The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-01
Points Out Numerous Object
tons to Carrying Streets Up
Grade By Bridges Proposed
DRAINAGE SECURED;
SEWERS UNDESTURBED
Engineer Member of Admins
trative Board Supports Plan
Submitted By City En-
gineer's Office

Due 10 the great interest being mani
tested in the proposition OF opening
UP the roadwnys leading out from the
city in a westerly direction, passing
over the Bell Line hallway tracks.
and with the anticipated action OF
the Street cofnmittee. at its meeting
next Tuesday might, Commissioner
Henry Beck, sngineer member OF the
Administrative Board. having fully
studied all the plans proposed, ex-
presses himself As favorable TO the
plan as presented the Street Commit
tee by the city engineer, as suggested
BY the Administrative Board.
AT the meeting OF the committee
Monday afterueof, tails plan, together
with on submitted By the railroad com
pany. received much attention. After
explanation aud discussion. the whole
question was Iaid over to next Tues
day, at which time The city attorney
Will advise the committee as to the
rights and pFeFogatIyes o, the city IN
the matter
Mr.. Beck liz FIRMLY convinced that q
depressed track should he insisted
upon That an overhead track would
tend 10 damage property interests as
we'll rs defaces this appearance OF the
avenues and streets over which
the road may cross. In his contention.
bearing out his approval Of the plan
as submitted by the city engineer. Mr.
Beck SAYS.
Mr.. Rerk's Statement.
The depressing OF the Belt Line
tracks TO a depth OF approximately
twenty feet between Grove Avenue and
Broad street. will preclude the CON
struction of any additional sidetraeks.
storage yards. coal yards. etc, within
this section except ut very great
cost, and TO that extent liz desira BILE
in that II will force the essabiishrraans
OF shops, factories. coal ana storage
Yards in that seetion north of Broad
Street where enterprises OF this kind
can he located without detrtment to
the surrounding property and without
Inconvenience to any residential sec
ton,
The plan presented by the r. r &
p, Railway Company for the elevation
Of their tracks so that they can cross
the streets between Loumor Avenue
and Cary street overhead is objection
able to this respect. namely, that
while the brides proposed to be erect
ed provide for four tracks, there is
nothing that VIII prohibit the extend
ing Of the bridges over the streets
by the construction OF additional
tracks and sidings. thereby further
the street surface below them. As the
sdetracks are rarely ever used for
anything except the storage of box
cars. II can readily be seen that the
horizon in Monument Avenue and other
streets would be in time ohscured by
unsightiy freight cars
As to Prices.
The unit prices named for the va
rious classes of work in the Hawkins
proposition are more than verified by
current contract prices for similar
classes of work in this immediate sec
ton and by the further fact that let
ters viii be presented to the Street
Committee from very responsible con-
tractors offering and guaranteeing to
do this work at prices not in ex-
cess of the Hanllins figures
1t must be borne in mind that
while the total cost of the work ri.
outlined by the Hankins plan is ss5i,-
100000, yet this work can be reduced
by about stooooooo IL the r., F. 4
r. r. r. Company accepts the modified
grade for the railroad tracks through
the cut Immediately north Of the James