Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-18
Wednesday, March 1s, 1908.
Auousta's Grade Crossings.

Augustus Grade Crossings.
All who are interested in the well
fare of Augusta will heartily agree
with all that Mayor Plaisted said in
his inaugural address regarding the
adjustment of the dangerous grade
crossings of our city at as carly date
as il can possibly be done. This is the
attitude the Journal has consistently
taler. and for several wears VIC have
repeatedly emphasized in our columns
the arguments in favor of such a
change. On several occasions the
Board of Trade has discussed this
matter and there has been no differ
cnce CT opinion on the subject.
There is nothing new in this PROPOSE
ton, bur Every year, and every day for
that matter, adds to The reasons Why
the change should be made. There are
four Of these grade crossings in the
heart of Augustus business section, SO
near together that long freight train
is frequently uron all four Of them
at Tie same time.
All of them are very dangerous cross
ings, that at foot Of Rines hill. on ac-
count 0f the frequent passage OF cleo
trio cars, and the large. yolum, Of traf-
nc here. being the worst of the four
ana being cveryw here considered one
Of the most dangerous. crossings in
Maine. The sharp curves in fhs rail-
road track, the proximity of buildings,
which the electric cars run and the
great amount of travel over this cross
Gg are factors which make it Il con-
slant menace To human life. The
management of the railroad and alsJ
Of the electric road use every possible
safeguard here but these safeguards
only emphasize the great danger Of the
SPOT and reinforce the plea for radi-
cal change. 1t seems a miracle that no
terrible collision has occurred there
We ali know of many narrow escapes.
The other grade crossings have no
electric car lines. to be sure. but they
are otherwise about as bad as this one.
That at the foot of Court street is
worse If anything. though this street
is used lra.i than the others. The only
rcdc"ning feature about the crossing
ut the foot Of Winthrop street is that
1t is near the station and trains sell
dom travel there ut high speed
But the danger Of these crossings is
not their only bad feature They are
continually obstructed every day by
trains to al extent that interrupts
business and seriously Inconvenience.
many people. This is inevitable under
existing conditions and it cannot be
otherwise until the crossings are abol-
ishtd. This adjustment will have to
come sooner or later and it cannot
come too SooE. 1t had far better
come before than after Il terrible acct
dent. costing many human lives and
great money loss for the railroad.
II had far better come by the voun-
tary act of the railroad company than
as The result of expensive and tedious
litigation.
There il little doubt that in the near
future new railroad station will haze.
to &c built IN Augusta to replace the
one which has been used nearly half u
century, and also .. new railroad
bridge across the Kenncbec at this
point to provide FOR the double tracks
which an increasing volume of business
and the considerations of safety are
baking necessary along the whole
length Of the main line. When these
changes are maze, if not before. these
four grad" crossings must he aboi-
ishcd. The engineering problem which
IS involved is not beyond solution, rs
mas repeatedly been shown. The eX-
pcnsc of such changes should beyond
question be paid by the steam railroad,
and in 10 part by the city It is the
railroad which makes the crossings
dangerous and which obstructs Ihem to
an extent which is j daily nuisance
The railroad can do no less, i'll return
Tor its franchise rights which cost it
nothing. than make the streets safe
anu Keep them unobstructed II is
matter which means much To our CITY
and It should be vigorously pressed.
For a real prosa moot command nc m