The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-11
SUBWAY is COMING
SEEMS PROBABLE GWINNETT
STREET WILL HAVE ONE.
GRADE CROSSING is TO GO.
AID IN PROJECT FROM NEW RAIL
WAY COMPANY LOOKED FOR.

Mayor Myers and Alderman Dixon
Are as Anxious as Ever to Have
the Grade Crossing Abolished and
Replaced by Sub-Way-They
Look for Liberal Treatment From
Savannah Electric Company.
President George j. Baldwin De-
cIares Himself in Favor of AboIit-
lon of Grade CrossinEs-His Conf
pany VIII Gladly Consider Any
Proposition Looking to That End.
The abolition of the Plant System
grade crossing at Gwinnett street may
follow upon the heels of the Savannah
Electric Company's assuming control
of the property of the Savannah. Thun-
derbolt and Isle of Hope Railway Com
pany. This is evident from views that
have been expressed by city and rail-
way officials.
Mayor Myers and Chairman of Coun-
Gil Dixon both expressed themselves
yesterday as being as strongly as ever
in favor of subway in place of the
grade crossing, and both were inclined
to believe that the city and the Plant
oySleIl Will O6 met AluCA oily W eAiN
Savannah Electric Company in any
proposition that may be made for the
carrying out of the plan.
The grade crossing should be abol-
ished," said the Mayor. because it
is so fruitful a source of danger to
traffic. Many accidents have occurred
at THE grade crossings that might
ways. l believe that the new company
will receive the city in a liberal spirit
in the consideration of the matter of
removing the grade crossing at Gwin>
nett street for a subway.
THE establishment of such a sub
way, say at Gwinnett street, would
mean the abandonment of many grade
crossings. Avenues could be estab-
lished on either side of the Plant Sys
tenn tracks, leading up to the point of
emergence, on either side of the SUBJ
way, and sufficiently direct means of
communication between points east and
west of the Plant System tracks could
be established"
Alderman Dixon spoke to the same
purpose. Some months ago, when the
perennial subject of a subway was
discussed in Council and a committee
was appointed to confer with the Plant
System and the Savannah, Thunderbolt
and Isle of Hope Company officials
with regard to one, Alderman Dixon
was it's chairman. Plans were tenta-
lively drawn for a subway, and the
Plant System had acceded to a propo-
sition whereby the city was to pay
one-third, the Plant System one-third
and the Savannah, Thunderbolt and
Isle of Hope Company one third for
the establishment of a crossing that
would remove the danger to the traf-
fic that passes over the grade. The
city was willing to defray its proper
ton of the cost, but, when the matter
was passed up to the Savannah, Thun-
Gerbolt and Isle of Hope Company, its
consent was not received.
President George J.. Baldwin of the
Savannah Electric Company was aked
about the apparently-to be revived
project for grade crossing. He gave
IL his Endorsement saying that he
would certainly favor the abolition of
all the grade crossings, if it could pos
sibly be brought about.
Il can promise on behalf of the COM
pany, said Mr.. Baldwin, that any
proposition that may be made the com
pany will be given careful considera-
ton. In any measure that may be
considered wise and for the public well
fare, l can promise the cooperation of
the Savannah Electric Company. l
cannot say that third should be
paid by the street railway company as
its proportion of the expense of the
establishment of a subway because
have not, as yet, looked into the mat
ter at all. Some time ago, however,
Mr.. Erwin, president of the Plant Sys-
TEN, and | agreed that we would dis
cuss this very matter of a plan for
the abolition of the grade crossing
upon his next visit to Savannah"
1t was decided, when last the ques-
ton of a subway was considered by
a Council committee, that it would be
impracticable to establish one at Boil
ton street, for the reason that the
house drainage system would be in
terfered with in the construction. No
such obstacle is offered at Gwinnett
street, however, and it was upon that
street that the committee settled as
both offering the strongest reasons for
a subway and the slightest difficulties
to be overcome in construction. If a
subway should be built, it is very
probable that it will be at Gwinnett
street and that all the street cars.
which now cross the Plant System at
both Gwinnett and Bolton streets, will
cross at the former.