The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-11
ENGINEER NELSON EXPLAINS
His Plan for Grade Crossing Relief
Submitted to the Commission.

The grade crossing commission and a
committee from the Merchants Association
went TO school to City Engineer Nelson yes
terday afternoon. Mr.. Nelson's subject was
elevation and Depression, with Discus
sion Of Incidental matters; Also an Appen-
dix and Charts. together with Maps" When
evening came Mr.. Nelson not done the
lesson, and it will be. continued tomorrow
afternoon. The plans disclosed by MIR. Mel
son verified the outline m yesterdays Jour
nal in all details except one. Instead of
closing Liberty street the plans provide for
closing New Jersey street.
The Merchants Association committee
composed OF w. c. Bobbs, F. NJ. Ayres and
Charles Mayer remained throughout the
entire session deeply interested in the ex-
PLANTATION. The engineer provided about
thirty maps and profles TO illustrate his
explanation. These were so placed that
when he spoke Of a particular matter he
pointed to it with ruler.
Mr.. Nelson explained that his work upon
the track elevation plan had been done in
connection with his other official work, and
the only assistance he had was his regular
Office force. Consequently he was some
what restricted as to the amount of work
he could do, and under this restriction he
had taken only the difficult portion of the
subject-the district between Massachusetts
avenue and West street. Mr.. Nelson said
he regretted he had to disagree with the
Judgment of Mr.. Jeup in treating this sub
ject. He thought Mr.. Jeup had failed in
satisfactory solution OF the problem both
for the people and the other interests. Mr..
Jeup's plan left a track at grade for ship
ping purposes which he deemed unsatisfac-
tory and it's treatment of the freighthouse
question was also faulty.
Mr.. Nelson took considerable time to ex-
plain the Jeup plans defects, in view of
the desire to eliminate grade crossings and
also the sewer system of the city. This
sewer system was designed by Rudolph
lation OF Indianapolis in 1900 at AZ. Oc6, and
the census gave IL 10000. For 1910 he es-
timated IL as $4,000. and from the present
development IL will be far from the esti-
mate. Mr.. Nelson ventured the prediction
that II would not be many years until Indi-
annapolis would iid have to provide provide a purifying
posed Of in White river.
SEWER FOR POGUE'S RUN.
Mr.. Nelson then explained his plan to con-
struct a sewer to take the place of Pogues
run. This stream. as already stated, is to
be closed and sewer built along a route
near TO the course OF the run, but through
public streets. This will be a sewer of con-
crete and steel. having a double construc-
ton. 1t will begin at Newman street and
extend as far as Wisconsin street Its di-
mansions are fourteen feet wide (seven
feet ia each section) and eight feet high
the average. At its south end the clos
ing of the run will enable the Indianapolis
Southern to elevate its track high enough
to permit crossings of streets at grade
without depression.
Chairman Bennett asked Mr.. Nelson If
he had treated the question north of the
Observation-Disclosures crossing he said he
because "A
simple problem. He concentrated his wcrk
the downtown district He then ex-
planned series OF profles of street inter-
sections through the section he had treated
In brief his treatment OF the crossings was
Massachusetts Avenue and Tenth Street
Elevation eleven feet six inches depression
of street FIVE feet six inches. This gave
clear head room OF fourteen feet, for street
cars. At each intersection, Mr. Nelson said
from the elevation, as the elevation given
Is that of the track and not the bottom of
the steel supports.
Pratt Street-Elevation nine feet de-
preston i've feet six inches.
St. Clair Street-Elevation seven feet nine
inches depression six feet nine inches
Biddle Street-Elevation eight feet three
inches. depression five feet nine inches
North Street-Street is not opened and
opening is not necessary.
Michigan Street-Elevation ten feet eight
inches. depression FIVE feet ten inches.
Vermont Standardization ten feet two
incfes, depression four feet two inches
New York Street-Elevation nine feet. de-
PRESTON five feet six inches.
Pine Street-Elevation eight feet nine
inches depression five feet nine inches
Ohio Ssreet-Elevation eight feet eleven
inches. depression five feet seven inches.
Davidson Street-Eievation ten feet, de-
pressioc four feet six inches
Market Street-Elevation ten feet four
inches, depression four feet two inches
Noble and Washington streets-Elevation
eleven feet one inch. depression five feet
eleven inches. At this point a partial re-
construction Of the Washington-street