The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-17
STREET COMMITTEE
MAY IGNORE COMPANY
Report On Belt Lane Depression to
he Forwarded to Council This
Afternoon.
EXPENSE is CoNTENTIO
President White Insists City Must Pay
Portion OF Cost of Work--City At
torney Dtssents From That
Wow.

The Council Committee on Streets
will meet at 5 o'clock this afternoon
to consider the Belt Line Railroad
proposition
Assistant City Engineer Hankins
will have his plan for the depres-
sion of the tracks of the line from
Acca to the river. and will present his
outlay of street extensions from the
old corporation line across the Belt
Line into the county. Engineer Han
kins has completed his survey. This
will take in not only Monument Ave-
nue., but ell other thoroughfares ex-
tending westwardly.
- The city and railroad company
have gotten together on the proposed
depression. This plan will elevate
Monument Avenue about three feet
above the present grade. 1t will de-
press the railroad tracks about thir-
teen feet.
----- Question as 10 Cost.
Bat the bone of contention at the
meeting this afternoon will be respon-
sibiiity for the cost Of construction
The City Attorney has given a tenta-
tive opinion that the railroad COM
pany will be compelled to pay the
entire cost. The company. through
its president, william II. White, will
insist that the city share the cost
Mr.. White suggests that half the cost
OF the work, within 900 feet OF the
track on either side be assumed by
the city, and that the city pay the
whole cost of any work beyond thai
point.
t. VA 10
that the city will not agree to thit
proposition, but that 1t will insist
that the company pay all the expense
1t was said yesterday that II the COM
pany insists upon its contention, the
committee will proceed with the for
mutation OF its report to Council
recommending that work be proceed
ed with at once. and that the grades
be fixed along the territory extending
to any beyond the Belt Line. IL the
company makes objection, no atten-
tion, II IL said, will be paid to that
but that after the grades have been
fixed, in accordance with the plans
suggested by Engineer Hankins, the
company will be required to either
remove Its tracks alt <gether, or to
comply with the requirements OF the
city plans.
willing TO Cooperate.
At q recent meeting or the commlt-
tee. Mr.. White stated that his COM
pany would be glad to cooperate with
the city In anything reasonable, but
Il would not be willing to assume the
entire expenses Of the proposed I'm
provements and extensions.
City Attorney Pollard. who has
been confined to his home for several
days. was reported much improved
last night, and. weather conditions
permitting, win be at the meeting OF
the committee this afternoon.
No one has been chosen to take
the place Of Chairman Pollock, OF
the committee. He retired from
Council last week. No one has been
named for his place as representa-
tive from Madison Ward. The dele
ration will hardly be able to select
q successor before the meeting today.
several names have been suggested.
Including John b. Biiley. Alexander
3irchett, George ~. Cease and John
". Moore. All Of these except Mr..
Birchett have served in Council here
tofore. II IL thought the chairman
ship OF the committee will fall upon
either Alderman Fuller or Alderman
EowAr1 #&