The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-21
MONUMENT AVENUE
CROSSING DISCUSSED
r. r. Il r. Willing sso Do Any Reason
nAse Tssanx ro Sessir Question TO
General Satisfaction

The Street Committee held a
l<axEhy session yesterday evening tc
<HnSa&ss- The yrogos-ien OF street
c~m4Masax a. tie Belt Line tracks. on
tA& rSs1se proposed for the extension
~ Nn14 meat Avenue.
AeS-es@1tatzvex q ire Richrnond.
Freae-2rxs burg and Potomac Railroad
Iernp2n. we're presel.t. and various
x1rxt<ns were or hand Ia take part in
And AsAr the discussion
City Engineer Boiling submitted
psAE 81 whaeh the street at the point
refexrEa 10 eoalG he depressed. thus
r&xHsstsng the railroad tracks to go
nFer yhs street. and retaining the
property values al that point
Thfs plan was discussed a. length,
heinw opposed ssrenaously by Alder
tnan Fuller. who proposes grade
rroaesng tenn porariiy. with perma-
n<ns crossing 10 come later. when the
railroad lie 70 depre.s It's tracks, Civ
fnK the street the same grade level
which i. now has
Company Accepts Plan.
Eppa Hunson, representing the rail-
road company as counsel stated that
the plan az proposed by the City Ensi-
neer suited the company. He said the
company, IL the city adopted the plan
~ proposed. would at once rearranEe
its tracks and have the crossing ready
long before the extension Of Monu-
ment Avenue. as proposed, became an
actually.
POSE a grade crossing for obvious rea-
soma Such q crossing, said Mr., Hun
ton, would endanger not only persons
wOiYg along the street hut would en-
danger trains and passengers. and for
HAT reason the company would not
agree TO a grade crossing
In reply to n question, he said the
company wished to cooperate with
the city In every move toward safety
0rst, and even though the plan under
dibcuesion might not he agreed upon
fhe company would consider any other
plan, one providing for depressed
truck, IL necessary, II 1t were reason
Abse from economic and engineering
standpofnts.
Gives Views In Writing.
President W II. White reiterated
what had been said by Mr.. Hurton.
He gave his views in writing, $40 he
sid. there can be no mistake in the
I skatement.' Here is what President
Pree1dent Whites Statement.
ssnentlemen OF the Committee:
THAT there may be no nisunder-
standing AS to what ! am willing to
submit TO the directors OF my COM
pany, Wall read what I have TO say
First. II must be understood that
t41s company does not oppose the pro-
pOeed extension OF Monument Avenue
from its present terminus at Rose
meath Road TO the Horse-Pen Road.
- 4 general proposition. but II does
oppose the crossing OF the tracks OF
the James River Branch. or Belt Line,
~ grade, because such crossing would
expose the life and limb Of citizens TO
certain danger The statistics furnish
~ ~ the Interstate Commerce Com
antngion show that between 1903 and
&1t11. crossing Casualties Increased
~ Per cent. due largely. II not main
~. 70 the increased use OF automobiles
In Virginia. licenses for automobiles
have Increased in four years from g.
80 70 over 10000.
Second. 1t will cooperate with the
city In having said avenue, and such
other streets as may be projected
Scr0ss it, line by undergrade roadways
for vehicles and pedestrians. az set
put IN the plan prepared by the City
Engineers ONCE. and now before You
and will bear It's legal and equitable
proportion of the cost Of such crossing
or crossings
Third II will commence and con-
right Of the way to carry Monument
Avenue under II, a. soon as the city
tA6 agreed with the railroad CON-
apnny on the plans made by the Engt-
Ino1r's once for such undergrade cross
Ang OF DAid Avenue. and also agrees
W5th tho railroad company that such
se&heF avenues or streets ~ may from
tlnAN 70 time be projected across this
right OF way shall be by
=6Sa@A AHdergFada ernxS!axs,- except
45Fuye Avenue and Main Street which,
~ reason of the topography OF the
.MpprDaGhes. make overhead crossings
nth moro practical and economical"
Fuller Questions Motive.
Mr.. PrIier asked why the company
sMAs so anxious 10 avoid grade cross
fnga II the Belt Line, when II was
nov summing trains along P~oad Street /
md Belvidere Street, In tire heart oil
the city, without even guard All
s4be rs-<xinss after midnight
sa Two wears ago" said Mr. Fuli.r,
when the discussion was up con-
n 1nIne the removal Of the tracks,
saS0M Broad and Beludere Streets, |
n1s1 - company had promised 20
He6AGy the evil. and erect q grand |
i ontsAI station on West Broad Street, |
nMrs N1s no such xympathstic fesi-
- ~ citisens displayed. And there
SN<42 tn1n moi hing Vhatnaenr Annn 70