Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-19
W|LCUS FAVORs PLAN
FOR DEPRESSING TRACKS
Expert Secured by The Times-Dis.
patch on Belt Line Situation
Submits His Views.
REVIEWS PROPOSED PLAN
Ahcr Careful Study OF Topography,
Engineer Favors Moderate Depres-
sion OF Railroad, With Slight Emil
nence Of Street ut Crossing.

'ioSSihSS mas the exclusive stamp OF
accepted usage in modern engineering
practice, according 10 Engineer Will
liam J. Wilgus, Of New York, the ex-
pert secured by The Times Dispa tc h
TO examine the West End situation and
report his views Az to the best solu-
ton OF the Bolt Line problem.
Topography and local conditions. he
holds, arc the determining factors in
debating the best plan for relief. AZ
ter making a careful study OF the
Belt Line problem In this city, he
recommends AS the best solution q.
moderate depression OF the tracks,
summarizing his findings in the fol-
lowing report: ,
December Is. 1915.
Richmond Times Dispatch. Richmond.
Va:
Gentlemen,--In accordance with your
request. ] have looked over the Belt
Line problem in your city, with view
to expressing to you my opinion OF the
relative merits OF the various plans
which have been offered for its solution.
AS an aid 10 full understanding Of
the subject. It may be we'll briefly to
outline the general situation.
REVIEWS MAIN FEATURES
OF TOPOGRAPHICAL SITUATION
To the west Of Richmond. and ideally
suited 20 tho residential expansion Of
the city. lies slightly high plateau
bounded on the north by the main line
OF the Richmond. Fredericksburg and
Potomac Railroad and on the south BY
bridge which drops abruptly TO tho
waters Of Tie James River Travcrs-
ing this plain q, right angles Is the
Belt Line Railway. which cllngs to
the surface on slightly rising gradients
from the junction with the Richmond
Frcdericks burg and Potomac Railroad
at Acca TO tho summit near Cary
street. distance OF mile or more
and thence for an equal distance sharp
~ desccnds In deep cuttings at the rate
OF thirty-two feet per mile 10 :, high
level crossing OF the James River
intcrscctiug the Belt Line Railway
are four streets. reaching TO and be-
ypnd tho city limits two az which pass
over the tracks on bridges and TWO at
grade Eight additional streets are
projected as extensions OF Richmond's
thoroughfares. of which the principal
one. Monument Avenue. il l4O feet wide
!, Will thus be seen that the Belt
Line Hallway lies directly In the path
or the city's westward expansion. ami
that The continued presence OF its
tracks on the surfac. i q menace to
public safety at The existing grade
crossings and hlock TO III. civic de
vclopment OF the city.
FUNDAMENTAL METHODS
REVIEWED N DETAIL
For the purpose OF removing this oh
stacle TO the communities growth two
fundamental methods are open for con
hpr l,. ty. No
raised so that the existing and pro
posed streets Will pass beneath them,
or th"E mag hc depressed so that the
streets VIII pass over.
Neither method can he said 70 have
the exclusive stamp Of accepted usage
in modern engineering practice. as local
conditions, such as the surrounding
topography. usually dictate the one
best suited for adoption in each par
ticUlar case. For instance, the track
elevation method has been selected in
many communities. such as Whining
ton. Chester, Philadelphia Elizabeth
and Newark on the Pennsylvania Rail
road; Albany, Schenectady and Rochcs-
ter OH the New York Central Railroad
Worcester and Springfield on the Bos-
ton and Albany Railroad and in the
city OF Chicago. illustrations Of the
rack-dcprcssion method may be found
at Baltimore Brooklyn and at the New
tons. near Boston. while the use OF
both the elevation and depression
methods Is in vogue in various sections
Of large cities like New York, Phila-
delphia, Boston. Buffalo and Detroit
Therefore. the selection of the proper
solution OF the Belt Limo problem at
Richmond need not be hampercd by adj
n 70
Local conditions alone should govern
Mention has been made OF the posi-
bility Of utilizing electric motive power
as an aid TO the working out Of a salts
factory plan. but this has been done
only In places where the enormous ex
pense has been justified by great density
Of traifc. n condition which is under
stood not to obtain in this case
Both Of the fundamental methods
thus outlined have been proposed for
the solution of this problem, the rail
road company Offering an elevation
scheme. or, in lieu thereof, moderate
depression Nof tracks known as the
Myers plan. and the city contending
for more radical depression termed
the IIankins plan.
ELEVATION SCHEME AND
IT'S OBJECTIONS
The elevation scheme contempla.es
the raising of the tracks between
I.oumor Avenue and Cary street in such
manner that the intervening thorough
fares. both existing and proposed may
dip beneath with cuttings of various
depths below the surface to afford the
required headroom of fourteen feet
The objections to this plan are: (a)
the erection Of a lofty cmbankment in
furious 10 highly attractive residen-
tial section; (b) added nuisance from
/ locomotive smoke and noise incident 10
the surrounding of the new approach
gradients; tc) the uneconomical eXpcn-
diture Of fuel for lifting trains in both
, directions over the hump thus to be
created; Cd Says in the street grades
Mt the crossings, some of which, as. for
Instance. at Grove Street, would be cx-
IRENE. and to) tho need for immediate