Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-08-25
NEW uNoERPAss SCHEME.
Railroad Wants to Cut Out Main and
Pleasant Street Crossings.

Railroad Wants to Cut Out Main and
Pleasant Street Crossings.
, The Central Vermont Railway company
has filed petition with the Public Serv-
ice commission, representing that in its
opinion the three grade crossings in this
village-on Main, Pleasant and School
streets-can be abolished and School and
Pleasant streets discontinued where they
cross the railroad tracks. In lieu OF these
crossings, the Central Vermont suggests
an underpass to be constructed beneath
the three tracks running through the viii
lage, and to extend from the junction OF
Summer and Railroad streets TO Weston
street, with suts bic approaches thereto.
The railway company proposes to give
this pass a 24-foot driveway and q six
foot walk on each side, making a total
width of 36 feet. The only land to be
taken in the construction OF the pass
would be that belonging to the Central
Vermont company, to Eugene Holman
and L. q. Erskine.
Starting at the junction Of Summer
and Railroad streets, the approach to the
pass, as planned, will necessitate an ex-
cavation of about five feet on both these
streets to give Is feet in the clear, since
the track at that point has an eight-foot
grade. Besides cutting of a corner OF
Mr.. Holman's lawn, 1t will leave ive-
\ foot drop on two sides OF his premises
and very likely destroy all OF his shade
trees. On the south side Of the track the
approach from Weston street will go
through the middle OF Mr.. Erskine's
blacksmith shop.
The Central Vermont prays that the
Public Service Commission will order the
abolishment Of the grade crossings and
the location and construction Of an un
der-pass and highway as appears most
conducive to the public welfare and safe
ty, and will apportion the expense of
such changes between the state Of Ver-
mont, the town OF Randolph and the Gem
trail Vermont Railway company.
To consider the plans outlined In this
petition, the Public Service commission
has ordered the town OF Randolph, the
incorporated village OF Randolph and, es-
pecially, Eugene Holman, L. @. Erskine
and f. H. Mason, to appear before the
commission at a hearing to be held in NJ.
M. Wilson's Office Friday, the second day
OF September, at 10 o'clock in the fore
noon.
The discontinuance of Main street
here 1t crosses the tracks is not specih-
cally stated in the petition, possibly be-
cause the petitioning company believes,
as il says, that the highway was laid out
before the railroad was built and has, so
to speak, the right Of way. But the
street would be virtually cut of at the
crossing, and the business center that has
grown up ia and around the new O'Con-
nor block would be thrown a long way
from the public square just over the
track, greatly reducing it's Importance
and value and entailing heavy loss on
those ho own property there.
One at all acqusinted with the tide OF
travel through School, Main and Pleasant
streets will be moved to wonder that any
one, even for the high consideration Of
public safety, would think OF discontinu- !
ing all three of these crossings and adopt |
ing the plan proposed. Except for q
small section on Weston street, there is
no locality on the entire southern side OF
the track but would be put to great loss
and inconvenience. This is q growing |
part OF the town and developing fast be-
cause of its pleasing location and easy &C.
cess to the main business square.
Cut of this latter advantage by forcing
the travel from all the hill section down
around through an uncerpass at Weston
and Summer streets in winter and all
sorts OF going and 1t would be equal to
moving this part of the village from an
eighth to third of mile into the coun-
try. Nearly all the dwellers on the hill
pass down South Main and South Pleas
ant streets to the square and back daily
to their work, and would have to take the
devious route.
It is an unusual thing to abolish busi
ness streets so near a public square;
streets that have long existed and by yir-
tue of which people have located their
homes and places from which they gain
livelihood.
Barre, Montpelier, Burlington, st. Al
bhus, and many smaller towns have such
streets that have not been and probably
will not be disturbed. Why Randolph
should be spotted for such q wholesale
"reform" is something OF a puzzler. The
original petition asked for the abolition
of the School street crossing, which could
easily be done by an underpass right
there; and for some protection for the
Main and Pleasant street crossings, the
idea being that gates might be put in, or
that by the removal Of the freight station
to the eastern part Of the yard, less dan
ger would result. This Weston street
underpass scheme was suggested when
The Public Service commission held its
first hearing few weeks ago, and seems
to have been eagerly caught up by the
company as the cheapest and best
way out from its point Of view. II
could then make as large a switch yard as
II pleased and the limits Of its land per-
mitted right in the center Of the village,
rush its trains through at laundering
speed and not have to open them, while
switching, at crossings, being also freed
from damages for losses by accidents.
But from the standpoint OF the village it
would be a bad bloW-one that condi-
tions at these crossings do not warrant.
They are not especially dangerous cross
ings, and in many years no accident or
fatality has occurred on them.
The people interested are asked to ap-
pear ct the hearing next week Friday and
name their position known.
Electric Light Developments.
Acting under their instructions given
Il the last special village meeting, the
slectric light committee have secured the
.ervfces OF an erpsFt, Mr.. Frank Collins, 1