Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-23

Mayor Viles has been advised rela-
tive 20 the question Of maintaining
gong in the building used by the gate
tender al the Bridge street crossing of
the Maine Central Railroad, ant also
a red light at the junction OF State
and Bridge streets, that the railroad
company declines TO enter into any SUCH
arrangement with the city OF Augusta.
Il Will be remembered that the Pub
lie Utilities Commission, n its recent
decision on the question Of the 6-idg.
street railroad crossing, contained the
following accommodation relative 70
the proposed gong and light:
with reference 20 the gong in the
gate tenders building We feel that the
SAM ought 70 be Installed b. the Pail
road COMPANY
With reference 70 the light Or other
signal at or near the top o. the hill. W.
feel that any such signal should be
installed a. the expense Of the City %
Augusta. and. i the signal Is so con
st-ucted that il can BE- operated from
the gate tenders building. or az point
at or near the gate itself. the Maine
Central Railroad Company may well
cause its gate tender 10 turn -he switch,
press The button or 90 whatever il ne
ctssary- 70 81 th@ signal al the top
= the hi,l.
We. therefore, recommend il This
matter that the City Of Augusta install,
a. rs own expense, such signal or
warning a. i deems sufficient and 50
arrange tha o7erarion q the signal that
ne gate tender u he Maine Central
Railroad Company 9: the Bridge street
crossing may. By turning & switch Q.
pressing 3 button. operate the same up
BEL rh- approach q train from n,
East OF West.
Tte letter advising Mayor Eiles II
the decision o. the Maine Central Rail
read says in reference % the slgges-
ZION made BY the Public Utilities Corn
mission that il might be & good plan
after the Maine Central had installed
il apparatus for notifying the gate
man ~ the Bridge street crossing. for
the city ot Augusta 10 install some
sort OF electrical arraugernent II no
thy or show lights al the junction CO
Bridge and Safe streets, the same 70
be operated ty the g4teE1an employed
and paid by The Maine Central Rail
road Co, out that this sort Of all ar
ran-ener5 would be attended by many
diG!cuitie shat in case any accident
should occur. To matter how, the d.
vided responsibility between the city
and Inc railroad would leave things
50 Jha. both would very likely be in
vo!ved ir any claims that might be
mad fa- injuries.
The letter further states that tie
Naire Central Co. uniformly declines
10 enter into this sort OF co-par-rer-
snip !. taking care u their crossings
ana also says that any sort OF electr:-
cal arrangeneEt as suggested would
DC very APT 10 be out OF repair 4 good
deal q the t,.ne, especially in the win
Ter when il vas most needed. and
such an arrangement being depended
upon by the public TO ride across the
crossing without much attention on
their part would conduce to accident
rather than prevent IL
In closing. the letter states tina. the
railroad company would not agree 10
enter into any such arrangement. as
i would be unwiSe, and that as il
comes from tie Public Utilities Com
mission mostly as suggestion II
would seem 10 be the best way TO give
the proposed notifying OF the gate
tender a thorough trial before any adj
ditional duties are placed upon him.