El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-05-04
RAILROAD SUBWAY QUESTION
NOT SO SIMPLE AS IT SEEMS
(BY n. D. 81


every bit of freight transshpped between Mexico and the
west will use these tracks, that every pound freight
Arizona and southern New Mexico and originating there for
the east including the traffic with the Mines viii
pass these tracks, and all California freight for FL
territory leave the passenger trains wholly out Of
account and you get idea of what this huge traffic
will amount to few years from now.
With electric traction IN subway, the nuisance Of such
heavy traffic in the city be largely away
With soft and oil burning locomotives it viii
become almost intOleabe The tunnels of the locomotives
viii be just below the level Of the street surface The
neghborhood ought to be joyous sitting the top
of the smokestack of the FL Paso Ice company the
Sheldon hotel Oil fumes that sometimes fill San JacintO
plaza almost choke people, viii not be less
dSagreeabe because they blown directly under peoples
noses.
Unless the railroads will agree to adopt electric traction
within reasonable numir Of years, all freight traffic
should around the southern part of the city,
if passenger traffic be allowed to the surface the
present E. P s. W. Tghtofway after consolidating track
age with the G. H. & S. A. and abandoning, partly
abandoning the present ordinance provides the of
Main for rail traffic The railroads have got far
together there ought to be little difficulty in working out
better plan.
The new ordinance discussion provides for the
closing of very important crossing the only west of
Santa street. that Durango and Main streets This
closing would cut of from direct connection with the upper
valley about IS city blocks which now enjoy that privilege
and would "deadend" five blocks nearly third Of
Francisco between Santa Fe street and
the union station 1t does if way ought to
be found carry this crossing either under the
subway
The ordinance is now effect Section provides:
filing by the said Rail-
the city Of Fl Paso Texas. of written acceptance
tract between the City and the said Railroad Com
a9d a p hu a OF the beng Of @ S bd
ing upon City said Railroad Company"
The railroad companies filed their acceptance at Thurs
days council meeting, that it is binding contract
in perpetuity
Section Is bars the city forever from repeating the
ordinance any part OF IT, from changing it.
The general negotiations between the city and the two
railroads took place at various times several months
But they always IN secret and the public was not
allowed to know what going The ordinance Itself
rushed through during the closing days Of the old
administration and notwithstanding its tremendous i'm
pOrano and the fact that the matter could wait week
act expressly waving and suspendng the provision in the
city which requires all ordinances be read in
open meeting of the city council at two regular meetings
Such excessive haste not fair to the people.
The present council cannot repeal or change the
ordinance But cannot close the Durango street crossing
unless majority of those voting at election called Tor
the purpose Of deciding the question shall vote to close it.
And the people vote against the closing Of Durango
street. the whole ordinance fails by its terms Moreover
the railroads not obligated under the ordinance until
the city builds the storm sewer, and the city cannot do
that until the taxpayers vote bonds for the purpose
No other citizen taxpayer in the city can have
greater interest in bringing about correct solution of this
railroad question than The Herald has The Herald relies
the good faith and good will Of the railroads to keep
working the problem and to agree plan
better than the present one this should fail to
the sanction of the people The present condition of
blocked crossings almost intolerab and the railroads
hard 10 operate present
and present methods In self defence they must
change The Herald regards the proposed solution
furious the future interests Of the city for all time, in
spite Of apparent present Improvement OF condons
electric traction through the subway should at the very
provided for within few years; the city
should completely abdcate its rights of regulaton
further effort should be made to solve the Durango
street crossing problem fairly The south side belt
line plan should be further considered.
By the way, what does section mean? 1t provides
that the railroad shall construct paved roadway over
the street viaducts of width Of not less than ten 0
feet" Can anybody tell what ten foot roadway
would be such streets Oregon Mesa, and Stanton?
The section says the bridges to be "Of the width
of the street. Are they to be skeleton bridges only with
passageway the center for oneway traffic?
Maybe this Is mere error IN transcription, but So
Just goes to indicate that the ordinance needs careful
revision.
In telling things this ordinance The Herald
doing thing that many people will call foolish For
strange as it may seem to some The Herald is arguing
directly against its pocketboo The Herald has about $50
feet of frontage Main street which the G. H. s. A
railroad purposes by this ordinance to vacate and turn
for ordinary street traffic; The Herald also has
of frontage street at the Of
MAN, that would get the benefit of the opening up
of North FL Paso street by sreeeve viaduct over the
subway 1t is probable that real estate would say
that The Herald would add $4,000 $500 per front
foot to the potential value of its property at Main and
North FL Paso streets the subway plan should 90 through
exactly proposed by the railroads and provided for
this ordinance Yet being convinced that the proposed
pan as II STANDS IS against pubic poy bad thlng for
the FL Paso of the future did not take The Herald long
decide to follow the line Of duty clearly imposed by its
public trust forgetting the immediate increment of realty
value which it might be in position enjoy if it kept
quiet People who held up the crossings while
longer until the question settled right may The
Herald for its poor judgment but the e. Paso of the future
may be grateful and The Herald like all other thoughtful
and loyal FL Pasoans trying build for the future
The sections of the ordinance quoted herein speak for
themselves and citizens competent to make their own
decisions when they put in possession the facts
The Herald has simply performed its duty newspaper
bringing these matters public attention What cti
lens do entirely their affair All they
RI do
its precise and Interchangeable terms- they it to
to bonds for the storm and vote
avor Of closing the Durango ain street crossing
week which the for peace that they licked the war
resume vrfU call Marty IN sire fight