The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-01

the city engineers department will
not be interfered with to any nate
rial extent.
As to Right Of Way.
ut has been doubted by the on.
Gals of the r., +. & p. r. r. Com
pany whether a four-track belt line
could be constructed within an 80-foot
right OF way in cut as deep as the
one proposed at the Monument Ave-
nue. crossing. In this connection il
must be borne in mind that the So
foot right OF way extends northward-
nv from Grove Avenue to a point mort a
of Broad Street, and that two-th!rds
of the land outside of this railro
right OF way is probably owned or
controlled by the r., r. & p. Rail-
road Company, which fact should en-
tirely eliminate a question OF this
Kind IT. the railroad company are AZ
anxious as they pretend to be in the
proper solution OF this problem
The chief engineer of the r.. r.
& p. Il. X. Company doubts the prac-
ticability of executing the work UNI
der the Hankins plan and nainta in :
Ing traffic, 1t Is but necessary To
refer to the fact that this same rail-
road company, with an existing track
,on heavy grades and stiff curves, re-
rebuilt and double-track-
ed their line. including most OF It's
bridges. from Richmond to Washing
ton and maintained traffic and pas
,senger schedules during its entire con-
struction. 1t Is also proper to note
that the Norfolk and Western Rail-
way Company. with its immense coal
tonnage and regular passenger traffic.
maintained its passenger schedule and
transported every pound Of freight
while its track was being lowered.
raised and double-traeked the en-
tire distance from point near Pc
tershurg to Norfolk, Va. Likewise the
-double-tracking of the Coast Line from
Richmond southwardly was completed
and traffic maintained. as we'll as num-
erous sections of the G. d o. Rail-
way through the mountains in very
heavy work. compared 10 which the
present Belt Line work would Vbe
hardly childs play. ~
The counsel for the railroad COM
pany insists that all permanent struc-
lures should be so constructed as to
admit OF a four-track line. and at the
same time the statement is made by
the president of the railroad company
that, although the present single track
James River bridge has to be re-
placed. only a double track structure
will be substitute.
Could Not Consider Depressing
Streets.
The depressing of the streets be-
meath the railroad tracks. as proposed
by the railroad company. Is hardly
TO be considered a proper solution of
this question on account OF the to-
Biography OF the territory. which makes
IL extremely inadvisable TO lower the
surface Of the streets below the sur
. fA- -
reason would suggest the building of
the streets on an embankment and
above the surrounding territory. which
IS possible in the track depression
plan The 14-foot vertical clearance
which the railroad company proposes
to furnish for the streets passing un-
derneath their tracks. Is hardly suf
tsstertr ag present tsndguCEis 70
still further increase the heighth of
suth vehicles as moving vans and
vehicles for the transportation OF
light matter.
THE Hawking plan does not require
the entire expenditures Of the money
estimated in his probable cost OF con-
struction. but only makes it necessary
to complete the depressing OF the Belt
Line tracks to his grade and the con-
struction at the present time OF one
bridge at Monument Avenue, and an
additional bridge when traffic de-
fnands the same. Likewise the bridges
over the remaining streets may be
constructed through period Of time
for at least ten years. unless this
territory Unexpectedly develops within
the next few years.
Under the Hankins plan it must
be borne in mind that there is a uni
form descending grade from the "Y''
at Acca 10 the north end Of the James
River Bridge, which will undoubtedly
facilitate and make easier the moving
Of heavily loaded trains than ii is
possible TO do over the present broken
and choppy grades. The traffic NOV
ing north will do so from a very slight
ascending grade as far as Monument
Avenue and from Monument Avenue
T. the " at Acca over a per cent
grade. Under the plan as proposed
by the railroad company there will
re an ascending grade from Acca with
the summit near Monument Avenue,
and also descending grade Of about
the corresponding gradient from Mon
umeut Avenue to the James River
Bridge so that trains moving over the
grade as proposed by the railroad
company will be confronted from
either the north or the south with a
very much greater grade than that
proposed unuRt the fthnkinS plan. and
as this grade will reach its highest
point at ar near Monument Avenue,
any engine Will more than likely have
TO cross Monument Avenue under a
taill head of steam with accompany
ing clouds of smoke. thereby creating
a nuisance in the most select portion
of kiChmond's West End.
As To Future Nuisance.
II has been suggested by the chiet
engineer Of the railroad company
for the elevation OF the belt line
tracks would "a some extent mitigate
The smoke nuisance and be less OBJ
sectional bic than when trains were op-
Grating in a deep cut. In this con
nect;on IL should not be lost sight
of that the probs hilities are that
within very short time all trains
operating through populated cities will
be- operated by electricity and the
smoke nuisance entirely abated
IL Monument Avenue In time is
TO he smooth paved with any kind
of asphalt pavement il will be ex-
tremeiy inadvtsahle to lay pavement
of this kind beneath any overhead
bridges that will cross Monument Ave-
nue. or-other streets. as these bridges
t,xx An ~ta Il