Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-10-12
THE MINERAL POINT DEPOT
A Suggestion From the Wisconsin
Railroad Commission.

Railroad Conn mission.
MADISON, Wis, September g. 1916.
Hon. Platt Whitman, Highland, Wis:
Dear Sir-In regard to the case of Miner
al Point VS.. c., NJ. & St. P. Ry. Company:
After the testimony was taken, several in
vestigations were made by members of this
Commission to see if it we're practicable to
locate a depot building in the city of Min
eral Point in some other location than the
present location that would result in the
elimination of the dangerous situation
complained of and at the same time furnish
additional room for automobiles and other
vehicles to discharge and receive passen-
gers to and from the depot PLATFORM The
dangerous situation was created by rapid
& Northern Railway over the tracks of the
Chicago, Milwaukee & ST. Paul Railway
Company back of the depot. We have been
informed that these switching movements
have been much reduced since the time of
the hearing and that it is not now the
practice to push cars at a rapid rate of
speed over the crossing near the depot in
order to get them over the grade and into
the plant of the Zinc Company.
The question of additional carriage space
is one which we have solution for which
is as follows: You will remember that
Commerce street crosses the right of way
directly north of the depot and that be-
tween the travelled highway and the depot
building proper there is a space for antos
and other vehicles to discharge passengers
on to the depot platform, but that this
space is limited About 200 feet north of
the crossing, there is a driveway from Com
merce street east between the buildings
occupied by the Eastman Lumber Com
pany connecting Commerce street with a
road parallel to Commerce street, east of
the Eastman Lumber Companys buildings
and the railway company's right of way 1t
appeared to members of the Commission
who made the inspection referred to above
that if it were possible to open up this pri-
vate road as public highway and use the
present approach to the crossing from
Commerce street for additional platform
and parking space that the inadequacy of
the depot as far as parking space is con-
cerned, would be very we'll taken care Of
This road, which is proposed, would pass
through the building facing on Commerce
street used as an office for the lumber
company and it would probably be neces-
sary to cut off part of the Eastman Lum-
Der Company's shed.
AS the case now stands, we have no
jurisdiction to require TIE changing of the
highway north of the depot, but we would
be pleased to have the city officials consid-
er this proposition. The proposition is
simply this;-that if the city agrees, the
Commission will require the railway COM
pany to open up and finish street similar
to Commerce street, as far as paving side
walks, etc. are concerned, across their right
of way about 200 feet north of the present
crossing, connecting Commerce street with
the street on the east side of the railway
company's right of way, the city in turn to
vacate the present highway so that the de-
pot platforms and parking space can be
extended north into the space now occupied
by the street. This plan contemplates
platform with shelter shed directly north
of the present depot building.
We would be pleased to have you pre-
sent this proposition to the city of Mineral
Point and let US kuow what they think
about it. Yours truly,
RAILROAD COMMISSION OF WISCONSIN
Walker Alexander, Commissioner.