The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-03-22

TO be gained by both the city and
the railroads. with the result that
the improvement can be made by
mutual consent and that the rail-
roads and the city shall join hands
in making the move which will re
suit in 80 great a good to both.
Sectional lines in the city were
wholly eliminated in the mass meet
ing last evening. There were men
present at the meeting, but there
were more men who reside sout'
of the railroads, and some Of the
most enthusiastic speeches in favor
of the improvement were made by
men who not only reside south Of
Mill street, but whose property in
terests are south of the railroads
and who are compelled to use the
crossings in question only occa-
sionally. This is evidence that the
project is not q sectional one
confined to the persons residing
in the northern part of the city
but that it is general, interesting
all who have the best Interests of
the city at heart.
The question of taxation is the
only one which could be brough.
up against the plan, but this one
should not be presented. The
fact that many lives have been
lost at these crossings and many
more are ejopardized each day and
each hour should entirely wipe out
any objection which can be rails
ed to the increased debt Of the
city and the increased responsible
ity resting upon the taxpayer.
A prominent real estate man OF
the city at Last nights meeting
stated that he knew to certainty
that because of the railroad cross
ings, the value of north end prop
erty is reduced from thirty-five
to fifty per cent. Should over
head crossings be made at these
streets the value of the property
would be advanced, the increase to
the tax duplicate of the city
would be material and the general
increase in the tax rate would
be very small. 1t is estimated
that within a decade after such an
improvement were made, the in
crease in the taxes from property
owners residing north Of the rail
roads, resulting from the increased
valuation upon their property, will
pay every cent OF the city's thir-
ty-five per cent OF the cost of the
whole improvement.
Another argument which can be
brought forward in favor of
lowering the tracks on the right
of-way of the Erie railway are
abandoning the Big Four tracks
on Mill street is the fact that in
a city of 10000 inhabitants, such
as Marion is today, with the pros
pect that before the year shall
have passed it will have reached
the 10000 mark, more than one av-
enue for commerce should exist,
AS it is today, practically all Of
the traffic to and from the west
end of the city is compelled to
use West Center street. Church
street, of course, affords some re-
lief, but Church street is not near
ly SO well adapted as Mill street
The plan as presented to the mass
meeting is to make it possible to
open up Mill street for traffic to
and from the union station and
the railroad freight houses.
In fact there are a thousand and
one reasons why the railroad tracks
should be lowered and overhead
crossings constructed; and only one
argument can be produced against
the plan: that of the increased
cost and resulting taxation. AS
said before, this question shoul |
not be considered when thousand.
Of lives of the men, women and
school children are jeopardized
each day.
The start has been made and
made right. The men of the north
and south parts of the city are
hand in hand in the move; they
seek to secure the cooperation of
council and together to join hands