Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-29
Monday, March 20, 1909.
The Rines Hill Crossing.

in position to get rid of the dangerous
Rnes Hill crossing, which has not
orly been Il serious interruption to
traffic to and from Water street at a
point where Is per cent of it must,
necessarily go, but has also been Of
fcially pronounced the most dangerous
grade crossing in Maine. This crossing
is passed upon the electric cars at
some time during the year by seven
ciehths Of the citizens of Augusta-to
say nothing of those of other com
munties-.at the absolute peril of life
ana limb. Fifteen years is a long time
trap like this and it is not surprising
that our citizens are willing to make
some little sacrifice rather than face
lay 1t would be folly to imagine that
the mercy that has for the past -
years shielded the men, the women,
ard the children of our city from con-
stantly impending tragedy at this point
can be counted upon for another 10
years Inevitable disaster will be the
result Of continued delay. 1t may be any
hour of any day In the face of such
danger further delay would be worse
than folly 1t would be criminal The
time to get rid of this crossing so fraught
with fearful danger is not five, 10 or
Il years from now-or after a horrible
disaster at this point has filled the
city with mourning is NOW, at the
very earliest practical moment There
should not be one hours delay that
can possibly be avoided Human life
is too sacred to be measured in dollars
ally menaced whea a comparatively
small expenditure will forever obviate
great danger that threatens it. Such
Importance and moment would be I'M
worthy of progressive citizenship.
After Is years of effort all parties
arr placed in position to come together
in this great work The State has APP
propriated 81! 900 The Electric Road
has agreed t. put in $4,000 1t is for
the citizens of Augusta to say whether
or not they are willing to rut in $4,000
for the removal OF this death trap and
the fertilization of traffic to and from
Water street All the rest of the ex-
pcnse, whatever it may be. is, under
the terms of the bill, to be borne by
the Maine Central Railroad Tho
statute law in Massachusetts and Yer
mont. in doing away with grade
crossings, puts 60 per cent. of the cost
upon the railroads. % per cent upon
the state, and Il per cent. upon the
municipality So we'll has this law
worked in those states that there never
has been any criticism of it among the
citizens of either of them. We would
the fact that the bill which has been
passed by the Maine Legislature for
the removal of the Rines Hill crossing
is even more favorable to Augusta
than would be a general statute law.
like the one that has worked so sat
sfactorily in Massachusetts and Yer
mont The estimates for the removal
of the Rines Hill death trap call for
"A total expenditure of 100000. 1t will,
undoubtedly. be more rather than less.
However much it may be. however.
the city of Augusta cannot be held
to pay penny over $4,000. Will we
be getting our moneys worth? The
journal believes we will be many times
over.
There has been no question of public
concern so important to the people OF
Augusta as this Rines Hill matter
since the building of the Kennebec
bridge.
We believe that the doing away with
this crossing will be worth $4,000 to
the city of Augusta the day the work
is completed.
What does our city gain by the re-
mOyal of This death trap?,