The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-14
SOME GRAVE PROBLEMS.

SOME GRAVE PROBLEMS.
The information given out recently has enabled
the general public form fair idea of what Will
be available next year in the way of railway
transportation the Worlds Fair grounds. Even
though the plans fully and completely forlnu-
lated enough has been authoritativeiy announced 10
give correct idea of OF the general features of
the steam transportation programme.
1t is ut least perfectly plain that the belt line
scheme which To have been worked out if the
Levee loop bill had been passed in time would have
given very much better transportation system
than present plans promise But the t;ilge III which
the loop bill has become involved has apparently com
pleely stopped all efforts install belt system. In
this situation it is fortunate that the Wabash has 4
project that will in degree substitute
for the abandoned belt 1t is preparing for n large
expenditure of money and will probably have as salts
factory a system of transportation the exist
ing circumstances will permit. The management of
that company deserves commentator for the enter
prise and public spirit is manifestins the projected
terminals the Fair grounds assuring for the st.
Louis Exposition very much better railway terminals
than any previous exposition has been favored with.
But the transportation service foreshadowed could be
greatly improved.
The Wabash plans apparently contemplate the
operation of shuttle trains running back and forth
between the Union Station and the Worlds Fair
grounds This service will be good far as it
tends. but it possibly meet the needs of the
same large proportion of the cityS population that
would have been Spenddly served by the belt line
which would have been installed If the desired lesis
lation had been granted by the Municipal Assembly.
The belt line would have made convenient route
for people living in all quarters of the city. whereas
those who live in the northern half of St. Louis
likely 10 be patrons of trains running only be-
nil nd rhp a
pity that the fine terminals at the Worlds Fair en-
should lose half their value because az least
half the people of the city will have no chance 10
utilize them.
An occasion for equally serious regret is the pros
pect that the Wabash will continue to cross Lin
dell drive and Union boulevard grade. With the
prospective increase in the number of trains between
the Union Station and the Fair grounds the intersec
ton of Lindell drive and Union boulevard will pre-
sent absolutely impossible line of transit for
vehicles and pedestrians. Public safety will require
the practical closing of both of these their
intersection.
What this means may be understood when it is re-
membered that Lindell drive would naturally be the
main route by which vehicles would approach the Fair
grounds. Yet only that will be closed from
Kings highway west, but there will be improved
street from the north between Kings highway and the
Sknkcr read, distance of miles. Union boulevard
will be practically closed because of the frequency of
the trains and De Baiviere will be actually closed
vehicles. The situation is one that an enlightened
municipal policy would not permit to exist but it is
not apparent that anything is be done remedy it
The Municipal Assembly should have taken this
matter in hand long ago. 1t should still make
effort TO exert its powers to ntoerable sit
uaton OF course the right way to separate the grade
crossing would be by depressing the tracks but it is
unlikely that the chance of successfully influencing
the Wabash Railway to take up this important and
extensive work would be much less favorable
than would have been the if the unfortunate
disagreement the terminal ordinances had not
arisen. None the less it is that appeals for
the immediate and serious attention of the Municipal
Assembly
1t is Of too great Importance TO be put aside. Public
safety demands the separation of the grade crossings
the intersection Lindell and Union at De Bali
Were and at Delmar. The De Balivere crossing is
to he temporarily disposed Of. but what of the almost
equally dangerous crossing half mile east of Union
boulevard: Can the Municipal Assembly answer the
question: