Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-04-01
COUNCIL INFORMED
OF PROGRESS MADE
TOWARDS A SUBWAY
Agreement F0reSeen - Bill
Still Before Committee.

Mayor Seibert and Delegate
Downs last night reported 10 the
City Council on negotiations now
under way with the Baltimore and
Ohio representative at Charleston
relative to positive agreement for
the construction of subway under
the railroad on North Queen street.
The matter. which is the subject
OF bill now before a committee OF
the legislature, was heard first of
last week, and there will be anoth-
or aud final hearing on April 9Th,
at which the question OF forwarding
the bill will be determined. 1t was
reported last night, however, that
there was good prospect for an
agreement between the City and the
y. and O. without the use OF the
bill, which would put the entire cost
on the railroad Positive negotia-
lions, direct with the railroad rep
resentatives and now down to the
point OF details as to time and con
struction and measurements. are nm
der way, il was said and there ap-
pears no now wide divergence. Yes
terday afternoon the Council and en-
gineering staff went over the ground
covered In the plans, which had
previously been gone over by b, d
O engineers.
Present plans, which are subject
! to alterations, provide for eonstruc'
I ton which will. IL is estimated, cost
approximately 100000, OF which the
city will pay $4,000, provided in the
bond issue in 1917. The remainder
would be borne by the railroad. The
probability is that the agreement, as
ii looks now, would not obligate the
railroad TO begin work before cigh'
teen months. the City making this
concession in return for SPECIFIC
agreement to have the work done
ut some time, and agreeing on plans
A twolevel exit at the northern end
OF the subway Is being considered
one level being that on Queen street
which would he Joined by another
street leading to Liberty street, the
two coming together above the X.
T.. Snodgrass store. The City Is in
sisting upon a width OF "a feet for
the main driveway on Queen street
nanked on either side by a iive.foot
sidewalk; while the street leading
10 Liberty will probably be l6 feet
wide with a sidewalk on either side
The actual subway work would be
done by the railroad company, the
city, on the other hand, agreeing to
nave the surfaces. A retaining wall
would be built at the western head
of Liberty street where it runs into
Queen on the upper level. and this
wall would conduct the traffic north
ward and southwark on the upper
level, so that traffic coming from
Liberty street and headed for the
uptown business section would 20
northward on Liberty for short
distance on the upper level then
turn to the left at the junction OF
the two levels and come southwark
on Queen on the lower leyel
The City is aiming for a signed
agreement at this time and is not
disposed TO push the railroad com
pany unduly into operations which
would be too burdensome at this
time At the same time the City is
paving close attention TO details as
TO the width OF streets, looking ahead
TO future traffic requirements, and
providing for satisfactory construc-
ton when the time FOR operations
comes.
Mayor Seibert returned 10 Char
lesion today to watch the progress