The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-10-16
Big Improvement Free
Of Expense to
the City.
y
Ralston and Railroad
Engineers Working
on Plans.

Plans for steel viaducts over the
railroad TRACKS on Washington and
Division streets, which will cost
approximately s1,00O,000, are now
being drawn by City Engineer
Ralston with the assistance Of
railroad engineers.
The viaducts are not to cost the
city cent, 1t is stated. The rail-
roads which will share the expense
of the Washington street project
are the Great Northern, o. r. q:
NJ, Washington C Idaho, Spokane
International and the Traction
company. The same steam lines
will share In the expense of the
Division street viaduct. The w.
w. p, which uses the street for
streetcars, will share this cost.
City Engineer Ralston's activity
is caused by urgent request of the
railroads, which have evidenced
a desire, through representatives
sent to councilmen and the engi-
need, to get the work started as
soon as possible, or at least to
have plans made so as to take the
matter up with one another. 1t has
tacitly been agreed, it is under
stood. that the city will not be
| asked to pay cent. The only ex-
pense to which the city will be-
put is the engineers time and ex-
pense in drawing the plans.
The reason for using steel In
stead of concrete is explained by
Mr.. Ralston, who says that the
cost of concrete viaducts would be
something enormous by reason of
the fact that 1t is of greater ex-
pense to handle concrete for small,
narrow piers than for massive
ones. The undertaking would be
delicate and tedious, thus entailing
great expense. In verification OF
this statement Mr.. Ralston refers
to the building of viaduct in
Richmond, Va, which cost $50 a
cubic yard.
The steel plans call for viaduct
on Washington street connecting
with the present one over the
Great Northern. 1t would pass
completely over the Washington
street concrete bridge, which
would then be used chiefly for foot
traffic and for teams going to and
from the warehouses. The north
end would be at some point near
Cataldo avenue.
An entirely different proposition
is confronted on Division street. It
would be necessary to raise the
north end of the bridge to slightly
| more than level. At present 1t
| dips to the north. This raise would
| be sufficient to gain a desired ele-
walton to meet the requirements
of clearance over the first tracks:
then it would pass over the other
tracks on a level and dip to Boone.
For the accommodation of teams
and pedestrians. arms would be
run from the viaduct down to the
| level of the tracks so that teams
could approach the warehouses and
pedestrians go to the depots.
II has generally been understood
that the city would be required to
stand a portion of the expense of
these structures, but Mr.. Ralston
states that Interested councilman
have informed him that the city
will not be asked to pay cent and
that. the railroads demand via0ucts
at this time for their own con-
| yenience.
The 100000 bridge bond issue
was calculated to include whatever
the city's share In the viaducts
would be, but 1t seems now that
suci. deductions were hasty, as the
railroads must construct viaducts
ut their own expense entirely and
are prepared 60 proceed with the
! work.
Mr.. RAiston Is unable at this
, time 70 make an estimate on the
cost. hut the magnitude Of tho
work assures an expenditure Of
I possibly si,0o0.0oo. including the
! yiadncts and necessary other I'm.
.s.hs.l, ,,,,at fs,fls&,s