The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-28
To WIDEN V|ADUGT
OVER NORTH TEMPLE
Oregon Short Line Offers
Compromise Which Com
missioners May Accept.
RESULT OF ORDINANCE
Ample Room for Teams and
Cement Walk for Pedes-
trians Provided.

By wav of COMPROMISE on the VIA
duct question, the Oregon Short Line
railroad officials yesterday submitted
to the city commission an offer te
double the width OF the present North
Temple street viaduct ut cost OF
about $4,000. if the city will rcscind
its action ordering the company to con
struct a new viaduct at Third North
street. .The offer, according to several
commissioners, may be accepted II the
railroad will agree TO meet certain re-
quirements and specifications to be
named by the city,
More than a month ago the city com
mission passed au ordinance ordering
the railroad company TO build viaduct
across its tracks at Second North street.
The company demurred to this ordi-
nance. and suggested that Third North
street would be the logical point for
the viaduct. Accordingly the ordinance
was changed so as to designate Third
North.
Objection Raised.
Shortly after this amended ordinance
was passed. C. c.. Calvin succeeded w.
IL. Bancroft in the vice presidency of
the railroad, and one of his first official
acts was 10 notify the city commission
that in his opinion the construction OF
q viaduct at Third North or any other
street north of North Temple would
be unreasonable He reminded the
commission that the supreme courts OF
other states had refused to declare such
ordinances valid unless q good and suf-
tjcient reason existed for the coustruc-
tion OF the yiaducf. He denied that
such reason existed, and respectfully
rcauested that the railroad be relieved
of this requirement.
The following day the commissioners
declared that the ordinance would be
enforced, even If the courts had to be
called on for aid. Since then the mat
ter has been in allegiance until yester-
day. when the compromise offer was
submitted.
Brought About Compromise.
When the railroad officials were in
conference with the commissioners
Thursday afternoon over the freight
franchise question. Richard p. Morris,
street commissioner, served notice that
he would vote against the freight fran
cbise unless the railroad company
agreed to build a viaduct. That this
statement from the street commissioner,
which was more or less concurred in
the compromise offer is probable,
Sylvester q Cannon, city engineer,
was asked Yesterday to look over a set
of plans prepared by the railroad for
widening the present viaduct. He will
study these plans and report TO the
city commission as TO the advisability
OF approving them in case the compro-
mise is accepted.
Commissioner Richard P. Morris said
Yesterday that he would be inclined TO
favor the proposal if the company will
build an extension twenty-six feet wide
on the present viaduct and install &C.
meut sidewalks In place Of the board
walks now provided
The yladuct at present is twenty-six
feet wide, aud is just large enough to
accommodate two sets of car tracks
and a six-foot board walk for pedes-
TRANS. Vehicle traffic practically has
10 take its chances along the car tracks.
The new addition would provide as
much room for vehicles as the car
tracks now occupy, and would contain
an extra provision for pedestrian
traffic