The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-03
President Peters Proposes Free
ton of Gigantic Permanent
Free Structure.
AlNSLlE WANTS NEW STREET
Mayor Urges Council to Carry
Fifteenth Street by Tunnel
Under Broad Street.

Erection Of steel or concrete via
duct over Broad Street. from Twelfth
TO Twenty fourth Street. as free
roadway, owned and controlled By the
city, was proposed in resolution Of
fered in the Common Council last night
by President r. Lee Peters. and re-
ferries to the Committee on Streets
for consideration. The resolution IN
structs the City Engineer TO report
TO the Council q preliminary estimate
of the cost OF erecting such a struc-
ture. either OF steel or OF reinforced
concrete. the width 10 be approximate
~ that Of the street. M. Peters said
after the meeting that the present
bridge owned By the Richmond and
Henrico Railway. and operated as a
toll viaduct. was inadequate 10 the
needs OF the city. and that It's ton
feature was highly Objectionable. lie
believed that the city should own ana
maintain such a utility for the fire"
use and benefit Of all the people. anc
that II should be OF Il more perman-
ent and durable character than the
present Marshall Street Viaduct. Aske-
whether he would favor the acquisi-
ton OF the Marshall Street Niacuct
by the city, M Peters saiG that fur
ther inquiry into the matters raised
in his resolution might lead TO the view
that Il should be acquired by the city
by condemnation proceedings OtneF-
wise. he believed the price would eN-
coed its value and In any case ne CON
sidered 1t preferable that the per
manent structure TO be erected ana
operated By the city 20 bring the two
ends of the city into closer connec-
ton should be over Broad street The
matter will 0e taken up In the com
Message From Mayor Ansiie.
The Council last night received
special message from Mayor Ainslie
suggesting the advisabiliry OF extend
ing Fifteenth Street by tunnel under
Broad street, go as 10 open up large
wholesale and manufacturing section
along Fifteenth street extended
north Of Broad Street. anu
bring all that section Into closer eom-
nuuication with the heart Of the city.
The MAYOR expressed the BELIEF thai
the Improvement would many times
compensate the city for the outlay
needed The message was referred 10
the Committee on Streets
The Committee on Streets repof'eu
= Joint resolution in regard 10 street
car tracks on the new Mayo b1.oee
providing that they shall DC laid D.
the bridge contractors, l. J. smith a
Co. al their bid Of $l5.5O0. that the
money shall be paid by the virginia
Railway and Power Company, "hieh
has a franchise 10 operate cars over
the bridge. and that al legal points
are reserved for determination o.
friendly litigation. The contention
there is whether the bridge - pr
vate structure. as held b. the city OF
publc street, as held By the car
company. II the city wins. then II is
to reimburse the company for the orls-
inaI outlay for laying the tracks, VII"
interest but may thereafter charge
reasonable toll for the use or ths
bridge. II the company wins, then the
car company must pay not only ioI
LAYING tracks, but for the paving be-
tvee1 and for two feet on either side.
and must maintain same liz accord
ance with its franchise agreement as
TO the use of streets There was sooie
debate, but on a point Of order All
papers were referred to the Commit
tee on Finance.