The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-11-25
URGE VOTERS TO-
SUPPORT PLAN
Commercial Club Resolutions
Explain Belt Line
Proposal
FUNDS RECOMMENDED

The resolutions submitted 20 the
Commercial Club Tuesday night by |
It's waterways and transportation
committees and adopted by the
club. indorsiug the port comma.
sion In It's work. and especially as
regards the proposed water front |
belt line railroad. set forth the alt I
uatton In detail
They urge the voters OF King |
county TO adopt the proposed en-.
largement OF the comprehensive !
scheme OF harhor development To
include a public belt line. giving
this community full control over
the interchange OF freight between
rail and water carriers. and giving
10 local industries the free choice
OF all avenues for tho marketing OF
their products
And. unlike the Municipal league
report. they recommended the
transfer OF funds with which 10
build the belt line. explaining thus
The port proposes TO make avail.
able for belt line purposes 5000 900
OF bonds heretofore authorized by
the people. but not expended. In or.
der to connect the five great ter.
mlnai groups OF port utilities with
all transcontinental railroads and
steamship lines which are now In
Seattle or which may subsequently
come 10 the city"
An exposition OF the situation
preeedes the resolutions thus:
l. Tho por, commission durinu the past
three years has made efforts 20 secure
| zetlan on the part Of tho railway com
paniss leading to the formation % a CON
men switching system by Joint action -
the railways concerned. but without any
| apparent success
Consequently Il appears futile 90
| wait longer npon tho rsii~ag companies
Therefore. tbs port should proceed 20
huiid and operate the belt line. the pre-
snt construction % include tracks 90.
l,sndins from the kFxo yard % the south
Ito smith cove district on tho north, Tits
fret unit wouid constitute nucleus Tor
a larger system tuAi weuid strrsaaliy
embrace AL the water front and Indus.
trial section. % the city
II tho funds fsr the Public belt iine
are authorised q l. hoped that the rail-
wsy companies viii ea-opsFats 9Th the
port cpnasntssign BY sivins 40 OF selling
such % their tracks may be necessary
In the working eat % an economical belt
system.
From IN. s;snapeir, ~ ~. pos,
commissioners. a. operator. 81 the public
docks the advantage. % belt hns.
owned and ep>satsd ~ the eerafnission
are t~ofolf. felio~.'
tsl Tho pert properties wesld
b made acr~ssfbis to all the railway
| companies on an equal fcettns. thus
placing the public docks - an al.
| Nantass over such privately uF cot
peratsiY owned decks and warehouses
naiEh, not ~ IN r7siti0a 90 90
cure direct service FROM All TIE rail-
usv cernpsniss
co. The ineams from ths port
docks - dsrs pdest upon The tonnage
moved over them. The control - the
belt ltus saitrhias wnuid saabls the
pert commission. az operators % the
decks. 20 facilitate the delivery 60
| local business houses % GOOD. brosrhi
late seattle sy watsr routes. thus
saeoufsEirE a larger voiuns OF husl-
mes. tn that direction.
rho duplication 81 s~frhtne
charges caused b. tho fsiiar. Of two
trunk railway. 70 make proper phFsicsl
oonase,ions nscsssssaiins IN. uss 81 the
cclumhls a fuses sound Railway com
psnyfs traeks IS an tntsrmsdiary IN
making Interchange Of traffic. would be
fons Asey 18th BY the construction %
the public belt railway
Tho unssftsfartary ranft'ien -
sits where most % tho tnoFatars Ia 9c-
cupisd b. railway tracks. q e sEgerisd.
sauid - improved b. tho construction -
! a public bolt iins railway. which may
enable the port to induce ihs removal %
some % these tracks. releasing a strip
In IN. middle % fh~ street that may h-
used a. thru thurnfars
= The operation % belt fsilwaY ~
the part commission would r~sais In me
adoption % an efficient system -
/ sNIsehins and charges. uniforul- fair sna
equaf 70 all concerned. and Nauid insure
shA protection u the citYs Interests A.
II against competitive. cities; consequently
the sooner a start to made ihs better
a The present outlook IN railway Do.
L setapmsni warrants 'hir committee IN ~
tisytns that Other transrrniinsnial ran
WaFs are DESTROYS - attaining fail nnd
/ water facilities a. ths Port - Seattle
Il The operation % public belt lire ~ ths
Il port commission would snshis any new
Il railroad seeking terminals IN 'hs Pacific
L coast TO snfsr Seattle on = fair and eqni
i able baafs 18th all other roads