The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-04
Citizens Meeting Did
Not Organize.
DEPRESS TRACKS.
Engineer Taylor With An
other Favors 1t.


sible without interfering with Mill
brook. II such a possibility exists, it
overthrows every calculation that has
been made. The chances of the ele-
waited system satisfying the people of
Worcester, if that possibility exists,
are far more remote than the scriptural
chances of a rich man getting within
the golden gates.
Lucian A. Taylor. who will make the
Investigations for the citizens opposed
to elevation of the tracks, said last
evening that to the best of his recol-
lection the tracks can be lowered 16
feet without interfering in the least
with the channel of Millbrook. He did
not make the statement absolutely be-
cause he desired to make accurate in
vestigations before placing his seal as
an engineer on the exact figures. He
So : however, he is almost certain that
III ID of Millbrook is 25 feet lower
II the tracks at Grafton street. Not
mUre than six feet are required to car
ry all the water of Millbrook at this
point, so that the tracks could be de-
pressed 16 feet below their present 10
cation without affecting Millbrook.
A 16-foot drop would be ample. 1t
would then be necessary to raise the
grade OF the streets only Is inches to
secure the same headroom that exists
at Newton, where the depressed tracks
system gives such satisfaction.
The statement of Mr.. Taylor, if sub
sequent Investigations which he will
make bear it out, simplifies the grade
Icrossing question. For whatever diff
ference of opinion there has been on
the elevated and depressed plans, has
existed entirely under the supposition
that the lowering of Millbrook channel
was absolutely necessary for the de-
preston of the tracks.
Everybody, even the commission
which brought in the report for elevat-
ed tracks, agreed that the depressed
system is the best. The citizens grade
1 crossing commission went even far
Their. It's members stated that the
question of the cost of lowering Mill
brook was not considered at all. The
only question which halted the com
mission was the feasibility of lowering
Millbrook. 1t was the consideration OF
that question which caused the crea-
ton of the expert commission
Every time the grade crossing prob
lem has been considered, the starting
point has been that depressed tracks
are by long odds the best solution OF
i the vexatious question. But every COM
mission has also started with the dis
tinct understanding that Millbrool
sewer could not be lowered and thai
depressed tracks were beyond consider
alton at the outset Mr.. Taylor's state.
ment throws an entirely new light II
the question and settles the grade cross
} ing question beyond the shadow of Z
, doubt, if his Investigations carry GU
the statement. For if the tracks can b.
lowered without touching Millbrool
channel, there is no need for anybody
to consider for a moment the best plaI
, for depressing the tracks. If the ques
ton is simplified to that point, it's G
waste of time to consider any othel
plan, even one which produces bridges
which, like many a base ball team, may
! look well ON paper, but which are no.
worth a picayune when it comes tt
business.
Even the citizen grade crossing com
mission would acknowledge that the
handsome stone bridges would look best
if they were placed where they couldn.t
be seen at ALL One of the commission
ventured to remark that he thought
the stone arches looked "out of sight
and depressed track man agreed thai
/ they should be so. Iron bridges are good
enough provided they carry the streets
over the railroads and the stone arches
will be memory to what Worcester es-
capped.
NIL ldyIOI, WHO was ule engineer
who built Millbrook, every inch of it
made the statement that he believes the
tracks can be sufficiently depressed
without touching the channel. He said
this in the Bay State house parlor last
evening to a number of representative
citizens who gathered to organize a
movement against elevation of the
i tracks. The statement was purely in
formal as the meeting was not held.
/ FHharn r
i poning the organization. Hon, ". c.
Bates, who is interested in the popular
movement to restrain anybody from a
too haSty conclusion as to the best
plan, wrenched his foot as he was pre-
pairing to attend the meeting, and when
a telephone message was received from
him, several thought the meeting for
organization should be put off out of
difference to Mr.. Bates, whose efforts
were fruitful in causing stay on the
part of the city council.
Another reason was that no invita-
!. lions had been extended to anybody to
attend the meeting. Several influential
citizens had expressed themselves as
heartily in favor of the project and
their presence was desired at the meet
ing. 1t was learned, however, that
no invitation had been sent them. In
order that they may be given an oppor-
tunity to assist in the important move
ment, Lawyer e. L. Vaughan summari-
~ disposed of any disposition to hold
a meeting. He said only few words
but those included a statement that in
: vitations should be sent influential citi-
zens who had expressed desire to as
} sist the movement
. Mr.. Vaughan was evidently not sat
! sfied that the preliminary work had
/, been properly attended to, and was de-
termined that it should be. He sug-
. gested that no attempt be made to or
, game until proper invitations had been
/ sent persons interested and proper no.
tifcation of the meeting given. His
, suggestion struck the men present as
being a most sensible one, and was
adopted without debate. The meet
ing will be held next week.
? Although the meeting did not organ
ize, the depressed tracks system boom
: ed more than ever. Engineer Taylor
| was present by invitation to give in
| formation regarding Millbrook and the
possibilities of lowering or diverting it,
, While the gentlemen sat in little
groups talking to one another, Engineer
5 Taylor expressed his belief Of the pos
sibiities of lowering the tracks without
{ interfering with Millbrook, to one OF
; those present The point was so strong
r that the listener at once demanded ST.
lence and asked Engineer Taylor to tel
the remainder of his opinion. The en-.
} glneer who knows more about Mill
brook than anybody else, repeated the
3 statement. Everybody present was as,
. tonished. They were also delighted
The engineer said he did not care tC
: give too much information on the pont
5 until he had made a thorough investi-
: cation. He was not pressed, the gen
tlemen being content that the investi.
CATION will settle for once and all the
! grade crossing dispI1tp