Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-07-06
A KICK IN EARN EST.

Made by tho Citizens Against the Little
Miami-The Latest Move of the Corpora
tion-Protsst Of the Citizens - Small
Chance of Success for tho Company.
1t looks now very much as though the pc
titicn Of the p, G. l. st. l.. Railway Co. to
lay another track across Market street, would
get hardly a favorable vote in Council to-
morrow night. This seems to be the last hair
that has broken the patience Of the citizens on
Market and jefferson streets, and the growing
indignation, cherished and increased by the
CORPORATION, has bnrsted forth in all its ylo-
lcncc. The following petition will be pre-
sented to Council tomorrow night
To the Honorable city Council Of springfield:
The undersigned property owners and tax
payers of said city respectfully petition your
honorable body not to give consent to the p.
G. l. st. l.. or other railroad companies to lay
any additional tracks across Market street.
Said company has actually, without any
authority therefore taken possession OF the
whole OF Jefferson street and contrary to the
public interests h, converted the same into
railroad yard where their trains are con-
s,an,ly switched back aud forth across
Market street to the great detriment and con-
stan,ly increasing danger of all persons at
tempting to cross from tine North to the
South side OF the city. They now
propose to cut down Marke, street
and lay additional tracks TO the damage
Of every property owner on South Market
street and to the great Inconvenience Of
everyone dwelling south OF the railroads.
1t is strange il our city council will allow n
wealthy corporation whose machinery il
owned at Philadelphia and Pitlsburg, IN
another state, in order to save little money
n the purchase of little railroad yard else
where to literally rob it's own citizens of their
vested rights.
IL is quite evident that the present is but
| one ui a series OF encroachmen,s which will
be insisted upon hereafter by the Railroad
Company, as the city and its traffic grows
when their present quarters become
too limited for the transaction OF
their business; and we assert ths,
this improvement, if allowed, will inev.
itably result in the practical destruction of
the avenue adjoining Jefferson street on the
South, laid out by Mr.. Fassler and others, a1d
rendered necessary by the previous occupying
by the Rail Road company of Jefferson street
The petition bears already over l3s
names and will probably have so more at
tached before tomorrow night.
The history of the alleged enroachments 0
this corporation on the rights of the property
owners, is too long and tedious for publica
ton here. Away back thirty years age
when the town was young the citizens, il
their eagerness to have the road through
granted them permission to lay
track on jefferson street, AM
mainly through the efforts of Mr.. William
Whiteley, raised a subscription Of over SIS,
900 to help them buy in the property whicl
they now own between Market and Lime
stone streets. Since that time the company
has converted Jefferson street into regulal
yard, and now have six tracks running acros
Market street. Ten years ago Jerome Fass
Ter and William n. Whiteley set back tn,
fence far enough to give a roadway along
Jtflerson street; and Clokey and Ramsay
owning the rest Of the property on thi
square, soon followed their example. Tn,
scheme which the railroad now proposes is t
lay curved track running across the corne
of Market and Jefferson streets, anC
striking the east side OF Market about thirty
feet above the point where their tracks now
lay, and running In to the turntsble in from
OF the new round-house they are now build
ing. To do this they will have TO cut dowr
Market street about two feet, which, unles
they grade the whole street, will cause a sud
den pitch onto the tracks from the south side
The petition asking for this was presented Il
Council foureweeks ago, and special com
mittee, consisting OF Messrs. Mas,
Johnson, Conklin, Thomas and Kid
der were appointed to con
slider it. On June 23 this committee me
the railroad officials, James McCrea, Gen
Manager, MI Besker, Mechanical Engineer AN
Ralph Peters, Division Superintendent, t
look over the ground. The officials made tn
oft repeated promise of II handsome ne,
depot, new freight house, new roundhous,
ETC., all OF which influenced the committc
very little as they have been made an
broken on almost every occasion, when tn
company wanted to lay new track or 9 Dbl
up any other advantage TO which 1t bad n
right. The citizens Of the vicinity h,y- lhei
own opinion about such improvements as III
new roundhouse now in the urse of cor
s,ruction which, they say. will be an eyesor
in the center Of the city and will decrease h
value Of the surrounding property iror
thirty to sixty per cent. accordin
TO its proximity. None OF III
Couucil Committee are in favor Of gran,in
the company'srquest except Mr.Will Thoma
and South Market street will wait on him th
evening and try to win him over so as
have unanimous report against the corpor'
; tlon tomorrow night.
The thing causing m1st indignation in th
connection IS the habit which the yard me
| have of makfng running switches aero
Market street, that is, sendiag detached ca,
down on one or more tracks, while at Il
same time the engine crosses on another.
--------
, Mr.. and Mrs. Jas. Harter, Of Wsshin ,,oi
Pa, spent the 4th with Mr.. and Mrs. +.
Shider, OF So. Factory street.