Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-16

Legislature they were granted more
time to perfect their surveys and then
promised to do something before two
years. This year they tried to work
the same dodge but our able Repre-
sentatives were on to their game
Fifteen years is as long a time as
the ordinary mortal cares to wait for
changes to come or improvements to
be made. Six years has been ample for
any perfection Of plans in order to
make good. Where has the City been
benefited by this long delay? What
has been accomplished or what will be
gained by another. two. four or six
years postponement? Nothing. If we
wait six or fifteen years longer we will
no doubt have airships and flying
| machines galore. so we won't need any
| overhead or underground crossings,
but can fly. In the meantime, however,
| many of us may get killed in a fear
| full accident on the Rines hill crossing.
was on a car only short time ago
| that went slipping down that hill. 1t is
delightful sensation to feel yourself
| just going, going, going, with the
knowledge that the motor man has lost
| control of the car on a slippery rail,
and nothing but good luck of not meet =
| ing one of the trains or shifting engines
almost continually crossing and re-
| crossing the street can save you from
death or injury worse than death.
| MY dangerous experience is simply
a repetition of that of thousands of
other citizens. There have been many
| hairbreadth escapes from collision be-
| tween the electric and steam cars at
| the foot of Rines, hill. and it is simply
| miraculous that a horrible accident
| has not occurred there. Under present
| conditions it is inevitable in the future
and is likely to happen any day. If ny
nv vote l should help to cause it bV
preventing the removal of the danger
| should consider myself guilty of man
| slaughter.
| 1t will be an immense improvement
| to have bettered the grade of the
| principal thoroughfare of our City, ant
made it safe, and it will be we'll worth
the fifteen thousand dollars which il
will cost our Taxpayers. A few years
ago when the proposition to abolish tvs
Rines hill crossing only was being agi-
| tated, it was estimated that the cos:
|
thousand dollars and it was proposed
that the City should contribute somt
forty-five thousand as it's share.
thought that was too large proportion
of cost to be loaded onto the City, bu'
now, with the State contributing
twenty five thousand, Augusta is onl,
required to pay one-third as much az
was demanded of us heretofore.
Some object to the City bearing any
part OF the expense and claim that vi
right it ought not to do so. Opinion:
differ on that question and I will no
argue the right and wrong of it, 1t is
enough for me to know that the genera
law of this State requires the muni-
cipalities to bear such portion of tn,
expense of abolishing grade crossings
| as the Railroad Commissioners assess
on them, and / ask you, if it is at al
probable that in this case, if it Were
left to that tribunal, the City wou>
fare so well as it does under this
special Act. The unprecedented fact
| that the State pays tWcntyfiv
thousand in this particular case helps
the City out. Now if by our votes we
spurn the proffered State aid, do yni
think we shall ever have the offer r.
newed on the part of the State, or thu
we shall receive or deserve any yer!
| respectful consideration of an,
similar proposition we may put UP t
the next legislature?
Will the legislature not be likely II
tell us to go to-the Railroad Com
| missonerS and take our chances under
the general law, both as to what i'm
provements we get and what part o
the cost we have to pay?
Some object to the proposition be-
| cause it does not include the abolition
of all our grade crossings and provide
for extensive improvements in ouI
passenger and freight stations. These
suggested improvements are certainly
very desirable and will come in time
but can we reasonably expect to obtai'
| them all at once and just now? The
| total expense would be upwards of hal!
| a million dollars. Neither the legisla-
| ture nor the Railroad Commissioners
would compel the railroad to do all
| this at this time, and if they did would
assess such share of the expense or
the City as would be absolutely out OF
| the question under the present condi-
! ton of our City finances.
1T is TO be hOped that tne prOpoSel
changes at Rines hill will give more
yard room south of Water street and
| obviate the nuisance of the blocking oi
Bridge street by freight trains.
Looking the cold facts of the situa-
| ton in the face, and considering the
matter calmly and without bias or
prejudice. is it not the part Of wisdom
and prudence for the City of Augusta
to accept the proposition that tn"
Legislature has put up to us, and thus
accomplish the chief object at once,
with the idea that when the proper
time comes and we can afford to pay
our share of the expense we will make
another move for further improve
ments?
WHO WILL WISH OR WILL DARE.
ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF VOTING TO CONTINUE THE
MOST DANGEROUS CROSSING IN
NEW ENGLAND?
Thanking you for the use Of your
valuable space, | remain
Respectfully yours.
w. H. GANNETT.