The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1915-05-14

WuO WISH W CFOSS the SITSeI dDONS
the underpass. The underpass was
planned with concrete walls extend
ing above the surface on either
side. The upper roadway is for ac.
cess to the depot only, but the
walks can be used to pass from one
side of the street to the other.
The plans for the underpass were
made, one above the drainage line
(which would require the raising OF
the tracks and depot and express
buildings, the other a little deeper
to be drained with an automatic
electric pump. Estimate of cost for
the first named was $4,000, for the
latter $25,000, two-thirds of the
cost of either plan to be assumed
by the two railroad companies and
one-third by the town of Union City.
The $4,000 plans were recommend
ed by the engineers as the most prac-
tical and the cheaper. These plans
were exhibited and the engineers
were piled with questions about the
details.
In offering this proposition Mr..
Taylor stated that his company and
Mr.. Peyton's company felt that they
were making very liberal concessions
to Union City. They had, after re-
connoitering the grounds, come to
the conclusion that Union City need
ed more traffic accommodations
across the tracks. The crossing on
Main and Harrison streets are not
sufficient, he said, and in view of
the fact that railroad companies
everywhere are undertaking to
eliminate grade crossings and the
danger risks thus incurred the un-
derpass was proposed and utilized
in many places. Mr.. Taylor added
that at this time while the European
war is at it's height and business
conditions are badly effected he was
sometimes sorely puzzled to keep the
finances of his road in good shape,
but it is at just such a time as this
that the companies are offering to
convert some of their earnings into
the construction of improvements in
Union City. The underpass con-
struction. he stated, had been offer
ed to no other town on the road eX-
cept Meridian.
1t was refused there and since
that time the death of a prominent
citizen occurred at the crossing.
When Mr.. Taylor had closed May
or Reynolds arose and stated he was
not prepared to say what the people
wanted any further than had been
at citizens meeting, and
what they would do with the propo-
sition for an underpass.
w. M. Miles opposed the PROPOSE
lion on the grounds that the rail
road companies had at first refuted
he idea that Union City needed
more crossing facilities and now
come with the concession that they
ire needed. He reviewed the case,
having been present at a number of
he conferences, and spoke of the
manner in which the legislative
committee had been received in
Nashville by the railroad officials.
DR.. Turner wanted to be on good
erms with the railroad companies
,ut made it plain that he, as a
member of the board, could not
gree to the terms of the PROPOSE
ion.
Attorney F. j. Smith was present
nd made some comments on the
submitted to our people.
Mr.. Peyton got up again and as
ured the people of Union City his
ood will. He admitted that some
rguments had been made by our
eople which had not been present
d before, and that they should be
uly considered. But in conclusion
nat he and his people would not
0nsent to the opening of Church
rect at the crossing except by the
rder of the courts, and then they {
ould cheerfully acquiesce. t
No agreement was reached. In '
Ict the railroad officials and the i
tizens present seemed to be as far I
part as before the Meeting. Y