Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-23
Our Grade Crossings Must Go.


eminent the city solicitor was instruc-
ted TO ascertain how far the city has
power to regulate the blowing of loco
motive whistles within it's limits, and
also whether the city council has power
TO prohibit the use Of soft coal by the
shifting engine. 4 committee was also
appointed to coEfer with the Maine
Central relative to the danger to the
Augusta fire department a. the Bridge
street crossing. Unquestionably there
is chance for improvement in all these
respects. 1t is something Of a wonder
that no serious accidents have occurred
to any of our Bridge street fire teams
when we consider the number of times
in a year that they are driven down
TINS sharp grade at q gallop. Indeed in
View of the existing situation such
trip is little short of appalling, and it is
not surprising to learn that on q nnm-
Der of occasions terrible accidents have
been narrowly averted. This danger
will be greatly increased when the city
buys its new fire engine which it is
hoped may be within the experience Of
citizens now living. The committee is
said to have an option at the present
time upon two engines, either Of which
it is thought would meet the city's
needs, and each of which has it's sd-
vantagos. One of these engines weighs
six tons, and the other four tons 1t
would be almost impossible to stop
either ono of these engines on Bridge
hill in season to prevent collision, if
train were to obstruct the crossing
when it was on the way to a fire. 1t
is evident that if such an engine is to
be added to the equipment of the
Bridge street house, some provision
must be made to guard against the
possibility of such an accident
1t is one of the mSfOrtunes of the
present location of the railroad track
in this city that it necessitates the
shifting of freight cars almost upon
our principal business street. The
burning of soft coal under such cir
culnStanCe:- is necessarily more Or less
of nuisance, bat this fact does not
apply exclusively to the shifter. 1t is
equally true of the soft coal burned up
and down the street for heating and
power purposes. 1t is somewhat diff
cult to see how any discrimination
could be made against the shifter, if
it should DC decided to abolish the use
of soft coal as fuel in the business
section of the city.
After all the great point to be sought
in this city is the doing away with our
exceedingly DANCE rous grade crossings,
especially the one at the foot OF Rines
hill which has been officially declared
by the railroad Commissioners u be
the most dangerous one in the State.
The plan for a change worked out in
detail. and with great care, by former
City Engineer Getchell provided for
the elimination of the grade crossings
in this city in a practical and compare
lively inexpensive manner. 1t was sub
mitted to President futile of the Bos-
ton d Maine Railroad by Mayor
Piaisted, who went away from
the interview with the under
standing that the matter would soon
be taken up for careful consideration
Thus far nothing has come of it, and 1t
now looks as if the whole matter would
be threeshed out before the Legislature
the coming winter. The local Board OF
Trade, and citizens generally arc d
unit in feeling that it is high time that
something should be done abou: this
matter The day of temporizing and
procrastinhtion has passed. The situa-
ton has been rendered vastly worse at
the Rines hill crossing, by the open
ing up the Electric road to Lewiston
very largely increasing the number of
tdiS tiidt HltSl EIoSS tilt NIdlHe tellIdl
track at this point Present conditions
are a constant menace to the lives OF
thousands of people who daily travel
up and down Rhines hill. The public
welfare imperatively demands a
change. When this is made there will
40 longer be any menace to travel
either at the Rines hill or the Bridge
street crossing. and arrangements can,
doubtless be made to do the freight
shifting Lnder conditions that will be
generally satisfactory to the commu-
nifty.
Mr. Bryan says he would have a