Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-09-08
GRADE CROSSING ABOLIsHMENTE
Commission Wants TO Eliminate Three in Randolph
ViIage--Why the Step is Opposed

IN u way by an underpass at summer
street lie a small number of people living
we'll out on Weston fat. The aggregate
loss Of time and energy BY this forced ex-
cursion would foot up the equivalent 70
several individual lifetimes in q single
year.
The point at which'it IL proposed to To-
cate this u~nderpass is at or near the low
est land level on the southern side Of the
track. II receives the surface drainage
from the northern slope OF the High
lands and the extensive hill range south
west OF the village. In springtime when
the SHOWS melts, q vast amount OF water
settles into this hollow near the Erskine
blacksmith shop. Within recent years
boats have been necessary to pass through
Weston street for days at q time. II is
always wet and muddy there, as well as
on the Summer street side, when there is
rain. No amount of draining will pro-
vide against this, and a low underpass,
taking all the water that would settle
there, would almost certainly be flooded
or impossible from mud at certain times
in the year. Then how would traffic get
through, limited TO this single passage ?
Our public square and business section
- QuAAG GOukEEAGA hOhH ~ OlAy OaNANA
has been over the track, where recently
the Mason grain store and the large
O'Connor block have been built and are
good business sites on account OF their
nearness to the square. There are also the
Cottage hotel, the Lamb marble shop, the
Green Mountain garage, DR.. L. A. Russ
lows Office and other places OF business
n that strip Of Main street at the foot Of
othe hill The entrance 10 the freight
house Is there from which freight comes
over easily to the stores. Dead-end this
street at the track and throw the traffic
away from it as proposed and this part OF
the business square would be ruined for
its purpose. The hauling OF freight from
the depot to the stores on Main street and
Merchants Row would be q serious fac
tor and the added expense would fall on
the ultimate consumer.
From any point of view that can be
considered, the proposed scheme lacks
merit, unless one believes that it would
add immeasurably to public safety and is
willing to sacrifice any and every other
consideration for that. No one can esti-
mate the hurt that would result to the
comfort, convenience and business OF our
people, which ought to weigh materially
in the case. Even the commission seemed
to think less OF this Weston street under
pass idea when it was made clear what a
blow il would be, and turned TO the sng-
gestion that perhaps an underpass at
Main street would be a better solution.
Perhaps 1t would; but before W. accept
this as an alternative let as consider what
that means. It means the giving up OF
the South Pleasant street crossing and the
diversion of the traffic there; it means a
very extensive, u%nsightly and dangerous
excavation right Though our main BUSH
ness square and streets; 1t means the con-
tinuation OF the South Main street hill at
about the same grade down to the re-
quired level below the tracks, leaving the
business places on that side buttressed up
in the air; it means the ripping up of the
greater part of Depot square and the wall
ing up of Dubois q Gays block and the
bank, which would be unap
in front by teams; it means
he trenchinR OF Main street its full width
we'll down the front OF the business sec
ton, with the stores hung up in the air
and no team passing at leveli It means a
trenching OF Merchants Row and
Railroad streets back quite q distance in
to meet the level, or else dead ends
no passage to the unGerpass; il
means a very heavy expense running up
into many thousands, the spelling OF our
pretty square and attractive business sec
ion, n q more dangerous menace to the
public finally than the crossings IL sup
plants. Let's think twice before vi yield
40 the beauty and the advantage of our
business square and streets In answer to
his call.
Comparing these heroic and destructive
nea ures, which the situation does not
demand, with the simple and effective
means OF putting in gates or having flag
men at these crossings, and Is il any won
Ter that our people who live here and
the conditions and who will have
meet whatever comes in future, day in
day out, oppose the adjustment
II these crossings as proposed No town
n Vermont but would rise against il.
Yet there is not, and will not likely be in
III Vermont, a proposition to abolish
crossings that means 80 much to
he city or town involved. Unless feeling
changes it will be q fight to the last ditch
o preserve W hat il so essential to the well
Of our town.
The Public Service commission is not,
IS some suppose, the final authority in
lboIishment of grade crossings. Any in
party may appeal from its find
.nRs and orders to the court OF chancery,
v bich may consider the case itself or APP
Doint . special commission which has