Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-11-16
Track ELEVATION, TOO, MOVES
APACE.

chicago ~ gradually nut surely get
ting rid of the jaytown features which
until recently marred the otherwise
magnificent appearance of this city and
caused us to become the recipients OF
the "merry haw haw" from outsiders
every time we referred to the young
giant Of the pralries rs metropolis"
One Of the jaytOwn characteristics of
Chicago was the grade crossing.
1t was distinct remnant OF barbar-
ism, and constituted not only n percn-
NAL threat to the lives and limbs Of
the travelling public, but Mortified all
visitors to our city, who had been used
to the ways, customs and institutions
Of the great centers Of civilized COM
munltics both In the East|a In Flu.
rope.
The very idea Of train rushing into
the city on grade was 80 hOrrlfying to
the people Of other countries that II
could not be believed until seen.
This abOminable condition. thanks to
the irresistible force Of public opinion.
intellIgently exploited and directed, Is
rapidly disappearing. A gigantic stride
In the direction of track elevation ana
the abolition of grade crossings was
taken at last Monday nights Council
meeting when an ordinance was pass.
cd through that body providing for the
elevation Of sixteen miles Of track be-
tween 9th and SD streets at cost
Of $2.OOO,OOO, and incidentally for elgh-
teen grade subways. In the provisions
Of this ordinance Is one for the elimina-
ton Of the mOnstrOus railroad grade
known as Grand Crossing, for a great
union depot at that point and two tiers
Of tracks one above the other for the
accommodation OF the several railway
lines which intersect or parallel each
other here.
Who that heard the late W. G. Cloudy
descant before the City Council a few
years ago upon the impOsslbility Of
abOlishing grade crossings In Chicago
would believe that such an ordinance
as this could be passed by the City
Council and accepted by the railroad
companies six or seven years later?
And, yet this ordinance IL but pOr-
ton OF a general movement that has
already abolished scores Of grade
crossings. elevated miles upon miles
Of railroad tracks and which will cul.
inmate In the elevation Of every steam
railroad line In Chicago.
Most of this grand onward movement,
The Eagle IL proud to say, Is due to the
honest and capable administration of
Mayor Carter ii. Harrison. Under his
administration track elevation was TAX
en- from the region Of theory and put
into the domain of practice.
Under the administration Of Swift
and the notorious Hopkins regime,
track elevation lay under the nightmare
of GOudy's impossible" argument. 1t
remained for the administration OF Car
ter ii. Harrison to prove that there Is
nothing impossible In Chicago. I'm
der the same progressive administers
ton another JaytOwn feature of Chi
cagO-the overhead trOlley-is doomed
to 90.
1t must and 1t shall follow quickly In
the footsteps Of the grade crossing.
To be sure, street railway magnates
are just now engaged In an effort tC
prove that to put the trolley wires un
der ground Is an impossible undertak
ing.
Before the Council Transportation
Committee the other day, we had the
spectacle Of the general superintendent
of the Chicago City Railway shaking
his head and expressing doubt as to thu
possibility of putting the trolley unde
ground. He says they are willing t.
try 1t, however.
President John NJ. Roach, of thu
Union Traction Company, also oh
served a position of moody doubt, AM
groaned about feasibility" ''practi
bility." "ruinOus cost" confscatlon
etc, ETC., but he will also try 1t.
To these gentlemen and to all other
who would stand In the way Of prog
ress In Chicago on account Of the sis
or apparent impossibility Of undertah
in0s nacnnnnry u n1nco this CitY In th