The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-12
Are Thought Better
Than One.
TWO COMMISSIONS
Will Struggle With Grade
Crossing Problem.

Two grade crossing commissions be-
gin work this week. One is in the en-
ploy of the city and the other in the
employ Of citizens who desire the best
solution Of the grade crossing problem.
The petitions demonstrating against
the elevation Of the tracks will be put
into circulation tomorrow.
Those whose interests are vitality af-
fected by the solution of the grade
crossing problem, and others who have
the best interests of the city at heart
are determined that the plan which
will make the city streets run through
series of tunnels shall not go through
while the city has an opportunity to
fight for the best plan.
The city council and the grade cross
ing commission which is now retired,
and which has been designated the citi-
zen grade crossing commission, may
have been afraid of the railroad com
panies. The citizens who are seeking
the plan that is best for Worcester
are not whit afraid of the railroad
companies.
The citizens movement is like a ball
o. snow started down a mountain side.
BEFORE the end is reached therell be
an avalanche, and even the railroad
companies will have to stand from I'M
ger. The citizens have a whole sleeve
tul OF tricks. They have one especially
Tor the benefit of the railroad companies
ana when they play it the magnates
VIII throw up their hands.
"A permanent organization is the next
thlnS on the program. The petitions
ma! De delayeo oay OF Two Oh ac-
count OF the injury which r. C. TAYLOR
received last evening, by being thrown
llom ms s4e1gh, Dut it won't be for
lohg' Then the permanent organiza-
uon Will be formed and the citizens
VINO want the best that can be had
VIII start about their work in a BUSH
ness-llke way. They will ask the new
commission for public hearing before
u makes It's report, whether the report
tracks.
The movement of .he citizens is not
N any way antagonistic to the work
OF tne grade crossing commission APP
pointed by Mayor Rufus r. Dodge, Jr.,
ana confirmed by the board of alder
men. Its investigation is based on the
belief that two heads are better than
one.
What the citizens are after is the
fullest investigation OF the problem
mat can be made. They are not now
tnlnking of the results any more than
they did when the city government was
stayed from haSty action. That night
the citizens felt confident that a COM
mission of engineers would report in
favor of depressed tracks. They Think
so sui. They are res olute against ele-
waited tracks and want to make certain
Oh the ground they stand on. For that
reason they will have three engineers,
the same number rs the city has to
investigate the problem thoroughly
and give the citizens organization the
benefit of their Investigations.
The citizens whose interests are most
affected by the solution of the grade
crossing question have said unlnistak--
ABLY that they do rot faYer elevated
tracks They may be forced to believe
sqeh PLAZA as was reported by the
Gtlzens' commission is the only one
10 solve the difficulty. but they are not
content that the citizens commission
made as thorough an Investigation INTO
other plans than elevated as they
might. So they are 20 make an inVes-
ugation on their ewn hook, and VIII
give the entire city the benefit OF their
INVESTIGATION.
They will engage competent engin-
GERS. L. A. Taylor. who built Mill
brook and who is unquestlonably as
good authority on the topography Ui /
the ground Through which it runs. wiz
De one, ana he will have as associates
Two whose abilities are not open 10
question: A better man that Mi. ray
Tor could not be secured for several
reasons In the first place, he Dullt
Millbrook and knows every inch OF the
ground beneath 1t. He laid the Dot
tom of the walled channel through
which the brook flowed until the pres
emit arch with cement bottom was ldlu
several years ago. Mr.. Taylor not
only possesses engineering ability ln%C
places him in the front rank, Jul ~
Is also contractor and Is thus az
10 give an estimate which is OIL HiOi0
than ordinary value.
Just what method Of procedure the
cltlzens movement will take mas hot
hsen definitely decided on. But there
VIII be a permanent organization TO Sc
cure If possible the best solution Oh the
Grade crossing question. The ntenlloHs
or those who are steering the move
lnent at present is not to oppose 1ne
city grade crossing commission or 10
Iorce The city council to accept the re-
suits which the citizens Investigations
secure. The citizens intend to work in
harmony with the city council In every
thlng. But they believe that only one
plan received a. proper amount Of con-
sideration and 1t is to obtain all infor-
nation possible that the movement has
been started
The citizens movement is backed by
public sentiment. The men whose in
terests are mostly affected by the solu-
ton of the grade crossing problem are
not at all convinced that the citizens
commission completed its task. The ad-
missions of the commissioners them
selves during the public hearing follow
ing their report showed that They did
give considerable attention to the plan
ON, which they reported, but the plan
for, depressing the tracks did not re-
ceive much attention. The citizens
We're frightened at the de-
pressed tracks plan at the outset and
that settled it. They threw It one side.
Although complete Investigations
We're not made by the petitioners who
halted the city council they We're salts
fed that The plan is feasible instead Of
as was reported by the
commission and they still be-
leve that way They now intend to
pursue Investigations az far as engin-
eering skill can push them and satisfy
themselves and everybody in Worces-
ter whether orsnot Millbrook sewer and
the railroads can be lowered and Wor-
cester thus obtain the best possible So