The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-03
APPROVES KETT|G'S
 PLAN FOR REMEDY
H. F. Wilson, Jr., Discusses Engineering Features of
 Twentieth St. Viaduct

To the Editor of The Age Herald.
 Noting Mr. Kettig's observations con- oerning Twentieth street viaduct. think he is to be heartily commended for the unusual public spirited stand he takes on behalf of himself and his company in trying to assist in relieving such a con dition as exists at the Twentieth street , crossing. He has set an example that may well be emulated by other property owners equally interested and affected.
 In order that he may be better equipped for continuing his much needed crusade, take the liberty of explaining few technical ponts mentioned by him in his recent interview.
 In the first place it would be useless to cut down the railroads seven feet. and
 then build a yiaduct seven feet above
 the ground. This would give only 14 feet of clear space or headroom. as it is tech nically known, and this would not pass
 a standard locomotive, or a standard furniture car under 1t. It is more than 10 feet to the top of the smokestack of present day standard locomotive, and | nearly the same height to the top of | standard furniture car Now when brakeman of average height, say five feet | nine inches, stands on top of u furniture
 car, 1t brings the height up to nearly 20 feet; and when he raises his arms to give signals especially if & lantern is used, it requires about two feet more making 22 1 feet total. This is the standard height ! required by all first class railroads for
 safe operation of trains with brakemen
 riding on box cars.
 l MT. Moore's objection to lowering the l rDt tInAn fra, .,I.r T.H. 1 interference with sewers, etc, is not ] good argument. This would involve no
 engineering difficulties that could not be I finally and satisfactorily disposed of; as I witness the work done along these same
 lines on the New York city subway, where
 some of the excavation was carried on l below sea level, and miles of sewers (both storm and sanitary, water pipes. con duits, etc, were successfully moved and
 rebuilt while in operation. In fact, while we are on this subject of sewers, 1 be- | lieye it would be a good thing if some thing was started that would require the | rebuilding of the storm sewers that serve the Twentieth street crossing. Several years ago, during one of the most ter rife rainstorms that I ever witnessed | Twentieth street from about First avenue
 to Avenue was thigh deep in water and
 it took nearly the whole afternoon for the | water to drain off through the proper channels
 | I have made some investigations in re- l gard to distances, elevations, etc., that
 would be used in designing either via
 duct or subway. Space forbids the ] technical discussion at this time, but
 will state briefly that viaduct would have to begin at the south line of Second ] avenue and end at the north line of Ave | nue c, in order to secure, without using
 excessively steep grades, the required safe l operating headroom of g feet above the
 roalroads tracks. Lowering the railroad tracks would reduce the height of via | duct slightly, but it would not reduce the 1 length by single inch.
 | In regard to lowering the railroad | tracks, will state that thls is not an irn- possibility. They could be lowered as
 much five or six feet without increas-
 ing any of the grades now being operated
 In the yards between Thirteenth and l Twenty-eighth street It would cost some
 money, but 1t is a physical possibility all | the same.
 | A viaduct has some arguments in it's l favor; viz: It would be the cheapest form of construction that could be adopted to
 gain the desired end; it could be taste l fully ornamented so as not to be an
 eye sore; by judicious designing it could | be made so narrow that 1t would not damage property to the extent tIiat some people seem to think, and it would still
 amply provide for all traffic: if properly | taken care of, it would be as permanent
 as 20 story office building; 1t could be
 built quicker than any other form of con-
 struction; the greater part of 1t could be
 absolutely completed without interfering
 In any way with the present traffic ar arrangements.
 Personally, I am in favor of a subway. | but will work for any form of construc-
 ton that will forever put an end to the
 crossing of Twentieth street railroad
 tracks in such death traps as closed cars,
 carriages and other vehicles. Keep if up.
 MT. kettig, and good luck to you. H. F. WILSON, JR
 Birmingham, March l, 1912