Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-17

Central Railroad:
STATE OF MAINE
Public Utilities Commission.
In the matter of proper protectioh ior
Bridge Street Grade Crossing in Au-
gusta.
F. C. No. 46.
BENJAMIN F. Cleaves, Chairman;
VIM. 3. Shelton and Chas. w. Mullen,
Commissioners.
This Commission received commu-
nication signed by the Municipal OH
GERS of Augusta, asking that Bridge
street crossing be abolished. Upon in
curry it was found that the desire OF
the CITY of Augusta was not for to-
tai abolition of the crossing, but for
larger measure of protection. IN thls
situation the Commission, on its own
motion, started an Investigation ana
notified the City of Augusta ana the
Maine Central Railroad Company OF
such investiga ton and of the 1act tnat
a public nearing upon the matters IN
volved in the investigation would DE
had at the offices of the Commission,
at Augusta, on Tuesday, Nov. goth,
1915, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.
Hearing was had at that time ana
place, and notice proven to have Deen
given as ordered. Melvin +. Sawtelle,
City Solicitor. represented the city or
Augusta; and Seth NJ. Carter. Esq,
represented the Maine Central Rail-
road Company.
The tracks Of the Maine Central Rail-
road Company pass through the entire
length of the City of Augusta, and
several streets cross the tracks OF the
Railroad Company at grade. On &C
count of the hilly character of the city.
nearly all Of these crossings are at
the foot of a somewhat steep hill.
Gates are maintained at all of these
crossings, and no complaint is made of
any such crossing, except the one upon
Bridge street. 1t is not claimed that
at this crossing foot passengers are
in any particular danger, nor is it seri-
ouSly contended that ordinary teams
are not seasOnably warned of the APP
preach of train. 1t is claimed, how
ever, that heavily loaded teams start
ing down the hill are likely to see the
lowered gates too late to check the
team upon this hill when the surface
of the road is icy or slippery.
1t is strenuously argued that the mu-
nicipal fire apparatus is very likely to
start down over the hill before the
gates are lowered for the approach of
train. If such a thing did occur,
a very serious accident might result.
The representatives Of the City Of
fered evidence tending to substantiate
their claim that the gateman at Bridge
street does not receive notice of the
approach Of n train from the East in
time to lower the gates before a loaded
team or the municipal fire apparatus
would be practically at the crossing.
1t appears that the gateman receives
his notice of the approach of n train
by hearing the whistle and that the
distance that he can hear the whistle
is not sufficient to permit him to per-
form properly the duties required of
him.
The representatives of the City sug-
Eest that a gong ought to be placed in
the gate tenders building, to ring a
sufficient time before the approach of
Il train from the East so that he could
lower the gates much sooner than he
can under the existing circumstances.
1t is also suggested by the represent
tatives of the City that some kind of a
signal ought to be placed at or near
the top of Bridge Street Hill, to warn
the Fire Department of the approac CHI
OF train and give the driver Of the
apparatus an opportunity to take an
other route and not make the start
down over the mill at the rate of speed
that the apparatus is supposed to
maintain.
With reference to the gong in the
gate tenders building, we feel that the
same ought to be installed by the Rail-
road Company
With reference to the light or other
signal at or near the top of the hill. we,
feel that any such signal should be
installed at the expense of the CITY of
Augusta. and, if the signal is SO con-
structed that it can be operated from
the gate tenders building or a point
at or near the gate itself, the Maine
Central Railroad Company may we'll
cause its gate tender to turn the
switch. press the button or do what
ever Is necessary to set the signal at
the top of the hill.
we, therefore, recommend in this
I, matter that the City of Augusta install,
at It's own expense, such signal or
warning as it deems sufficient and so
arrange the operation of the signal
that the gate tender of the Maine Cen
tral Railroad Company at the Bridge
ST. Crossing may, by turning a switch
or pressing a button ona-ate 4ba c,r,,