El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-04-12
FINALLY AGREE
ON THE SUBWAY
Council and Railway Off
Gals Define Plans for
Lowering Tracks.

Railroad officials ard the city 5oun-
Gil reached an agreement Wednesday
afternoon. at q closed meeting, 70 elm
mate street grade crossings on the FL
I Paso & Southwestern railroad main
I line through the crowded center Of the
city and divert traffic from the G. Fl. &
a. TO the Southwestern tracks, con-
structing double track subway run
ming along the present right OF way
OF the Southwestern from Octavia
street 10 Buchanan street 10 carry the
freight and passenger trains o. the
two roads and the passenger trains on
the Texas & Pacific. When the subway
IS completed IL IS understood that only
one passenger train each way per day
and the necessary switching trains VIII
be run over the tracks OF the G. Fl. on
Main street. The subway Will cost aD-
proximately S1125.O00, the most Of .
which VIII be borne by the two rail-
roads. and which includes the con
structlOn Of concrete bridges on north ;
and south streets crossing the subway. &
70 carry the regulation pavement. An
ordinance 70 carry the agreement fully +
into effect was presented TO the coun- {
ell Thursday.
To Build Ii Within Year.
President W B. Scott, OF the G. r. &
$. A company, said Wednesday eve
ming that construction OF the subway /
VIII be begun At the earliest possible /
date, II order that Il may be com 4
pleted within the next year or * /
months. lie said that the companies are I
anxious to push the improvement With 4
L B. Cushing, chief engineer OF the c. {
II, ana George F. Hawks. general man 3
@ser' and John Franklin general at {
IorneT or the Southwestern Mr. Scor-
ATTENDED the final conference with J
mayor Lea and the aldermen. II was
IL
-tter O'Clock when the executive ses- g
s-ol auJOufned ana mayor Lea made 4
pubic the ultimate agreement between 7
Inc council and the companies. afta-
the conferees had discussed Dlans for
several days.
Connects With Union Station.
Starting at Octavia street the +-a,.l-.,
~ ne subway VIII connect dfrecrIz- p
win the union station yards and rho
5 ~ II Hnes OF the E p. & s W. and
= n Westward The raise Ar Car1p-
DeH VIII be two feet The rraxir1rfr,
IaIse on the other streets viii be less
tnan one foot
The bridges to be constructed BY the
VI PoIs-tiohS VIII span Campbell kan z
5dS, stanton, Mesa Oregon FI PsSo
santa fe and two alleys These hY-fFree
WI De the width OF the streets. There
nc ROAD way across the bridges. The
SUBWAY VIII be OF reinforced concrete
and its walls viii have a % FOOT cIe9r-
snce under the bridges
City Builds storm Sever.
me only expense the citv viii have
IN construction OF the subway viii be
that OF storm sewers. plans for which
a re lnder way by city. engineer J. y. I
reached between the railroads ana
council the city viii construct these
sewers 20 take care OF the flood waters
from the Mesa, preventing damage to
the subway.
6. II. Retains Tracks.
me = n VIII use It's present tracks
on Main street for through traffic only
IN case OF elnergency- Il was explained
At the conference that the G. H &C F
CURED its title to the Stanton street
depot property under an agreement ,
that II would not abandon il, ana in
event u diC abandon the depot the {
property was TO revert back to The 7
original grantors, or their heirs For
thls reason the c. H viii maintain
nit one through train each wav 70 run
INTO the station each day.
The G. II. company. through the
agreement, VIII also be permitted 20
handle freight over its Main street :
tracks 10 and from warehouses. The
council intends 10 have Main street
paved rom Campbell TO san Francisco. I
To Vote on Closing street.
Z VIII be necessary to close the {
Main street intersection with the T. p
* ,. W. crossing and to do this q vote !
OF the citizens viii be required
Mayor Lea in speaking OF the action :
the council took said that the council
acted upon what il thought was a mat
ter OF the most vital interest TO El
Paso- The question OF closing the
Main street crossing, he said, will be .
LETT entirely to the voters of the city. :
I believe" said the mayor. that il :
is matter Of the greatest good for
the greatest number OF people. The Z
opening Of all the streets from Camp
bill 70 Santa Fe for uninterrupted
traffic viii far outweigh the closing
OF one intersection
Bond Issue Proposed.
The matter Of constructing storm
sewers viii require q bond issue and
he citizens will also have a voice in
this. II viii be necessary 70 have =
vote on this question.
The council has realized that the
most serious issue. This body has
given il deep study and consideration.
and we believe we have reached the {
best possible solution.
In Hands Of Citizens.
THE question OF the subway is now !
entirely in the hands OF the citizens
Of FL PasO. II they vote TO close one
railway crossing then the subway will
become a reality, 10 be constructed at
once City attorney J. Fl. McBroom IS
an ordinance and II passed
by council the railroads will have 100
days within which 70 present their
final plans TO the council for adoption.
In the meantime the city will call the
election for the purpose Of voting on
the closing Of the Main street inter
section with the Southwestern