Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-18
HE DANGEROUS RlNES
HILL GRADE CROSSING.
CONTINUED from Page One.)


Ex-Mayor Frederick w. Plaisted
said that it was for the interests Of
all the people of the State, who passed
through the city Of Augusta to have
these dangerous grade crossings aboi-
ished. He did not doubt but what
many members of the present Leglsla-
ture as well as citizens Of Augusta
could testify to narrow escapes at the
Rines Hill crossing, Notwithstanding
that foot passengers and teams We're
warned of approaching trains not oni"
by gates and flags, but by the voice
of the Waterman as well. on Cour-
street only week ago ne saw a pubic
carriage driver wait at the crossing
for a west bound train to pass anu
then whipping up his horse get across
the track just fraction Of a secon'
before an east bound freight passed
And the gates We're -0' down. he I'M
derstood that the NJ &c.; Central Rail
road was about To bl..!d a new bridge
across the Eennebec river, and before
that bridge was built it was the duty
Of the city Of Augusta to take up the
grade crossing matter las TO coSt,
the city was here before the railroad,
and the railroad paid nothing For tie
valuable franchises, which the city has
given it," said Col. Plaisted. Augusta
was tired Of waiting for the railroad
to act The time had come when there
should be prompt action instead of
PROMISES There were 10000 people or
more crossing the tracks every day at
Rines Hill. 1T is up to You. gentle
men, to say whether this menace TO III"
and property shall exist" h" con-
cluded.
Hon. Treby Johnson, the present
mayor, said that the people of Angus
ia wanted these grade crossings anol-
ished and the only way to get at IT
was by a bill like this.
c. 3. Burleigh spoke of his feelings
when he saw the Dummy train crash
into an electric car at the Rines Hill
crossing. He turned away his head.
expecting to see the people in the car
crushed and ground to pieces under tn .
train. 1t was only by miracle that
they escaped. Twice he had slid the
length of the hill and across the tract;
in an electric car.
Mr. Burleigh quoted the late Gener-
III Manager Evans of the Maine Cen
ira! Railroad as saying: 1T is Il corr
mon saying that corporations have nc
souls. but I have laid awake nights
and worried about this crossing" Mr.
Bur,eigh also alluded to the condi-
ton on Bridge street hill. where the
city fire engine weighing four tons
came down the hill at full speed across
the track in case of fire. and ii the
engine should crash into a passenger
train at this point it would not only
put the men who operated the fire en-
CINE in great danger but it would also
place in even greater danger the train
crew and passengers.
Frank l.. Dutton said that there was
no question of the danger The only
question was how to obviate it with
out too great a cost to the Maine Cen-
trail Railroad or the Electric Road. Fl"
did not favor going over or under The
streets on which the tracks were. II"
advocated the railroad making a :urr
before it reached Rines Hill and Oc-
Cupying space not available for com
mercial purposes. This removal Of
tracks would give Augusta anotho.
street in addition to that now vsc"!
for business purposes. which was much
needed.
City Solicitor Thomas Leigh told
how for the past six or seven years
under the administrations of Mayors
Plaisted, Hichborn and Robertson Il
great deal of time and effort had been
expended in conference with the Maine
Central Railroad and nothing had been
accomplished. SO that it was neces-
sary to present this bill to the Legisla :
ture. The session was drawing to Il
close but it was not too late to en-
body something into a law that would
bring the matter to head. ANY
year. any month. any day an accident
may happen which will cause the
deaths Of hundreds of people and great
property loss. We want something
done now. Do not report. postponed"
Legislation ineXpel,'nt." or referred
to the next LegiSlatti-t." 1t is a mat
ter OF great moment Ia the Maine Cen
trail Railroad and the Electric Road as
we'll as to the travelling public" said
Mr.. Leigh in concluding his remarks
Hon. Herbert NJ. Heath of Augusta
appeared for the Lewiston. Augusta &
WaterviIle Street Railway. He stated
that the provisions of the bill as APP
Piled to the Street Railway We're espn-
cially unfair. 1t was so unfair as to
he unreasonable in law. and therefore
essentially void. 1t says to the Maine
Central Railroad. Select your own
method. do what you please. expend all
the money you please. rebuild your on
tire system in Augusta on both sides
of the river for IL miles. involving
the construction of bridge, a new
passenger station. new freight yards.
anything you choose Then after this
enormous expenditure of money the
first and only time the Electric Road
has anything to say under the bill is
at hearing before the railroad COM
missioners 1t is no answer to say that
the railroad commissioners might OK
pend small amount. They have Il
legal power to assess nine tenths of the
cost uron the Electric Road if they see
1T to do It.
What we want is fair plan for
doing away with the Rines hill cross
ing. The abolishing of the Rines hill
crossing in proper way would be 4
and neither the Maine Cen
trail or the Street Railway or anyone
Rise would be heard in opposition. The
plan of doing away with the Rincs
hill crossing should be investigated |
and plans filed. 1 believe that the mat
oaN 10 cotfled now nv giving ti,a |