The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-12
South End Terminal
Opposed
BY BUSINESS MEN.
Decent Solution of Problem
is Wanted.

The exclusive story in The Spy, yes
terday morning, that the grade cross
ing commission was about to report.
recommending that the general prob
lem of the abolition of grade crossings
throughout the city be solved by the
transfer of the Union station terminal,
TO a new terminal at South Worcester
junction, set the business men and peo-
pie generally talking as they have never
talked since the whole question was
thrown before the public nearly 10 years
ago.
To say that the plan said to be pro-
posed by the grade crossing commission
Is unpopular is putting it mildly. There
is the strongest oppos ton to the round
the city, plan, which is involved in the
recommendation that is coming from
the commission.
Yesterday The Spy sounded several
of the representative men of Worcester
on the matter. OF some % opinions ex-
pressed, only six endorsed the ''round
the city plan OF the opinions in OPP
position to this plan, three We're against
1t on general principles without endors-
ing any of the others, three were for
lowering the tracks, eight were for
raising the tracks and five were nom
committal
While many of those interviewed had
not considered the matter seriously
enough to speak upon the subject, the
opposition to the scheme that will take
the Union station from it's present loca-
<ion to point near South Worcester
junction was most emphatic. Here are
some OF the opinions as expressed to
The Spy men:
John r. Thayer-aI think l may safely
call myself the father of the grade
crossing movement in Worcester 1t
was who got the bill through the leg
tslature in 1891, after having been beat
en- the year before. But 1 fail to see
that the question is at all farther ad-
vanced now than then. Something
should be done. The present system is
disgraceful
] attribute all the negligence in this
regard to the supiness and lack of
Nigor of the various city administra-
lions in the past seven years. No mayor
has had the moral courage to take up
an issue which he knows is bound to
make him enemies, whichever course he
purSueS.
AS to the present do not think the
grade crossing committee has any clear
idea of what 1t will do do not favor
a depot in South Worcester unless all
the old tracks, freight and otherwise
are to be taken up. But if they are
taken UP that plan may afford an easy
solution of the difficulty.
A few property owners and manufac-
tuners might suffer by the change. but
the people as a whole would be bene-
fitted. and l believe in looking out for
the interests of the many
A. S. Pinkerton-I do not believe the
Boston and Albany will ever consent to
move their tracks to the south end
That will dispose of the South Worces-
ter depot. / fail to see that there is
anything new or original in the recent
talk of the committee, and am not look
ing for big changes in a hurry.
E. F. Thompson-.I was a member
of the legislatures that pushed through
the grade crossing measure But
was better informed on the question
then than now. At that time ] favored
depression. ] would advocate that yet
If possible, One line might very pos
sibly depress their tracks, but it would
be difficult for all to do SO. / there
fore advocate the moving of the de-
pot. Most big cities of Europe hav
their railway stations at the outskir
of the town to avoid running throus
and across the arteries of traffic The
70 true VI LoHuOii, dTlS anu beHllI
If they can do SO, Worcester can we
place its station little farther from
the centre of population
So -
Herbert Parker-"The question Of
grade crossings is more serious II
Worcester, in my opinion, than any
where else in the commonwealth. It's
solution must be attended with greai
difficulty. / therefore can give ne
opinion offhand."
William A. Gile-'1 advocate depres
sion. Look at Newton. The B. & A
has depressed all it's tracks in that anc
neighboring towns. The result has beer
more successful than had been con
templated. The trains run in a gully
and their noise is scarcely noted above
The bell and whistle never sounds anC
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