1907 - N. & W. Asks for Franchise

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Roanoke Times - July 19, 1907

N. & W. Asks for Franchise

  Portsmouth, O., July 18. -- The Norfolk and Western railway will 
ask the city council to grant it a franchise for laying and 
maintaining double tracks through Portsmouth.
   A right of way will be sought through the city, but some sort of a 
hitch may arise in a right of way over Gallia street. The only way 
the company can cross there with another track is to provide enough 
ground to make a street.
   The revised plans for the proposed Kendall avenue underground 
crossing may also be given a whirl. At the very last moment when the 
plans where about ready to receive council's approval, a proposition 
is made by the Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern, so 'tis reported, 
with a view to delaying matters, so some of the councilman size it up.
   The proposition is to put up a row of posts in the center and make 
the street wider than originally planned. The city would prefer a 
clear street about 32 feet wide and sidewalks on each side about 6 or 
8 feet and a 6 per cent grade. The question of cost is not exercising 
the city officials, who want the very best kind of a crossing, while 
the Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern seems disposed to cheapen 
matters. The Norfolk and Western is said to be willing to conform to 
the wishes of the city officials and has evidenced such a disposition 
all along.
   An appropriating ordinance to enable the city administration to 
carry on its work for the next six months will also be introduced and 
passed tonight.
   There was some hope that council will take action on the 
proposition to extend Greenlawn cemetery, but the street committee to 
which it was referred, announces it has no recommendations to make in 
the matter, at least not just at the present time.


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- Ron Davis, Roger Link