The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-04-13
RAILROAD PLANS
AROUSE OPPOSITION
CITIZENS OBJECT TO CONSTRUC
TION OF TRACKS IN STREET
Michigan Railway Company Wishes to
Lay "Y" Along 260 Feet of
Critics Street

The council room was the scene OF
more than ordinary activity, Monday
evening, when gentlemen representing
the Michigan Railway Company pres
ented a request to the council to be al
lowed to use Critics st. from its inter-
section with Railroad st. to a point
opposite the Grange hall for the con-
struction of ''Y" on which to turn its
cars and trains.
Some intelligence of the purpose of
the railroad company to present its re-
quest must have gotten out, as the
opponents Of the project, comprising
practically all of those who reside along
the line of the proposed track, were
present to do what they could to secure
its refusal. The railroad men said
their company proposed to erect fine
depot and freight house on their prop
erty here, but that in order to get to
their freight house and turn their cars
and trains properly they needed the
right to lay tracks in Critics st along
the whole length Of their property,
across Center St.. and for further
distance about the length of the Grange
hall. They said that if permission were
thus granted their tracks would be
sunk to the street level and prepared
for the accommodation of other traffic
as much as possible. They also offered
to- arrange damages with abutting prop
erty holders.
These offers seemed to have little
effect on the abutting property holders,
however, who objected most strenuously
to the tracks being laid in the street at
ALL Mrs. E. s. Lathrop said that she
was very much opposed to the plan and
would require time to consider the mat
ter of damages, and her opinion was
endorsed by Mrs. j. C. Chambers, VIM.
thinner and others. Mr.. thinner, hav-
ing been motorman for number of
years, was quite familiar with the
technical matters involved and insisted
that the company had room enough on
its own land to turn car and that If it
desired more room, or enough for
railroad yard, it should go to some
point where there was room and pur-
chase it. The residents along the street
objected to the noise, danger and dirt
that would come from the proposed
track and also to the fact. as they al
legged, that strings of freight cars
would frequently be standing in front
of their doors. There were objections
from others to the tracks crossing
Center ST.. which it was said was the
only street entering the business Sec
tion from the north that was free from
monopoization by automobiles and safe
for horse drawn vehicles.
Some of the coupclmen seemed to
favor granting the request of the rail-
road company while others said they
would fight it to the last ditch. The
question being of much Importance,
and sentiment somewhat divided, the
whole matter was laid over until the
next meeting.
Another important matter to which
attention was called was request
to lay a sewer northward along Mill
St., from Vienna St. to the railroad
tracks, where an outlet could be had
into the creek. Several citizens along
the line of the proposed sewer were
present to urge that it be constructed
and offered to pay for the labor neces-
sasy to the work if the village would
provide the tile. No agreement was
reached on this matter. and, like the
other, it went over until the next meet