The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-22
Crossing Question at
Fitchburg,.
ANOTHER HEARING.
Probably No Objection to
Raising Tracks,

! Fitchburg, Jan. 21.-The grade cross
ing question in this city will again be
given prominence on January 2S for
at that time another hearing will be
held by the special commissioners ap-
pointed by the superior court to have
the matter in charge
This time the hearing will be in ref
erence to the Water street crossing. So
called, located at the end of the pas
senger depot. At the previous hear
lngs the Laurel and Putnam street
crossings have been given prominence.
and at the close of the last hearing it
was thought that the question relative
TO these two places was to be speedily
| settled. After the matter had been
| taken under consideration by the COM
missioners, they decided that it would
pc necessary for the Water street cross
ing 10 be discussed IN order that an
intelligent solution of the other prob
lens could be reached.
! AT the previous hearings the latter
| crossing came in for good deal of
| attention, it being argued that the abo-
lltlon OF the crossing just above nau-
| rel), would ten to make the former.
crossing even more dangerous than it
IS at the present time, as it was pro-
posed 10 connect the two streets on the
south side by another street, and thus
the bulk of travel would be thrown
across the track at the depot. Hence
the decision to hold another hearing.
UP TO short time ago it was sup
posed that the Fitchburg Railroad
would object strongly against the abo-
lltlon OF the depot crossing by the
method of raising the tracks at least.
| owing to the enormous expense that
would entail. Now it is thought that
| the railroad will not object to this
| method, and if this is the case. then
the rest will be plain sailing.
10 raise the tracks, however. will not
only entail an enormous expense (sone
Sl,oOO,0OO being the iigure), but ii will
take an Immense amount of time as
the raising will have to begin at least
ohe-half mile the other side of the de-
pot at what is called the East yard ,,
ana the work carried toward the city.
some say that it would take at least
nve years to do the work, as it should
be. Should the raising of the tracks
| De considered the most feasible Way
out of the difficulty, then the Roll
stone street crossing as well as the
| other three spoken of, would be abol-
lshed in the same manner, and thus
| every crossing in the city done away
with. Whatever action is taken it is
Hoped that a solution will be reached
at an early date, so that some definite
time of abolition may be calculated
upon.
Ralph H. Allen, first assistant engi-
neef OF the fire department. died al
1.5o this morning, after an illness of
| Only hve days with pneumonia. Mr.,
AIlen was but 81 years of age. and was
nstlVe or Somerville. He has lived
~ inns CITY since he was II years of
| age, and was pattern maker by trade
oeinS employed by the Fitchburg ma
chlne works, where his services were
considered to be of the most yalua HE
lShd' lie was Of a pleasant, amiablc
| disposition, and his death will NOT only
pc a severe loss to his friends. hut tn
the depar tment he has served so long
anu wei. He FIRST Joined the depart
neht IN lAJ0 as a member, of Hose /
was elected clerk in 1893. foromsn ~,
1879 and first assistant engineer in 1897
he was brave and faithful, and In t1e
dlscharge OF his duties was ALWAYS fhe
iedder. An aged grandmother living
III ms FAMILY is seriously i'll, her sick
ness having been intensified bv his
ue2th. The funeral arrangements are
not yet made. 81
AT the ParkhiIl mill. BEGINNING nevt
Monday morning, there will he a sma1I
incfeas" in wages along certain lines
| the amount of which has NOT haon
made public. The MANAGEMENT ex-
pressed The wish today that it might
pe IN all departments, but could NOT See
i their way clear to do so under exist
lnS business conditions. That they are
aole 10 make any increase. will mo
| doubt be appreciated az