon NJ once SO that work might begin the
nrst * the new year The international
and Great Northern has an iunirnse
amount ,la Of construction and rcconstruc.
I,"R Planned to commence the irst
or the year and the tunnel tbev saw
could not be built during the busy season.