The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-04-23

a mile below Metropolis, ana ina
while that bridge would cost $4,000,
900. one at Brookport would cos
|s5, 0OO, 600 and enter Paducah at al
elevation of more than so feet. More
over, a Brookport bridge would b'
liable to city taxes and the difference
between the cost of erection ant
maintenance of such a structure anC
one at Metropolis with termlna
line into Paducah would be so great
that no railroad would think Of build
ing here. Furthermore, he declares
that building the bridge at Metropolis
would not put Paducah on a branch
line. Railroads don't run through
cities any more than they have TO-
That is the statement of an engineer
who has built railroads and has taken
all the observations necessary at this
point. II we can place credence IN
human testimony, we shall have to
accept his opinion until we can get
a better one from a source equally
competent to speak. II we can not
take a mans word for II, We can
only wait until we have all made our
selves railroad engineers and ac-
1uired the experience necessary TO
Judge for ourselves.
II the bridge is built at Metropolis.
how is the railroad to get into Padu-
cab?
Everybody in Paducah knows that
he can not get out of the city In any
direction without crossing the Illinois
Central tracks, which run around and
through the city. leaving few ways
for a railroad to get into the fac
tories. Now Mr.. Wymond, the Big
Four engineer, says this; A railroad
belt line is built with reference to
the tonnage in sight, existing and
capable OF being developed. Any
body can sit down with a map OF Pa
dueah and run 4 railroad line through
the alleys and across hollows that
cost hundreds of dollars yard TO fill,
and imagine he is doing all that
s necessary; but railroad conn
pany wouldn't accept it. The rail-
road wishes TO come in the way il
can get and develop business. and
the way that is cheapest and safest.
when it has to cross and
recross the tracks OF its competitors.
Now. in what sort of attitude are
we. II the railroad says We shall build
a bridge at Metropolis and come into
the city with terminals this way, or
we shall not come: and the city says.
you shall build a bridge from Brook
port over Paducah. reaching the
earth about Fountain avenue. or We
shall not give you a franchise? The
city couldn't build a terminal ae-
cording TO the ideas of its citizens,
physical and commercial
conditions, and offer II to a railroad
free Of charge and induce the rail-
road to accept We must take the
IDEAS Of railroad men for those
things.
Now. a gentleman. who has ac-
quired all the terminal options in
Brookport. asks that this belt line
be made a trunk line and az rail-
roads be permitted TO run their trains
INTO Padueah over II. Such a thing
IS unthinksble. This belt line is
track only.
This belt line is to be available to
Ill railroads entering the city on the
same terms. Illinois Central and
", C. & St. L. along with the rest.
sn't that fair?
Some objections are captious and
For instance, Il is sug-
,ested that because the Illinois Cen
raj is not openly fighting against this
,elt line, 1t must be interested in the
promotion Of Il. Suppose the Illinois
Central should openly oppose the belt
inc constructed for the benefit OF a
line from the north.
whence Paducah has no other rail-
Dad at present. We all know that
very member of the two boards OF
he general council would be driven
O favor the ordinance. and no citizen
would dare speak against It; because
else would say he was In
he pay of the Illinois Central. III
he Illinois Central really was OPP
,osed to this belt line. the best way
or It to proceed would be for 1t to
AVE its representatives begin by de-
laring the Illinois Central favors 1t
md then induce a. sufficient number
II members to oppose the franchise
IN some other ground.
1t is more likely that the Big Four
abroad is the real party In interest.
,ut fearing just such opposition. II
urned the matter. over to local peo-
lie, feeling that the city would do for
is own citizens what 1t requires spe-
ial inducements for a railroad to
ecure, and knowing that its COM
,etitors could not openly oppose
ranchise sought by citizens.
The aldermen have right to in
Iuire whether or not the city's in
erests are properly safeguarded. but
n the end they have to take some
,ody's word for that. When we start
tut on the hypothesis that everybody
S liar and every proposition is
ssentially crooked, and decline to