The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-09-23

/ have before me the report on Chi
cago track elevation made in 1908,
which shows that there was at one
time a great deal of mileage of track
elevated, comprising 100 subways, av-
eraging seven subWays per mile of
roadbed elevated. At that time the
city standard was intended to be eight
subways per mile. Eight subways per
mile would mean distance from cen
ter to center Of subways of $50 feet.
This, it will be noted, is the distance
between the proposed subways at
Broad, Bronson and Division streets
when Lemon, Hanson and Linden
streets are closed. IF subways were
to be placed at the three last named
streets you would then have twice as
many subways per mile as the Chicago
standard calls for, and the territory
tributary to these subWays in your
city is comparatively small and
sparsely settled, while in Chicago the
territory is generally comparatively
well settled
There appears to be no controversy
about the subways from the south
limits of the city of Kenosha to South
street. Considering the proximity of
South street to Prairie avenue, and the
other features with which you are
| familiar, it does not, in my opinion,
seem necessary to place a subway at
| South street. This street at present
extends only two blocks west of the
tracks. Attention was called to the
fact that it might be opened through
into Pleasant place in the near fut-
ure. Even assuming it is opened into
Pleasant place AN examination Of the
map or of the ground will show that
| from the corner of Third street and
Pleasant place the distance to the city
| would be less by way of Park street
where subway is proposed than it
would be to go by way Of South
street. Therefore the opening up of
South street to the point mentioned
will have no bearing on the necessity
for a subway on that street.
| Passing now to the question of sub
ways in the vicinity Of the depot: I
have little to add to what has been
said at the council meeting except to
insist that in studying this matter due
consideration must be given to the
subject Of the city team track facili-
! tie sand also to the condition and i'm
portance Of the various streets with
| respect to their intended uses. It is
possible to construct subway at
Pearl street, and perhaps that is bet
ter solution than the one suggested by
us of subway at Fremont avenue.
Or perhaps the Importance Of the case
demands that subway be placed at
both points. We do not want you to
feel that we have not the best inter
ests Of the city at heart when we make
the suggestion which was offered at
your council meeting; and if it can be
shown that there is real need for a
different arrangement Of the subways
than the ones worked out by us, no
doubt the commission will be very
glad to make it's order accordingly.
Passing the subways in the vicinity
of the station, there is no further con-
troversy until Lemon street is reach
ed, and this situation has been cover
| ed in previous statements.
1t should be borne in mind that the
streets in the subways are not to be
depressed as is SO often the case in
Chicago and in other cities, but that
the surface of the street is carried
across under the tracks on practically
uniform gradients. This is of ma
terial benefit to the city.
In apportioning cost Of elimination
of grade crossings between the city
and the railway company, the commits
sion will no doubt use as a basis the
plan which will give the city as many
subways as the commission feels will
reasonably be required for its pur-
poses. It will also consider what should
be a reasonable requirement as to size
Of subways and elevation of the tracks
above existing grades; and in case the
railway company should desire conces-
sions which make the work less expen-
sive but less advantageous for the city
then the benefits of the reduced cost
should be accredited largely to the
city. Likewise, should the city desire
additional facilities in the way Of sub
way or clearances which would make
the work more expensive or which
would result in less advantageous con
ditions with respect to railway facili-
ties, then large part of such cost
should be borne by the city.
The estimate of the cost of this
work is approximately $1,500,O00. In
stating, as was done at the meeting on
September 3rd, that the commission
might apportion twenty-five per cent
of the cost against the city, it was not
my intention to intimate that any
agreement as to cost which the city
and the company might enter into
would be questioned by the commits
sion. On the other hand, the commits
sion would he very clad IN ra+;fv anxy