Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-04-17
COPY Of RULING
FAVOR|NG n. SIDE
IS RECEIVED HERE
CITY ATTORNEY CLARK. WHO
FOUGHT STREET CAR COM.
PANY, BEFORE UTILITIES COM.
MISSION, GETS OPINION HAND
ED DOWN YESTERDAY.

| The ruling Of the state public utili-
| ties commission ordering resump-
ton Of North Side street car service
was received in Ottawa today by City
Attorney Roger Clark. The ruling
calls for the installation of a crossing
over the Rock Island tracks at Coum-
bus street within the next three
months and renewal Of regular trolley
service for that section
The commissions ruling reads IN
part;
columbus street is onC Of the prin-
c1pal streets in the G. y Of Ottawa.
1t runs in nOrtherly direction from
The business center OF the city into
the northern section Of the munici.
pality. At point approximately hall
mie from the center of the city il
is crossed by the tracks OF the Chi.
cagO, Rock Island and Pacific Rail.
way. The Rock Island passenger sta
tion is located at the intersection of
Columbus street and the right of way
of the railway company. A single
track Of the Northern Illinois Light
and Traction Company lies in Colum-
bus street, extending north beyond
the Rock Island Railway, furnishing
street car service to the residents Of
that portion OF the city lying north
Of the railway 1t is estimated that
the population of this section of he
city numbers $500 Two blocks north
OF the Rock Island Railway branch
ine Of the street railway runs east in
Norris street some half dozen blocks
to the site OF the ottawa Driving Park.
The Columbus street line continues
north from Norris street a distance
OF some two blocks. then turns west
in De Leon street, extending some
three blocks in That street, Originally
street was located some seventeen 4
feet west Of the center line Of The ,
street When Columbus street, south F.
of the Rock Island Railroad, was
paved the street railway track was .
shifted over some seventeen feet to
side OF the Rock Island Railway. This
rendered the old crossing useless, anu .
On Oct. %, 1918, due to this reaign-
ment, service. north OF the railway
was discontinued. At the point Of the +
old crossing over the railroad il was
necessary to cross two tracks Of the
Rock Island, Due to the extension Of /
a switch track of the Rock Island |
across Columbus street and due to the
change in the location OF the crossiny
to the center Of Columbus street, if
the street car track is extended over
the railroad, it will now be necessary
to install three crossings and to Shift
a portion of the street railway track
north of the Rock Island to the cen
ter of the street. In the opinion Of
Witness Hayes, division engineer of
the Rock Island, the two old crossings
could be used in the new location, and
one new additional crossing would be
necessary estimated by him 20 cost
$3.50, No estimate was given of the
cost of installing the crossings. North
of the Rock Island is will be neces-
sary to shift a portion of the street
railway track and overhead to make
connection at the point of the new
The cost of this was given
as 81 400 This figure, however, ap-
pears 10 be excessive, and little
weight can be given to the testimony
offered by respondent as to the ex-
pense which would be incurred in the
realignment of the track and overhead
north of the railway. 1t appears that
the construction and maintenance of
this crossing is provided for by an
agreement with he Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific Railway Company.
The situation presented in this
case is not Altogether unique Here is
a street railway operating in com
The company's equipment is not mod
ern. and the service is probably not
satisfactory, and yet the
question arises, How much the busi-
ness to be done would justify increas
ed cost of improvements either in
equipment OE SStN &c III OtHeF WORDS,
it is one of those street car properties
that is jus; managing to keep going?
II is possible that the revenue derived
from the operation of certain portions
of the system does not equal the OPP
Grating costs on those portions of the
ines. 1t is possible that the part of
the lines north of the Rock Island
Railway, considered alone, does not