The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-04-26

Dingle Street since the Northwestern
track was laid can deny.
The Northwestern track does en-
croach upoa the right of way heretofore
granted the Sumter & WateFee K Il
This has been disputed. but the denial
cannot be made good in the face OF the
facts. The Sumter & Wateree was
granted twenty feet on the south side
of Dingle street and guaranteed, as the
minutes of oouncil will show, the right
to cross Main Street and Manning Ave
nue.. The Northwestern track crosses
Main Street at the exact point and the
only point that the Sumter & Waterse
could cross it. The Sumter 4 Wateree
r. r. has the undispu,ed right to full
twenty feet on the south side Of DiDgle
Street. The track of the Nortn western
R. r. is so laid that the raj! on the
south side Of the track comes within an
inch of the twenty foot line; therefore
the ends of the csoss.ties Of the North.
western are on the right OF way OF the
Sumter& Watesee. In laying the track
the Northwestern has made 10 allow
anoe for the overhsng Of the oars-a
passenger coach is more than ten feet 10
width-and consequently if the track
remaias where it is, it will be im-
possible for the Sumter & Wateree to
make use OF its right OF way up to the
twenty foot line, even though allowance
was made for the overhang OF the cars
and sbe projection of the cross ties 10
laying the track. In laying parallel
tracks of railroad the regulations, recog-
nized by all railroad men. prescribe
that there shall be clearance OF three
feet between tracks, in order that, when
necessary mso may pass IN safety
between cars standing or moving on
these parallel tracks. No such clearance
vas left in laying the Northwestern
track through Dipgle Street. 1t was
stated before ,ouncil fiat the rail of the
Northwestern R. 4. was laid within an
inch of the right Of way Of the Sumter
& Wateree.
II the City Council requires the
Northwestern Railroad to move tine
track in Dingle Street, so that there
shall be no encroachment upon the
twenty foot right of way of the
Sumter & Wateree Railroad and to
leave also the clearance between the
tracks essential to the safety of traffic
on the TIVE parallel tracke. the street
will be entirely closed to vehicles,
for actual measurement shows that
the track of the Northwestern Rail
road must be moved FIVE and one
half feet toward the north side of the
street from its present location
When this has been done there will
not remain .'ample and sufficient
room for the free use of the
street by pedestrians aud We
hicles," and this was one OF
the conditions attached to the
grant to the Northwestern Railroad
In figures the condition of the street
will be about as follows 20 feet oD
south side Of steet for the Sum.
ter & Wateree right of way, 10
feet for right Of way for Northwest
ern Railroad (this being necessary as o
passenger Car is fraction more than
10 feet in widsh} feet for clearance
between tracks, total, 3S feet on
south side of street occupied by the
two railroads on north side of street
the sidewalk occupies 10 feet the
street is fifty feet wide, consequently
there is lef. abou! feet for the free
use of vehicles. Now for vehicles.
to reach this seven foot wagon
road from Main street it will
be necessary for them to cross