Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-04-11
CITY AND B. & 0. REACH AGREEMENT ON
SUBWAY UNDER QUEEN STREET CROSSING;
CITY AGREES TO PAY $4,000 MAXIMUM


way, for the railroad, providing
tor the erection OF a subway UNI
der the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad tracks on North Queen
street, and providing for the pay
ment by the City of not moro
than $685. on the total cost.
The agreement was reached after
lengthy negotiations between the
! City and tho railroad, including in
PRODUCTION OF bill amending the
charter of the City to compel the
railroad to put In the subway Mt its
own cost entirely. Representatives
OF the railroad were in Martnsburg
on Thursday last and went over the
situation. at which time the matter
of signing an agreement was left
open until Saturday afternoon. On
Friday evening Attorney J. O. Hen
son was advised that the company
was ready to sign. and Mr.. Henson
and City Engineer Sparrow then
went to Baltimore on Saturday TO
conclude the agreement and 1t was
then signed by Mr.. Galloway. A
special meeting OF the Council was
| Htlu tutb lilbl uIHEf ahttiiNCh ny \pNh7
cilmen Butts, Worthing Barr and
Cline. and the ordinance authorizing
execution OF the contract for the City
was completed
Levy For Extra Money.
The bill which was introduced will
new be amended, It was stated this
morning. striking out tho reference
| TO the erection of the subway. and
made to provide five cent levy an
nually by the City for funds which
Will be used to maintain bridges
within the city limits and also pro-
vide the $4,000 which will be re-
quired of the City over and above
the $4,000 originally provided in the
bond issue to pay the 35 per cent
of the cost of excavation for an ex-
ira two per cent grade cut north OF
the subway and for an additional
width to the subway, the original ba.
sis for distributing the cost being IS
per cent for the city and 65 per cent
for the railroad. The levy OF five
cents per year is expected to raise
about $500 annually. and there will
he. IL was pointed out, three years
before the City Will have to pay for
its share of the subway construction,
which will give time for the accum
ulation OF more than $4,000 In the
fund Some of this will be applied
to repairing or rebuilding bridges
within the city limits. The $4,000
extra cost limit was placed In tho
contract as safeguard. It waa said
city Engineer Sparrow is OF the opin-
ion that the City's 50 per cent share
will not he $4,000 but that figure
was set as the limit
May Begin Next Summer. i
II was minated this morning 1t
the meeting that the prospect. for
doing the work next summer instead
Of during 1923 are bright, the rail-
road anticipating that costs may bsl
at low level at that time. The
company was given the two year
limit. however. Originally it was
proposed 10 require the start OF work
within eighteen months, but at the
conference 1t was pointed out that
such clause would mean the begin
ming OF work at the beginning OF win
ter during which time the work
could not he completed and the traf-
fc would not have the use Of the
street.
There is a possibility that the rail-.
road company may ask for an over-
head bridge instead OF a subway be-
fore the work is started. but se1ec-
lion Of such n bridge is optional with
the Council Tho possibility OF an
hut al, al
this time by reason or the fact that
structural steel is now cheaper rela-
lively than cement for subway work.
while cement was cheaper when tho
first plans we're drawn.
Details OF the Plans
The cid plan for the subway re-
qured a 2i.foot roadway. with ons
6-foot sidewalk, and 2-foot path for
columns. making total width of 20
feet. the City to pay $4,000 when the
work was completed. The new plan
embodied in the agreement this
morning. requires n 24-foot road way
clear. two 5-fo0t sidewalks. one on
either side clear of columns, which
are 10 be placed on the curb, making
a total width OF SO feet. with a clear
opening of IA feet by 38 feet. Pro-
vision is made for Maple avenue ex-
tendc dto Join the south approach 10
he subway. and also an exit for the
coal ward AZ that point; the road
way OF Liberty street TO join 1S-
roadway leading north on Queen
street and at the present Queen
street grade and to Join the north
approach 10 the subway. and The
south sidewalk ri Liberty street To
have steps down 10 the subway grade.
The grade Of the south approach IL
10 be a 6 foot depression per 100 feet.
and the north approach a foot de-
preston per loo feet
The work Is to begin not later
than March !, 1923. and to be conn
pleted by January I, 1924, The e.
tailed plans OF the work are subject
to The approval of the City
The clauses In the formal agree
ment referring to the specificationa
and methods Of payment are as FOL.
lows
l. Said undcrprade crossing
and approaches On Queen street
shall he constructed as shown
upon =. 4 o Drawing No. .
a copy OF which shall be filed
N the office OF the recorder %