The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-10-07

tempt. Now, whether Chicago de-
spises the cholera or vice versa. makes
little difference, so that they keep
apart, which they are lik..y to do
A notable example has been set by
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific rail
road which, it is to be hoped, all the
other roads will follow as speedily IS
possible. That company has decided
to move its freight yards out OF the
city and locate them at Blue Island,
! about sixteen miles from the court
house. Chicago is Outgrowing the style
I that may be permitted in towns OF
/ lesser size. of having the railroads run
into the heart of the city at grade and
doing their switching there. Hundreds
of acres are covered with freight yards.
streets are intersected. traffic is
blocked and life and property endan-
gered by the moving cars Along Canal
street are the yards of the Chicago.
Burlington s Quincy. Panhandle. Fort
Wayne, Milwaukee & st. Paul. their
freight yards further west and north
west: on the North side Is the North
western: on the South side the Lake
Shore, Rock Island, Erie. Grand Trunk.
MonOn. Eastern Illinois and other roads.
all occupying ground that is worth
millions Of dollars. Cars are brought
in there for switching that are loaded
with through freight, the yards are
crowded and the traffic of the roads
themselves is h2mpered. Some tried
to overcome the evil by locating their
yards at points six or seven miles from
the center OF the city. But the city has
absorbed these points. and they are no
onger suburbs. but part of the city
proper Agitation has been in progress
for some time, and at last beginning
Is made to relieve the city If the plan
is generally carried out the tracks
leading to the heart of the city will be
left entirely to passenger trains and
local freight traffic.
Another great advantage will be that
the grade crossings will lose much of
the danger that now attaches to them.
Hundreds of people are annually killed
and manned at these crossings. Ii the I
traffic is reduced it will be possible to I.
regulate them better.
have often wondered why men are /.
not put at these crossings who are ca
pablo of attending to the business. Ii
seems to be sort of pension u be sta
toned Al 4 crossing 20 watch the trains
and operate the signal bells and gates
Men who are too old for any other ac-
tive work or are disabled in the service .
are stationed at these places which re .
quire constant vigilance and quick
Judgment, and for the most part these F.
men seem to spend their time sleeping.
Ii i quite 4 common thing to hear
the gong when the train Is within two
hundred feet Of the crossing. aud the
gate will come down Just Is the train
has passed. The gates appear to 90 as
much harm as good the way they are
handled Then. again. the hagmcn re-
member that il Is the railroad that
pays them. and they consider the bust
ness Of their road as more important
than all other business. Rather than
hold train a minute or two they will
keep street cars and wagons and hun
ireds of pedestrians waiting for FIVE or
ZEN minutes at time. Why SHOULD
Tot the city appoint these raen and
,narge their salaries TO the railroad
companies?
Public sentiment Is growing stronger
IN such points. Ten years ago the
illinois Central could do - it pleased
IlOn- the lake front. To-day it has
made the concession OF elevating its
racks in the southern part of the city
md it keeps the tracks off the Lake
'ark free from cars during the day. Il
5 no: so almighty as It was ten years
go. Some years more and public
ointment Will exact greater conceS-
ions until Chicago gets access to Lake
Michigan, to which il Is entitled
H. L. o. IIEINEMANN.