Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-28

city to appoint committee to confer
with the railroads and see what could
be done and then report to the board.
City Solicitor Benedict Maher ad-
dressed the meeting, saying that to
his mind the best plan to eliminate the
danger of the Rines Hill crossing was
to have the Electric Road make it's
main line continue out State street,
down Gas House hill, through Bond
street to Water street and thence to a
terminal in front of Purinton Bros, in
stead of down Grove street, as now.
This would, he said, do away with the
danger and leave only slight amount
of annoyance at the crossing, and in
these days people had to put up with
some annoyances.
Alderman Messer moved to go into
executive session. which was done. The
session lasted but short time and then
the two branches of the council went
into separate session. Alderman Hall
introduced an order for committee OF
five. consisting of the mayor, two al
dermen and two councilmen to con-
fer with the railroad companies and re-
port at the earliest time. Aldermen
Hall and Purinton and Councllmen
Nichols and Theberge were appointed.
The mayor appointed this committee
to confer with the Board of Trade in
regard to the securing of more rent
houses in the city: Aldermen MesSer
and Sheldon and Councilmen Boothbay
and Gedney. The meeting then ad-
journed.
Councilman harrington, who was I'M
able to be present at the city govern
meeting, last night, was seen, yester-
day. and briefly gave his opinion as to
the movement for doing away with the
dangerous grade crossing at Rines'
hill. He said that the matter was up
before the city government for consld-
Grafton on his order three years ago,
when the city was about to reconstruct
Rines' hill, and then it was thought de-
sirable to have some action taken be-
fore the city was put to the. expense OF
improving that hill. 1t was considered
then that an underground crossing
could be affected by the Maine Central
Railroad passing under south OF the
Stilkey stable, bridging the street and
coming out back of the refrigerator
buildings.
The expense, land damages and work
it was thought, would not exceed SI0,-
900. Later developments and surveys
made by the Maine Central Railroad
indicate that if an under pass is made
if should be further south so as to give
the road a better entrance, and II so,
the expense would be greatly increased.
The suggestion has been made to change
the location of the street from nearly
opposite the laundry and constructing
viaduct carrying the street UP on
curve over the Maine Central Railroad
tracks, entering the present street To-
ward the top of Rines' hill. This would
cause, as / understand it, the removal
of all the buildings, stable and machlne
shops, and make a broad street and
sidewalks, giving an easy grade TO
Grove and Green streets. Wh1le TINS
proposition has been objected to by
most of those with whom l have talked,
doing business on Water street, as in
| turing the looks of Water street, L re-
gard it as a proposition which should
have serious consideration. There is
nothing now very inviting about the
| looks of the city's business street as
one comes to the top of Rines' hill, fac
ing the buildings and outlook upon the
| right side of that hill.
| "Again. it may we'll be considered
whether if the street had originally en-
tered by way of the railroad tracks,
whether anyone would ever thought
| that the entrance down Rines' hill
|
sure, an easy grade, much easier than
| by any other way, would be mad up
| that hill probably not greater than D
per cent, which means great deal IN
the cost of transportation by teams.
| This would be an important gain, for II
the location of the Maine Central Rail-
road tracks were changed to go under,
the present grade of about II per cent.
would remain, always an obstacle TO
heavy travel.
"-To nv mind the main thing Is to
take some course which will do away
with that grade crossing, which seems
to me can only be secured by coming
together of all interests, the city, ana
the two railroad companies affected by
it. Both these companies are more anx-
ious than the community, for the
eliminating of this crossing-the city
is DESTROYS of securing it's abolition in
the interests of public safety; the rail-
roads. for not only this, but to avoid
laccidents. and their consequent dam
ages.
"Tbe city can bring a petition for
change in location OF that street. IL II
sees fit and bring the matter properly
before the proper tribunal, when all
these matters would be carefully con-
sidered. The railroads can do the
same. as understand it, but until one
or the other desires to move there car
nothing be done. 1t is a matter tha'
calls for the most careful, calm and Sc
) rious consideration and no hasty judg-