Evening star., 1902-03-18

northern part Of the city, it was clearly
demonstrated that similar raising of the
grade Tor humpingl of Broad street at
Pennsylvania avenue, almost in the heart
of the city, would not only seriously dam
age valuable property, but would practical
ly ruin the citys finest avenue, the one al
ways used for military and civic displays
and would still leave sixteen dangerous
grade crossing to the westward unprovided
for So other means Of accomplishing the
result We're sought.
A Municipal Blunder.
"The question of elevating the railroad
tracks from 18th street to 3Oth street was
considered; but as such construction would
result in all of the intersecting streets being
crossed overhead by steel bridges (proba-
bly, Of the plate-grder type. over which
passing-and particularly as the highways
to be built over included in addition to
Broad street, 22d street, Spring Garden
street Green street and Fairmount avenue
the principal entrances to Fairmount
Park)-it was seriously objected to by the
citizens of the southern and central parts
of the city. The bridge over Broad street
was particularly protested against, owing
to the fact that not only the tracks lead
ing to the terminal, but also a connection
to the Willow street branch and the sidings
to the freight house located east Of Broad
street, would have to be provided for-re-
sulting in bridge 265 feet long-and which,
in addition to the inconvenience to the gen.
eral public, would almost completely cut
off the view along the city's great boule-
ward.
The Railroad Benefited by Change.
"A. careful study Of the problem by the
engineers of the city of Philadelphia, Of the
Philadelphia and Reading Railway Compa-
ny, and the late Mr.. John A. Wilson, con-
sulting engineer, was made, and resulted
in the preparation Of plans and estimates
for depressing the tracks and carrying
them, in subway and tunnel under all
streets-thus permanently abolishing the
crossings at grade, providing for railroad
business, and the maintenance of adequate
track connections with industrial establish
ments along the line. The advantages Of
the subway are that it produces no dis
fgurement of the streets crossing it, the
grades being so arranged that the super
structures of the bridges are beneath the
level OF the streets, thus presenting an un-
broken contour of the same. By means Of
the tunnel from 22d street west, all tracks
will be removed from sight, and what is
now half-blighted section of the city
will be reclaimed, resulting In improved
and increased value to private property.
obtaining for the city splendid additional
driveway, and an appropriate entrance to
able features, and will result in a partial
financial return to the city In increased
taxes.
THE estimated cost of this work, includ-
Ing damages 10 property, Is six million
($6,OOO, ,OOO) dollars, of which the Philadel-
phia and Reading Railroad Company is to
pay one-half. By ordinance Of March Is,
1894 a loan Of six million I$6, 600, O00) dol
lars was authorized, and preparations for
beginning the work We're at once made
An Unusual Complication.
In this case. the city blundered in the
first place in giving the railroad privilege
which, ifAfully accepted, would inure greatly
to the community's detriment. Thus, when
the time came to change the conditions of
the Improvement, the railroad had the ad-
vantage, and the city was compelled to
pay for its original error in granting a
right which would have destroyed one of
its finest thoroughfares. and caused such
humping Of the chief artery of the city 8
business as to involve the probability of
enormous damage The equal division OF
cost in such case, 1t is clear, sprang large
ly, If not wholly, from the fact that the
railroad had been granted a right which it
might have exercised to the city's HARM
In 1880 President Roberts of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company wrote a letter in
Of prominent Philadelphians, asking wheth-
er the corporation desired the passage by
the legislature of a pending measure known
as the grade crossing BILL In the course
discussion Of the general subject OF grade
crossings and the attitude Of the Pennsyl-
vania road in relation thereto. which bears
interestingly upon the present considera-
tion Of the cost Of such improvements. He
said:
81 do not think any argument is needed
to convince the public that the time has
gone by when the lives and limbs Of our
citizens should be constantly exposed to
the perils resulting from crossing Of streets
by steam railroads at grade. The records
Of the city of Philadelphia show that annu-
ally about forty people lose their lives at
such grade crossings while a much larger
number are more or less seriously injured,
and II new grade crossings are to be per-
mitted at all / cannot conceive how this
question can be better determined than by
a court of equity, to whom all the facts can
be submitted, and whose Judgment, am