The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-03-01
SOME CAUSTIC COMMENT
ON OVERHEAD CROSSING
Cairo Shipper" Makes Strong Presentation Con-
corning Controversy Between Cairo and
Thebes and Illinois Central Railroad
Companies

Editor Of The Bulletin; Cairo
newspapers are doubtless familiar
with the ac ion OF the Illinois Central
railroad company in attempting to
force til Cairo & Thebes Railroad
company to construct an overhead
crossing near Santa Fe above the Chi
'eago 4 Eastern Illinois railroad
tracks Most of our citizens are aware
THAI The Illinois Central does not own
a foot Of the track where the crossing
Is desired, also that the Illinois Cen
trial han no local business interests
on the line. and many of them feel
that the action Of he illinois Cen
trail is an attempt to prevent favorable
connection with outside lin s, the very
purpose for which the Cairo & Thebes
road Is being built.
The Illinois Central is only a ten
ant of the C. & E. l.. but as such il
attempts to block the construction OF
a grade crossing over the c. & f. !. at
tho point stated. The Illinois Cen
trail opposes it with the plea thai such
a Gro. sing would jeopardize the safety
OF The travelling public.
Let MS see if the Illinois Central Is
really SINGER in its makebelieye So
licitude for public safety and ascer-
tain whether OF not in constructing
crossings IL adopted the same preca'-
lions 10 safeguard human life that it
now demands of The Cairo q Thebe7.
The Illinois Central eros es the No
bile & Ohio at Cache with a grade
crossing where the traffic will average
nearly fifty trains daily. Al the pro
poScd Santa Fe crossing the traffic viii
average IS trains daily, which would
hermit the Cairo & Thebes to run thir-
ty.tvo trains daily over its line be.
fore The crossing could be considered
as dangerous as the one at Cache
should the Illinois Central branch
line busine liner. asc as the officials
claim 10 anticipate then The crossing
lat Cache wall become far more dan
eerous and on the strength Of such OK
pects ion the railroad and warehouse
commissioners should force tho Illi-
nois Central 60 at once construct an
overhead crossing at this point.
The Illinois Central also has a grade
eros ing on its branch line az Foun-
tain Bluff with the Iron Mountain or
Valley Line where the traffic Of the
Iron Mountain and Cotton Belt TO
and from The Tn hes bridge Is mus
ually heavy and far more dangerous
than the contemplated crossing at
Santa Fe
In Cairo the Illinois Central crosses
the Big Four main line ON Cross
Levee with two tracks and within
I25 feet Of this crossing IT crosse
the main line with a switch rack. At
either point there is no watchman OF
other protection. The Illinois Cen
trail also has a crossing a. Sycamore
street where travel over the wagon
road Is heavy and where street cars
are running constantly A. one time
pretense AZ protection was offered
/ BIS The construction of gales but two
Of these gates have been torn from
tn Or hinges and The others are not
kept closed as pnrposed. At Fourth
and Sixth streets crossings TO the
ferry boat landing and wharfboat TO
main unguarded and al Caio Junction
| practically no protection Is Afforded
the travelling public from storm and
cold
Thus f. may be seen that the Iii
nois Central is not so considerable Of
public safety as its action toward the