The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-02-25
NEW STREET CAR LINE.
Grade Crossings Make Some Routes
lmpracticable.

There has been SOME discussion
over the route that the new NLansir z
& Northeastern railway will take in
entering the city from the south.
Nearly every person who has given
the subject any consideration, in
Guiding, 1t might be mentioned, the
j.. e n. r. officials themselves,
hoped to Use either Chapman or Ce-
dar street, since 1t was felt that eth.
er of these highways would furnish
the most logical and profitable
route. The reason that these streets
were not used is ii simple one: Com
petent engineers declared that the
cost of putting them in shape for use
was prohibitive and that a carline
along them would be perpetually in
trouble. Why?
Here Is what the engineers said:
Chapman street is very narrow, and
has as many abrupt grades. perhaps,
as any thoroughfare in town. 1t
crosses the Michigan Central south
OF the junction at an awkward
grade, and at an acute angle. This
crossing is admittedly dangerous,
since several accidents have hap
pened there, and the advisability of
a Waterman has been discussed fire.
quently by the council. Then there
is Grand Trunk crossing, which is
still higher, and where the roadway
is also narrow. Next, a block away,
is the Ann Arbor and 7. S. & M.
and several sidings. All three cross
ings are busy ones on which trains
frequently switch. This switching
tied cars, disarranging the schedule
and causing exaspera ting delays.
Then, with the track taking up part
of street already narrow, wagon
traffic would be restricted and the
chance Of accidents from collisions
or runaways would be very great
The same objections apply to Ce-
oar street. There is probably moro
switching on the Grand Trunk and
Ann Arbor crossing and the Michi.
gan Central siding on Cedar than on
Chapman. and there are the same
abrupt grades, though to a lesser de-
gree. Either of the routes men
toned in the franchise reduces the
Of railroad crossings which
have to be made to one new one
the Grand Trunk.
But the road will serve all patrons
we'll. The franchise requires Inc
company to run all cars to the Mich
Igan Central! depot except limited
rars. This gives West Main street
and vicinity car every fifteen min
ltes, which is twice the service that
the o. & c. e. franchise guaranteed,
anC actually four to six times the
service given this winter, when cars
are needed the worst, and when only +,
one car has been running, and that !
very irregularly.
Quick and easy connection will con-
'equently be made with the limited
;ars at the corner OF Main and Wash
ngton streets. II no city in the
tate-Detroit, Pontiac, Flint, or
'aginaw--do limited cars make any
lid for traffic by running out of their
way to get it. They proceed directly
o a certain point which is often not
entral from business standpoint,
AXE on passengers and go. To make
line they must be prompt in getting
n and out of cities.
The special franchise election is :.
'eek from next Wednesday. If you
'ant to go cheaply and quickly to
Jackson, Battle Creek, De-
roit, Flint, Saginaw, Bay City and
Intermediate points, without being
ependent on infrequent and incon-
enient steam cars, vote for the fran
hises OF the Lansing e Northeastern
nd the Commonwealth Power
Both franchises are
rinted on page six of this issue.