The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-17
FEARS
Dominate the Grade
Crossing
COMMISSIONER
AnotherConferenceF ollowed
by Fruitless Meeting.

crossing commission went TO Boston
yesterday, and a meeting of the COM
mission was held in the common coun-
Gil chamber yesterday afternoon, be-
ginning at 3 o'clock.
James Logan made the report for the
committee He said the committee
I from Worcester had seen President
William H. Bliss of the Boston and
I Albany and President LuciUs Tut
( tie OF the Boston and Maine rail-
road The interview in each instance
+ was very short. Mr.. Logan said, and
nothing came of l. Neither railroad
president would show his hand.
The committee refused to tell what
position the city will take. The COM
mittee endeayored TO obtain some sug-
gestion from the railroad magnates as
TO what line they have been following
and what plans might be in their
minds.
The railroad presidents. however, re-
fused TO commit themselves in any
way. Az the committee expressed IL.
they were good listeners" So the
committee returned, having accom-
plished nothing, and reported that fact
to the body which has done about the
same amount OF work inJmany months.
The commission spent the remainder
OF the time in discussing schemes 10
spring on the railroads. The commits
sioners have dealt with the legal as
pect of the problem until they are quite
familiar with it, although they have
considerable 10 learn on the problem
itself. Members of the commission
have learned with surprise that Mill
brook can be lowered to any appreci-
able extent. When they ascertained
yesterday that the stream can be low
cred 20 feet north Of the dam at the
Vail place on Union street, their eyes
bulged out.
The commissioners have several pet
schemes to attempt. 1t has been stated
in the commission that the railroads
viii not consent TO a change Of loca-
ton under any consideration. and the
law is so framed that they cannot be
| forced TO accept a new route. A una
nlmous vote of the board of directors
is required by the rules of the rail-
roads themselves before a change of
location will be accepted. Lacking a
unanimous vote, the railroad commits
sioners could force change of loea-
ton, but with the power the roads car
bring to bear, there is no hope for such
a decision. Knowing this fact, the COM
lnissioners have told themselves fire.
quently that there is no chance for the
round-the-city plan being adopted BY
the railroads. and the commissioners
by urging this plan on the railroads
which they have done, hope TO effect a
compromise.
Members of the commission say this
committee which has visited the rail
! road officials in their Offices in Boston
| nave not given the railroad officials
4 any definite Information regarding the
plans Of the city. Neither have they
received any information from the rail
road officials, SO that the visits as
pumping expeditions were a failure or
! both sides
1t was said last evening that tht
members of the commission have hint
ed at the possibility Of laying one rail
road against the other. For the com.
I mission has considered only two rail.
/ roads-the Boston and Maine. which il
| considers the most powerful. and the
1 Boston and Albany. which viii be the
most affected. The idea Of playing one
railroad against the other is to accent
j any plan suggested by one road. in or.
i der to get the plan which is considered
+ best in the abolition of the grade cross
/ ings of the other road. A member Of
the commission when asked concernine
this scheme last evening, replied thai
the commission has done nothing o.
which the members should fee
ashamed.
Ten days is the time limit which
members of the commission set fol
their readiness to report to the city
council. They say there will be M
further conferences between city off
Gals and these of the railroads. They
1 can't get report ready for the meet
lug OF the city council Monday evening
but by the middle OF next week will
nave their minds made up. They sa!
they don't know themselves. whethe
, they will recommend any one plan. Tn,
sentiment of the meeting last evenins
was to submit the several plans which
they have been considering to the cit,
council and let it decide. The fou
plans are the new route, depressed
tracks, elevated tracks and combina
ton plan, which means depresse,
: tracks in some places and elevated il
others. No vote to bind the commits
sion 10 any one plan has been taken
The members have expressed them
selves individually, however. and a ma
y jority are in favor Of the depressed
tracks plan. but they are afraid t.
even suggest that plan to the railroa,
; companies.
Without knowing that Millhrool
could b lowered 20 feet north of tn
Vail dam and IA feet under the rail
. road tracks near Grafton street tn
commissioners favor the depressed
tracks plan. but fear to urge it. Tn
decree Of the superior court whicl
hang over the city scares the commits
sioners more than the shadow Of
hawk does q brood of chickens. The,
? fear the railroad will not agree on tina
f plan because it Is so costly The plal
viii necassitate lowering Milbrool
from Cambridge street north, and tn
commissioners say the railroads vii
not pay their share of that work whicl
! is so much benefit to the city. The,
also fear the state. They say the stat
viii not nay 80 per cent of the tote
r cost if nlan is adopted which i
f costly We have our doubts abou
4 the rural members Of the legislator
voting &c pay 50 per cent of the stat
funds for the abolition Of grade cross
: ings in Worcester" said a member Of tn
commission last crsning THE prob
lem IL Worcester is greater than in an,
other city, and may be the members o
the legislature from farmer district
won't care 6 great deal about helpinj
, Worcester
The commissioners fear everythin,
! and everybody connected with tn,
. grade crossing question, except tn,
city of Worcester and the men of Wor
, cester more interested in the success
ful solution of the problem than an!
member OF the commission is from
financial standpoint at east.
manufacturers nave no standing IL
the law said a member in speaking
Of the new route plan when il wa;
suggested to him that the commission
would wipe Worcester as it is from
the map The people of Worcester
must remember the railroads are in
terested in this problem. and the pc.
sition Of Worcester is like a PERSONS
head in the lions mouth" said another
They speak of the power OF the rail-
road in the third house to show that
Worcester will have TO adopt whatever
nlan is agreeable TO the railroada