El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-02-23
ROADS PROPOSE
An OPEN SUBWAY
G.. H. and E. P. & S. w. Off
Gals Ask so Lays More on
Grade Crossing Problem.

: Tentative plans for the abolition OF
Z the railroad grade crossings IN the Dusl-
ness section of the city were presented
and agreed upon at a meeting FRIDAY
! morning. held in the city hall, between
". B. Scott. president, and +. b. Cush-
ing. engineer, Of the Sunset central
lines; c. +. Hawks, general manager
and J. /. Campbell, engineer OF nam
tenance of way of the ii PasO y South
western railroad. and mayor Tom Lea Lea
and city councilmen W O. Jolly, - w
Fisher and j. p. O'ConnOr-
The plans agreed upon call for an
open subway to extend from some point
east Of Campbell street. along the pres
eut right OF way OF the FL PasO d South
western railroad, TO a point west OF
santa Fe street. crossed at the several
streets between these points by neces-
sary viaduets. The meeting between the
railroad and city officials was har-
moniOus.
Three Methods Talked OF.
There are three ways by which the
grade crossings could have been ellml-
mated. and each was talked over TO a
considerable length. They are; An ele-
waited structure, which would carry the
tracks above the street level; a belt line
which would necessitate the removal OF
all the tracks to the southern part Of
the city; and the subway, which pro
vides Tor the sinking OF the tracks along
the right of way OF the Southwestern.
The q idea was considered impOssi-
bic. The belt line proposition was con-
sidered impractical Tor many reasons
alleged, the chief OF which Is the con-
flict of titles in the matter of the Cham
izal zone, which left the third plan as the
one Tor the alienation Of present con-
ditiOns.
Railroads ASK Open subway.
The railroads presented q plan for an
open subway, providing Tor crossings
above the tracks at Campbell, Kansas.
Stanton. Mesa. Oregon, Fl Paso. and
Santa Fe streets. and on the right of
way of the FL Paso Il Southwestern
railroad. This would leave Main street
from Kansas street west into San Fran
cisco. an open thOroughfare. with no long
freight or passenger train service on
this street.
By reason Of the lowering OF the grade
on the Southwestern tracks for the sub
way, the question will arise as to the
closing of Buchanan street into San
Francisco, which. however, will have TO
b decided by a vote Of the people
VIII Cost 100000.
The cost of the subway work. accord
ing TO rough figures viii be about
51000,000.
One important question coming up
and which viii have to be definitely de-
cided. is that Of storm sewers. probably
on rankin street, from Florence street
west TO the river. If these sewers are
not put IN. the heavy rainfall and re-
sultant rush OF water from the mesa
will make the subway useless. 1t IS
pointed out, however, that this storm
sewer would unquestionablv have to be
built sooner OF later, irrespective of
whether or not the subway were put In.
To Wait 80 Days.
Because OF the fact that president
Scott and general manager G. +. Hawks
have no authority to make the expendi-
ture necessary for the building OF the
subway, they have asked for a period
OF 80 DAYS in which TO place the project
before the directors of their respective
companies The council viii be notified
if the authority for the expenditure Is
forthcoming at an earlier date.
The first step for the city council will
be the preparation OF an ordinance pro-
viding for the subway. The ordinance
Will be drawn up BY J. II. NcBrOom. citv
attorney, and as a matter OF courtesy TO
the railroad officials, it viii be held for
80 DAYS.
Making Progress. Says Mayor.
In speaking OF the meeting and the
proposition mayor Tom Lea said: i
feel that substantial progress has been
made. The council certainly appreciates
the spirit Of both railroads represented
by president Scott and general manager
Hawks, in the frank. free. and fair dis
cussion Of the matter. This question
undoubtedly has brought to all parties
a realization Of the imperative need for