The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-12
ENGINEERS AT WORK
FIGURING ON TUNNEL FOR GwIN-
NETT STREET.
GRADE CROSSING {
GOES.
MATTER OF DRAINAGE IS THE
TROUBLESOME PROBLEM.

Old Plan For n Deck Girder VIII
Run the street Under Tracks of
Atlantic Coast Line Means an Ex-
penditure of About $5O,OOO-Street
VIII Be About II Feet Below the
Railroad TrncI1s-COst of Doing the
Work Will BE Borne by the street
Railway Company, the City ana
the Atlantic COnst Line.
1t is highly probable that something
definite will be done very, soon
looking towards the building of
tunnel under the tracks
of the Atlantic Coast Line at
gerous grade crossing, and the taking
up of the tracks of the Savannah Elec-
trio Company on Bolton street east of
Abercorn street.
To do this work will require an ex-
penditure, it is believed, of something
like $4,000, the expense to be borne
by the Atlantic Coast Line, the Sa-
vannah Electric Company and the city.
From an engineering standpoint the
matter of tunneling the railroad cross
ing is quite a problem, and no feasible
plan has yet been agreed upon, al
though the question is being studied
by representatives of the railroad COM
pany, the street railway company and
the city government.
The question of doing away with the
Gwinnett street grade crossing has
been taken up quite a number of times,
without any agreement being reached.
1t seems likely at this time, however,
that a plan will be agreed upon. En-
gineer Tutwiler of the Atlantic Coast
Line, and Manager Kidder of the Sa-
vannah Electric Company have for sew
eral days been going over the engin-
eering details of the scheme, but the
matter is not yet closed. The old plan,
which contemplated a deck girder, will
have to be abolished. 1t is imprac-
ticable to use any but what is known
among engineers as through glrder.
Where Difficulty Arises.
The real problem comes in devising
a scheme for proper drainage and
with a deck girder the tracks of the
Street Railway Company would be
so far underground that it would be
necessary to keep a pumping plant in
operation. The street will be II or Is
| feet under the Atlantic Coast Line
| tracks. tbs scale cottemplates
drop OF inches for each hundred feet
! from the crossing to the Bilboa Canal,
| at low water, a distance of about l.
| 900 feet.
Even with this drop there is
chance, it is figured out, of the water
| in the canal overlooking its banks at
high water. The engineering part of
the scheme to put the street under the
| railroad tracks is really what is COM
| plicating matters at this time and
nothing can be done until the engin-
GERS who are at work have properly
solved the problem. In all likelihood
it will finally be found necessary to
elevate the tracks of the railroad COM
pany. 1t is figured that if the rail-
! road tracks were elevated about two
feet all differences could be overcome
What Change Would Bring.
Besides abolishing the two most dan
gerous grade crossings in the city, for
the Bolton street tracks of the street
railway company would not be used,
the construction of the tunnel would
mean for identifying of the longest
| unbroken street in the city. The en-
| tire width of the street will be used,
and the street railway company Will
be allowed to run double tracks where
| they are not down on the street. AS
company will have to agree to take up
| it's tracks on Bolton street, certainly
| from Abercorn street to Habersham
| street.
The tracks between these streets are
| about an inch higher than the street,
and have all along been an obstruc-
ton and an objection. 1t is hardly
| probable that the tracks from East
| Broad street to the baseball park will
have to come up. These questions,
| however, will be decided after a plan
for building the tunnel has been
adopted.
While this matter is under considera-
ton another important deal between
the city and the Atlantic Coast Line is
on foot. The opening of streets across
the railroad companys right-of-way is
| contemplated and City Attorney Gar
rard is now in direct communication
| with President Erwin of the railroad.
The removal of the coal chute. just
south of the Bolton street crossing, an
obstruction to the opening of Waldburg
street that has caused no little an
noyance for some time, is also under
serious consideration. President Err
win has been asked to have it taken
down, so that Waldburg street can be
opened through into Collinsville. The
other streets to be opened across the
tracks are in the South Side.