The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-07-24
OPEN COMMISSION HEARING
On the Sort Of Crossing the o. and N. w.
Must Put IN


Austin, Texas, luly o. The railroad
commission convened In open hearing today
TO consider the question az 10 what kind
OF n crossing should he establahed at the
point where the Orange anA Northwest.
ern road intends to cross the Texas and
New Orleans about two mites west of
Orange. The question Of az interlockihg
device or an overhead crossing was the
principal point 10 he considered and pc.
tltion was read from the Southern Pacific
system urging that the Orange and North.
western construct an overhead crossing.
otherwise It caused a great delay in pas
senger traffic to stop and whistle every
time the crossing was reached II It was a
grade crossing.
Manager Van Week was heard on the
subject, and opposed n grade crossing.
and gave his views as 70 an overhead cross
Ing for the Orange and Northwestern En-
Eineer Thompson OF the railroad commits.
sion had prepared a report on the subject
and he was called on to read H. II con
tanned the fact that the Texas and New
Orleans operated on an average Of twenty.
three trains day over the crossing and
10 stop at grade crossing Il would cost
each tiain about 10 cents in fuel 70 re.
to the cost Of loss Of time.
In conclusion the report asked for an
overhead crossing for the Orange and
NOIIuNRSIerb OF n system OF DutO0ldtlC IN
terlocklng devices. and that perhaps the
Texas and New Orleans would assist in
constructing the overhead crossing
Mr.. Van Week stated that his engineer
mad prepared q plat of the situation ard
Il Would cost the Orange and Northwest
ern S2i,215 to make the grade.
lie said that an. interlocklng system
would not be as safe as an overhead cross.
Ing for the reason that the system some
times gets out of order and the trait men
NJ times forget their bearings especially
sta.NV, f.Nrr lie 10 bod Naa
Texas and New orleans would bear some
of the expense in putting In the overhead
crossing and he said they might stand
certain portion OF H. hut the agreement
with reference to the crossing was made
and that the Orange and Northwestern WAS
to. assume the, expense Of the crossing. :,
Engineer Halbrook Of the TeNarkana and
Fort smith SAID that he could add nothing
to what had been said as the report OF
the commlsslon's engineer covered tine point
Involved. The Orange ana Northwestern
Smith. but the grade Is not 80 level AZ his
crossing as II lis whore II crosses the Texas
head crossing was the hest and safest, and
that the interlocklug crossing was not as
sure, as trains would be compelled 70 slow
up and at times they would be dangerous
and some roads were aholishlng the In.
terlocklng system. at does not do away
with the danger altogether" Is the wav he
stated II, and In the long run the overhead
crossing was the safest and the most prac.
teal In the question before The counts
sion
fitorney Williams of the Orange aud
Northwestern stated that his road hlc an
ngl cement with the Texas ana New Or
leans to cross Its line and that they were
ready to extend It's line; IN fact. they were
practically across and they should NOT he
estopped by the Texas aud New Orleans.
II they are IN will give the older roads
u ororoly over the new ohes,
chairman Reagan said the question WIS
before the commission. and the only ques
tltn they would decide was as to which
would he the most practical.
Engineer MaXey of the Orange ard North.
western said the overhead crossing would
be very expensive and would greatly GRIP.
pie the road II II had 20 put one in. MS the
road would have tn 20 several miles 10 get
dirt for the dump.
Recess till 2 o'clock
Attorney Holland OF the Orange ana
Northwestern in arguing against an over.
head crossing, said It would cost good
deal of money and he did not believe sncu
= crossing could be constructed NJ that
point, on account OF the watery surface
conditions Of the land. He further stated
that his road would willingly put In an
lnterlocklng device crossing.
Vice President Gllmer of the Orange and
Northwestern said his road was not hog
glsh and asked that the commission allow
them one years time to operate on the
grade crossing.
Mr. Van Week said his road did NOT want
70 interfere with the completion n the
Orange and Northwestern and he was Will,
and put In an lnterlocker or overhead
crossing to the ruling Of the commission.
The question was taken under advise
meuI