Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-18
NEW IDEAS ADVANCED
Fur Separating the Grade at Rines' Hill
Crossing.

If the expression Of opinion at the
hearing before the committee on high
ways and sewers is any criterion, there
is slight question that some move will
be made to separate the grade at RincS
hill. The hearing was not largely at
tended. about % being present. but
many of the most progressive citizens
We're in attendance.
| The hearing really commenced at ,
| o'clock in the afternoon. Then the
members of the committee. with sew
cral of the citizens and Civil Engineer
Dunn of the Maine Central road view
ed Rines hill and then adjourned to the
office Of Purnton Bros. where the
question was further discussed. Civil
Engineer Dunn, on learning the propo-
sition Of George MacOmber that for
$4,000 he would see that the altera-
tiuns are made. said the best thing the
| city can do is to accept the offer.
| Regarding the cost Of tunncling the
| hill that the railroad may pass under
the hill. he said the work would prob
! ably cost $50 600 The matter of curves
was also discussed with City Engineer
GetcheI ana through the discussion il
|
plan carried out the road at that point
would be changed from an to a 6 de-
gree curve. the 5 degree curve being AZ
ba rs any N the line OF the Maine
! Central road.
Alderman Sewall, as chairman of the
| committee on highways and sewers
called the meeting, in the evening. to
order. In outlining his plan. he gave a
history Of the introduction Of the order
into the council and spoke of the ne
cessity for the work. He had done
this knowing that at least no harm
| could come from the agitation. Tho
| place. he said, is the easiest to II
found for eliminating the grade cross
ings. Petitions are now pending for
| the elimination Of the crossings in the
| states where they are looking after the
| safety of the people. Augusta has
| greatly changed. 1t is now city en-
titled tn the trade for 20 miles around.
There is not a safe entrance to the city
on that side. Hundreds Of thousands
Of dollars are turned aside from the
city. every year solely on account Of
the lack of a safe entrance.
| While the expense Of the change
| seems very great. yet it is SO small that
a railroad man would not consider it
for an instant in putting in a new
road.
Commercial street ought to be one
of the best business streets i'll Au-
| gusta. You can't make it so under
the present circumstances without do
Stroying the Maine Central freight sta l.
ton. If the changes are made as pro-
posed you will have a splendid location
for the station farther down the track
and also a good location for the pas
senger depot and one that is accessa
BILE to the electric cars. The city is
growing so that in a comparatively
few years we Will not have a suitable
place for caring for the volume of bus
mess we have
He then read letter from DR.. J. F.
Hill. who expressed himself strongly
in favor Of the idea both as a tax
payer and as citizen, and expressed
regrets that he would not be able 10
be present at the meeting.
Postmaster Walter ID. StinSOn, when
called on by Chairman SeWall to eX-
press his views on the matter. said
that from the conversation he had HAD
with different people he gained the
idea that with them the matter of eX-
pense Is great factor lhat the pro
posed change would Pc an eNceiieh.
thin@ 10 one doubted put rs ha''
gained tht ldea thdt th' people 'io"S ~
the Maine 'ehtIai shouiu pear '"e
non snare OF me expense since tieH
are the parties TO "" most pei'eii'teu'
me city ne cllzehS seem e t'lii.h'
should pay from S'oo" 70 @lo'ooo AZ IL
share Of the expenses.