The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-02-27
Commercial Club to Have a Con
ference With /. C. Officials
Assistant Gen eral Manager Harahan
Will Notify Them Of q Con-
venient Date.
GOOD WORK OF THE CLUB


WORK investigating the report that the
Illinois Central was to build a cutoff
from Mayfield to Gilbertsville, which
would leave Paducsh of the main
line. As the Illinois Central has not
stated that 1t Intends to build suon a
line, however, and as the road, on the
contrary. states throu Oh its general
manager, that it has not decided to
build such . road, the Commercial
club has not been in position to 90
very much thus far.
1t has done all possible, however,
according to President L. 8. Dubois,
who this morning stated in response
to an inquiry that several days age
the club wrote to Assistant General
Manager Harahan of Chicago, former
ly superintendent Of this division and
gentleman known personally by
most of Padeucah's prominent citi.
zens, and asked him when il would be
convenient for delegation Of Psdu-
cab citizens to confer with the proper
Illinois Central officials in regard to
the matter. aid who these proper off,
cisls would be.
II was desired to hold such Q con-
florence last Monday, but Mr.. Hara-
han wrote back that this date would
not DO convenient, but that at some
early date to be decided on by the
company the officials would meet the
delegation. A ccordingly the club is
daily expecting notice.of the date. and
will send five members Of the Com
meroisl club to Chicago 70 meet Mr..
Harahan, who Is evidently the proper
one to see, as he said nothing to the
contrary. The members Of the club
are very glad of this, for they feel that
Mr.. Harahan will take more interest
in the matter than any of the other
officials as he il so well known here.
This is as far as the Commercial
club has felt justified in going. In
fact 1t is not clear what else could be
done at present. Il is contended
that the Illinois Central has a right
TO survey as much as 1t pleases, and
that IL has as much right TO build q
road from Gilbertsville to Mayheld Is
1t had to build the new road frou
Paducah to Cairo. There is ques.
tion whether or not the road. howev-
err, would have q right TO run any of
Its fast trains over such line, and
not touch or stop at Padu cab. The
legal question involved is now being
investigated by the clubs attorney,
and legal opinion will be ready to-
day, which will give the club some
idea as to the legality of operating the
"cut-off, 4" should the road announce
its intention of building it.
One contention is that McCracken
county gave $500, 900 in bonds to the
railroad for its present service, and
another is that the road is operated
under two charters granted by the leg
islature, and neither includes such q
branch, which in the opinion Of some
would require an amendment to the
charter by the Legislature and which
Paducah,i II it became necessary, m light
prevent. The charters, county bonds,
and other things connected with the
question are today being fully investi-
gated. One theory is, however, that
the Illinois Central might have the
road built by some other corporation
il there is nothing except the charter
provisions to prevent it. If its con-
tract with the county and city, how
ever, require it to run its trains into
Paducah, it seems there would be
plenty of time and plenty Of law, fol-
stopping it when it, began work on
the cutoff, or announced a change OF
schedule in its trains. Even after tbs
road was built the city might enjoir
and require the express trains to be
run as now. But at present there il
no cause 10 anticipate anything, and
for this reason nothing more wall be
done than arrange to meet the officials
and ascertain what they have decided
to do, if anything. and IL it appears i
would be 20 Psducsh's disadvantage
TO then look around for some way to
prevent.