The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-09

times when the river is high the bridge
and the water seem to be about to clasp
their figuratiVe hands as representatives.
of the two great agencies that aid III
expanding the commerce OF the world
The bridge is safely and substantially
built and will doubtless remain for years
The monument Of its system OF briose
construction
The newest bridge of all is that lust,
completed Ly the Seaboard Air Lime. This
bridge brings people from the far oouGl
and carries them on over the Washington
Southern tracks TO the nations Capital,
thence to the cities of the North ana
East This bridge is built to lastHfof-
ages. being steel superstructure CT lat
est design, upon granite pillars
CONNECTING WITH THE SUBURBS.
when the city began to grow and the
people looked about for room III which
to stretch themselves and found upon the
Drettv hills and elevations to the north
of the city that for which they sought
it behoeyed them further to provide
means for going, TO and from their re-
treats into the city.
When it became sure. that the neople
were going into these suburbs and lilat
there. was no 1nlcans OF communication
except by uncomfortable routes, through
the valleys Of Shockoe. creek and BACON S
Quarter Branch, enterprising citizens ana
landowners Sat-to work III pltEe ~ w.
come the obstacles
Two yiaducts We're thus thrown across
the valley, far above the lowly cots that
lay beneath them, and connecting lliihS
were established between Richmond ana
Chestnut Hill ard Richmond and Barton
Heights Private money was placed III
these yiaducts and the toll system IN
each instance prevails,
No sooner were the viaducts I'D than the
ntver-enting lines of electric cars began
to extend into the new territory, and II
Yves not long before the residents Of the
suburbs found al the VERY doors OF their
pretty homes; the convenient street-cars,
that mt Them within a few minutes or
the business centres of the City. Then the
Qsyurhs buNt up and the car lines:rcache.
out end the result is npW seen in me
NO thriving townships;
CuESAPEA1SE AND ONO VIAl,CCT.
But the most important piece OF WpTk
along this line is the great Chesapeake
and Ohio Railway Viaduct, that, like L
great monster Of the deep arising IRON
the rushing waters Of the. James. stands
as a guardian CT the city along the river
front of almost half the city limits
When. six years age the officials OF
the Chesapeake and Ohio said they had
S2;6So 600 TO. place in q depot and otheF
improvements for. Richmond the people.
EXPRESSED their doubts. Two million dol
lars was a largo sum and many peopie
thought the statement made by the fall-
road officials WAS nothing more than q
camp;9ie,l tleGse; ana, While none doubted
The sincerity ofthe officials here in mas
ing the statements: it, Was felt that the
matter would END In ,2u9flt.
PLANS PERFECTED.
But tia. railroad people were in earnest.
ard afte:.- the lapse. CT a little .tille set
ar sonce about nertectiag their plans he
best engineers zinAthe country went TO
work on the scheme The City Council
of the two cities We're taken into their
confidence. Some protest was made. b.
the Manchester people 70 the placing OF
a viaduct along the riyer over the free
Bridge. They Geclared It would spoil
the symmetry ana beauty Of That. bridge
and the city Of Richmond would lie con-
csaled from view.
After a long time comparatively and
sitter overcoming MANY minor Obstacles
nctual work was begun on the great VIZ.
duct, and in Two years It was 'uri!ea
oyer 10 the COMPANY. and the Two ,is.s
of the Chesapeake and ONO hau.ose'-
coined. And then the DEPOT foliosSso' :
The company had Kept lis word aha
the s2u1o,0 900 was spent, the most OF ],
being paid &cUt. hsre.
OTHERS 30 CONE.
Other v!a6ucsssana pEiesea alt - -.
low. The ssE5chn,ona afsd Pstersh u.
Electric Railway. il order to ser mtg me
civ must have "a bridge. The Free
BriSee cannot carry the heavy cars, and
il is tho determination. of the company TO
GET into Richmond. a bridge will have
tozbe. built. aud it is not at all unlikely
that within i've years q new bridge WI!
,,,,,at,ats the old Free Bridge.
A,,other!. viaGIct is. also a possibility
The. Rapldsrransie5 Company. which aha s
| hi1l@5befere the L .ngisia turc, wants Ito
erect one over the Shcckoe Creek NalleS,
through Marshall Street. thus connect
s,, Shockoe and Church HIf-a scheme