Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-31
A Communication.

Editors of the kennebec Journal:
Mr.. Manley in his recent COM
munication to the Journal makes it
evident that he would like to
see the railroad carried across
the river at point below the
Rines hill crossing. While l have.
personally no objection to this final
disposition of the matter if it does not
involve the establishing of another bad
grade crossing at the foot of Cony hill
| fail to see what particular bearing it
has at this time upon the question ~
the Rines hill crossing. The plan TO
cross the river when it comes will be
a million dollar proposition. 1t will
come, if it comes at all, upon the
initiative of the Maine Central Rail-
road. 1t will be the result of the
growing needs of it's business. 1t
would involve the expenditure a sum
equal to about @r.a fifth of the present
capital stock of the road. 1t is folly
to think that such an expenditure
would ever be forced by legislative act
This fact, if no other, was very
clearly shown at the recent hearing
on the Rines hill matter. The Legisll-
ture was willing to assist in doing
away with this crossing even to the
extent of making IL $4,000 appropria
ton. 1t was not willing to do any
more. nor is it at all probable that it
will ever again be willing to do as
mucli-certainiy not if the citizens of
Augusta should make the grievouS
mistake of turning down this generous
offer of assistance. Let us say that
ten or twelve years from now the
Maine Central finds itself in position
to take up the project of crossing the
river. What then? Would the fact
that it had forty or fifty thousand
dollars in the Rines hill crossing pre-
vent it from entering upon this
million dollar project. Not for a
minute. The amount would be too
small. and the railroad would long
since have fully secured the value
of that comparatively small sum in
insurance to it's traffic. 1t would feel
as free to enter upon its vastly larger
project if business conditions rendered
it advisable, as if it had never put
anything into making conditions safe
for life and limb at the Rines hill
CROSSING The Wrecking of single
car at that point might easily
cost the railroad several times
the amount of the investment
necessary to make this danger spot
absolutely safe to the travelling pub
lie. | think it must be apparent to
any man who gives this matter careful
Thought that the Investment of few
thousand dollars to do away with the
most dangerous crossing in Maine.
would never play q serious part in
determining the policy of the road
would involve the expenditure Of a
million or more. The idea is not
worthy of serious consideration
When the Maine Central does work
OF this magnitude in Augusta it will
be in its own time, and in its own way
1t will not be possible to force its hand
in matter of this magnitude by
LEGISLATURE enactment.
The question of doing away With
the Rines hill crossing is not ques-
ton of the far future. 1t is question
of the present moment 1t is not a
question to be settled five or ten years
hence 1t is a question to be settled
NOW Every man, woman or child
who rides up or down this hill in an
electric car does so at the imminent
peril of life and limb. Thousands Of
good people are Drawing this danger
every day After fifteen long years
of effort the people of Augusta have
it in their power to do away with this
death trap. They will not make the
mistake of losing it.
The price Augusta will be held