The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-03-13

venience of the public. but emphaticaI-
ly said he did not approve Of the plan
of having a passenger station built at
the intersection of the roads for many
reasons.
Two of the corners were occupied,
he said, and the only available one
was too low. He told Of the present
commodious station maintained by the
L. & N, and of the full Office force,
pointing out that inefficient service
would follow if part of the employees
were transferred to another building,
claiming the passenger and freight de-
partments would both be hindered.
The advantage of having trains on
parallel lines in preference to crossing
tracks he elaborated upon, claiming
the former plan more convenient and
less dangerous than the latter. Going
into the subject farther he said Mr.
Steele built his road with a view of
ultimately having union station with
parallel tracks. He said tho L. & N.
had no objection to the joint use of its
facilities on a reasonable basis. but his
road did object TO having a passenger
station at the intersection Of the
roads
Cottondale people. thought Mr.. Salt
marsh. should be considered and he
thought they preferred the station
where the L, 8S N. one now is located,
and that while the Interchange traffic
was practically the same, the local
passenger traffic was greater on the
L & n. than on the Gulf, St An
drews & Bay road
In answer to questions Superin-
tendent Saltmarsh seid the cost of
making the connections and the addi-
tional facilities of a thousand foot in
terchange track would cost $2,170, the
roads to share the expense of building
and maintaining jointly with the title
to remain In the L. & N. The inter
trains of the Gulf and st. Andrews
Bay road to back into 1t at one time.
Commissioners Bitch asked about
the danger of backing trains into n
station, Superintendent Saltmarsh ex-
planning that there was no more dan
ger than in going forward.
LEWIs's CONVENTIONS.
Speaking in the capacity Of attorney
for the Steel railroad and as a citizen
Of Mariana personally interested in
having. better traffic arrangements
made at Cottondale, Amos Lewis talked
for some time, arguing against the ad-
visibility of making the present l.. &
N. station the one for both roads 70
use. The time the Bay road would
lose being considerable in backing into
the station as well as being dangerous
to cross two important streets where
the school children go daily.
The Inconvenience the public suffer
ed in transferring from one depot to
the other. he said, was outrageous, Il
being very expensive and dangerous
for women and children to have TO be
transferred in unfavorable weather.
There Is much traffic from points on
the L. & n. to the bay country and
TO the north ON the Gulf and ST. An
drews bay road. he said, which makes
it expensive to have the luggage and
persons transferred.
Speaking OF the danger which would
Re caused If the trains of the Steele
road must back into the station, Mr.
Lewis referred to a case in which the
city of Cottondale IS plaintiff against
the L. g. n. to try to keep II from
closing a certain street by the depot,
it being claimed by the road that to
keep 1t open was dangerous.
Mr.. Lewis appealed to the commits
sioners TO have the station ordered
where It would benefit the public most
and where the lives OF children and
grown people would not be ENDANGERED
by trains backing into the station.
and pointed out the fact that the Steel
road had more land at the intersection
Of the road than the L. & N. now has
at the present station. He also re-
ferred to superintendent Saltrnarsh's
claim that the service of the station
would be impaired on account of a di
vision of the office forces. pointing out
that the service would be improved be-
! cause the two roads could have one
| person for the ticket office alone, at all
| times.
STEEpS OPINION.
| General Manager Steele said his
road had tried to make joint facilities
with the L e. N road SevaraI vsaa pc