Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-25
DOUBLE TRACK.
Aldermen Desire IN ore
Time in Matter.
Street Railway Presents Ar
gument for Petition.
Mayor Johnson inquiries What City
will Get in Return.

on the petition of the Lewiston, Au-
tgusta & Waterville Street Railway to
double track Water street the Augusta
BOARD of aldermen adjourned without
taking any action upon the matter, I'M
the petitioners had presented their side
Of the case Mayor Johnson endeavored
| to ascertain what the Electric Road
| was willing to offer for the privilege
| asked tor. particularly in the way of
paving, hut was unable to receive any
| assurance from the representatives of
I the Street Railway Co. present that
! any paving would be done other than
the relaying of the paving between the
| tracks and Is inches outside the rails.
An order introduced by Alderman Hol-
Aay TO grant the petition with no 9TH
err condition than the supervision Of the
| double tracking by a committee of five
aldermen was not put to vote ana
was followed by the expression of a
desire upon the part of Some of the
aldermen for more time in which to
consider the matter.
Hon. Herbert NJ. Heath and Thomas
j. Lynch appeared as counsel for the
Lewiston. Augusta d Waterville Stree
Railway and General Manager Harry
b. Ivers of Lewiston also appeared in
the interests of the Electric Road
Hon. Herbert NJ. Heath opened the
case tor the petitioners. He stated that
i new single rail on Water street must
come anyhow, whether the double track
was granted. He explained that j.
would cost nearly 5000 TO replace the
present line with heavier guide rail
md ABOUT $4,000 to put in a double
i!ne. He cited the case of double tracks
in other cities on streets narrower tha.
Water street, which had proved salts
factory.
He said that it was the intention of
the L., A. & w. st. Ry. to establish u
pl oper waiting room in Augusta, but
this could not be done satisfactorily
unless the road was given facilities fol
u,upie tracking Water street. EIe
argued that there would be less incon-
.~....uee IN the use of a double track
on Water street than there was at pres
Get with a single track.
He predicted that sometime there
would be Il cross country road from
Augusta to connect with the ROckland,
lhOmaston &. Camden st. Ry. and that
when that road comes it will be of more.
material benefit than any other roai
Iunnlng into Augusta. When that
time comes it will be impossible to take
care OF the cars with a single track
Oh Water street" said Mr.. Heath and
he urged the board of aldermen to have
lie future in nina in dealing with the
question,
Low wide is Water street," asked
Mayor Johnson when Mr.. Heath hao
finished his remarks.
The figures were given as follows by
Mr.. Heath. the distances being from
curb to curb: Court street, So feet,
inches; north side of Dostotfice. 40 feet
S inches; near Augusta Trust Co.. Al
feet, = inches; Oak street, ~ feet, s
inches; corner Bridge and Water
streets, 40 feet, 8 inches.
Mayor johnson also asked for tn.
figures regarding the distance from
the outside rail to the curb if the dOubl,
track were put in They We're given a.
follows:
Court street, east side, II feet, /,
inches; west side. II feet, inches,
north side postoflice, east side. II feet
8 inches; west side, II feet, inches,
near Augusta Trust Co., east side, 1.
feet, inches; west side, II feet,
inches; Oak street, east side. Is feet,
~ inches; west side. IS feet, 10 inches;
corner Bridge and Water streets, west
side, ID feet. 10 inches.
Mayor Johnson asked how much dis
lance the company is required to
pave outside the rails and Mr.. Heath
stated that it was IS inches on eacl
side of the rail. 1t was also stated by
Mr.. Heath and General Manager Ivers
that the company would lay The
paving between the two tracks, and
that the entire portion of the street
which the Electric Road would paw.
would be II feet and inches leaving
an average of about % feet.
Alderman Taber inquired if it was
the intention of the Electric Road to
take three feet off the sidewalks OF
each side of the street. Mr.. Heath re-
piled that no one had ever thought OF
such thing.
Alderman HoIway inquired if the
change would materially assist the
Electric Road in managing it's traffic
and Mr. Heath replied that it was per-
fectly plain to anyone who had watch
er the operation of the ears what the
benefit would be.
Alderman Williamson inquired if by
the change the cars could not be oper-
ated more economically.
Mr. Health cannot see where a cent
could be saved.
Manager Ivers stated that the change
would add to the operating expenses.
There would be more street to take
care of and more interest on the in
veStment
Alderman Holway-Would the double
track aid in maintaining the railroad
schedule?
Manager Ivers-It would be a great
help.
No one appeared in opposition to the
petition and Mayor Johnson asked:
What does the road propose to give