Morning journal and courier., 1881-08-01
Monday Morning, August I, 1881.
THE DERBY RAILROAD.

The suggestion that the terminus of the Derby railroad in this city be changed from it's present location to the Union depot has caused considerable discussion and is likely to cause much more, for it is a matter in feel deep interest. It ought to be discussed fully and fairly, and such action taken as will be best for all concerned.
 It needs no argument to show the numer- ous and great advantages of the use of com mon depot by the railroads. of city. It caves tiae and money, and does away with much that is awkward and inconvenient Union depots are g blessing to travellers an d freighters, and railroad companies find them beneficial to their interests In this city the Derby railroad is the only one which remains outside the union. It is argued by some that as it's work is chiefly local it can be done as conveniently and we'll as if its terminus here were nearer the centre of rail- road activity. It is perhaps sufficient answer to this to say that it's local work could be as well attended to at the Union depot as 1t is now, and that the work it brings to and takes from the other roads could be much more conveniently transferred than now.
 One of the strongest reasons for change, and the one which appeals to the most peo- pie, is the very dangerous character of some of the Derby railroad crossings, especially those at Custom House square and Meadow street These crossings are an obstruction to travel and menace to life and limb. They are altogether too dangerous and in- convenient now, and they will not become less so as the city keeps on growing and travel through the square and Meadow street in- creases. Something will have to be done about these crossings very soon. If the change suggested were made this problem would be solved, and those imperilled by the existing state of things would feel greatly re- ieved.
 It would, it is true, cost something to make the change, but we have the best of authori- ty for saying that the cost would not be the best railroad men in the city that the change would not prove entirely unproftable to the Derby road In this connection it may be said that it will cost something to make the crossings safe, or to pay damages, if some change is not made.
 The objection urged that the change would give the Consolidated railroad company more advantage over the Derby road than it has now seems to us fanciful., The interests of the Derby road could be just as well looked after in the Union depot as they are now It has not been found, so far as VIC know, that union depots give the powerful railroads that use them any real advantage over weaker roads that they did not possess when the de- pots were separate. How is the Consolidated railroad company going to control the Derby railroad company unjustly and against its will simply because the same depot is com mon to both
 The president of the Consolidated railroad company has declared that there is no obsta- cle on the part of the company which he | represents to an equitable arrangement for the accommodation of the Derby road at the ] Union depot. This being so, and the adyant- l ages of the change being 50 many, so great and so manifest, 1t ought to be made unless there are good and sufficient reasons against it. Such reasons have not yet been brought forward