The St. Louis Republic., 1903-10-09
SWITCH FACILITIES.

Manufacturers and business men have frequently
ascribed the retardatiOn OF commercial progress tC
antagonsm ON the part Of the Municipal Assembly
toward measures providing for imperative conven-
fences. They have declared II 10 be impossible 70
obtain adequate switching facilities. as the city
would 50 often refuse privileges for laying spur
tracks and they have also found what they consd-
cred to be grave complaints against the railroads.
The charges which concern the railroads are of
greater seriousness. but they now under cOnsd-
Grafton and there Is promise that relief will be AZ
fOrded, that St Louis may have increased accom-
modations. The switch bill affair Is stin in abey-
anee as a general problem, although in Individual
cases Is from time to time determined to the
sfactiOn Of all parties directly and indirectly In
terested.
Probably no universal rule could be established
for granting or denying spurtrack requests Differ
ent conditions prevail in different parts OF the city.
Different stipulations would apply TO different priv
neges extended In a certain locality 4 spur track
which would be advantage to the grantee would
be detrimental to owners Of property and establish
ments in the same vicinity. So many points enter
into the question that an arbitrary general law
method for disposing Of It could well be main
tained.
There are localities used exclusively for factories
warehouses foundrics and repositories where tracks
are and ought TO lie abundant In these districts
there could and should be no objection TO the con-
struction Of more spur tracks On the other hand,
there are localities in which switch tracks would
be nuisances.
At present 4 switch bill is pending in the House
OF Delegates. Strenuous remonstrance has been
raised against It, not by the legislator but by real
estate agent. The petitioner, as an argument for
the bill, that 100000 plant will be erected
If switching facilities can be acquired and that in
this plant 400 men will be employed.
What the merits or demerits OF this particular
case are need not be here examined But, there
seem TO be sufficient reasons for making the bill 4
special order and giving IT prominence as lustra-
ton Of the spur-track difficulty. The House should
make investigation and then have all the argu-
ments for and against made public.
This course would enable the public TO realize
the importance Of the matter as a general problem.
The Republic does not advocate the passage or
the Monroe street switch bill or of any other specific
bill Of this nature. But The Republic believes that
encouragement should be offered 10 every enterprise
that will add to the city's wealth. prosperity and
population There could hardly be general rule
governing switch bills; yet there can be dsposi-
ton favorable TO commercial and Industrial advance
ment, and privileges should be granted whenever
they can be granted for good purposes and under
practical enforceable, protective stipulations.
This problem must be met boldly and honestly.
The city must be willing TO grant reasonable priv
ileges, and at the same time It must consider its
interests. 1t must be willing to give privileges
which will benefit the city's commerce; yet II must
put practical restrictions on them. Complaints will
continue TO arise unless courageous, understand
able policy is followed.