The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-09-23

elevated structure to serve these indus
tries in a very substantial manner and
will encourage their construction.
Tracks extending through business
district in general require more sub
ways than the residence territory, and
all important streets should be sup
piled with subways as far as it is
practicable to do so. Here again the
necessities for industrial spurs and
team tracks have very important
bearing upon the number of subways.
A growing city like Kenosha requires
ever increasing means for teaming, and
team tracks must be reasonably near
the center of the city Furthermore
these tracks must be located on the
ground level and must be connected to
the elevated structure by tracks with
reasonable grades. These necessities
must be borne in mind and have bear
ing upon the question of closing Of
streets. No doubt each Individual de-
sires his own street left open as a mat
ter of convenience, and it may appear
no large project is ever carried out
without some damage and inconveni-
ence being suffered by somebody. It
is a recognized principle that in such
cases those who suffer damages should
receive compensation at the expense
of those who benefit by them. With
out such rule, practically no large
undertaking could be carried to com
pletion. This is the case in Kenosha.
The railway company will benefit by
the elevation Of tracks in Kenosha, and
so will the city of Kenosha as well as
practically all its citizens. Likewise
the elimination Of certain of the sub
ways will benefit the railway company
and the city in reduced costs; will
benefit the industries by increasing
opportunities for industrial tracks,
will in certain sections benefit the city
by permitting additional team track
facilities and less expensive teaming;
and will cause some damage to the
city and some of its residents, by the
closing of these streets.
AS stated before in this letter, we
of course study what we think to be
the reasonable needs of the city, and
in the case Of Kenosha we have recon-
mended the closing of certain streets.
In making this recommendation, we
believe that after the citizens have
accustomed themselves to this change
they will scarcely feel that there is
any inconvenience at ALL Grade cross
ing eliminations have been accomplish
ed in a great many cities in the
country, and only in exceptional cases
do we find subways as near together
as they would be in Kenosha if each
street had subway; and even in the
business districts in some of the large
cities the subways are not as close as
they will be under our proposed scheme.
When the question Of elimination Of
grade crossings on the northern divi-
sion of the G. M. & st. P. Railway in
Milwaukee was first brought up, the
city itself submitted plans calling for
the closing of certain cross streets
Following is statement showing the
distances between the streets as they
will be after the streets are closed ac-
cording to the city's own suggestion:
Feet
Highland Boulevard viaduct to
Western avenue. No streets
have been opened across the rail
road in this stretch .... .2180
Western avenue to Vliet and
Thirty-third streets. One street
not opened across tracks in this
stretch NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. GAO
Vliet and Thirty-third streets to
Galena street. Two streets not
opened up and one street regu-
larly travelled to be closed ~. 1890
Galena street to Lisbon avenue.
One street regularly Travelled to
be closed Observation-Disclosures. 925
Lisbon avenue to Brown street.
One street not opened across
tracks to be closed ......... $40
Brown street to North avenue.
Two street not opened across
tracks to be closed ...... 1910
North avenue to pedestrian sub
way at Clarke st. Two streets
not opened across tracks to be
closed ...........a.s... 1880
Pedestrian subway at Clarke
street to Center street ..... 6S5
Center street to present Fond du
Lac avenue subway Two
streets not opened across track
to be closed 1890
In the above grade elimination,
which is 2.15 miles long, there will be
eight streets open across the tracks
and one pedestrians subway at Clarke
street.
The commission is about to order
the depression Of tracks on the Madi-
son division of the G. & N. W. Railway
in and near the city of Milwaukee,
from point near Chicago avenue to
point west of Forest Home avenue.
The first crossing will be First avenue
and from that point the following