South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-18
ORDER OFFICIAL
Of GRAND TRUNK
To APPEAR HERE
Board of Works Sets July 8
as Definite Date for
Railway Hearing.

Tired OF delays. Gilbert A. Elliott,
president OF the board Of public
works. has set July S as the definite
date for the hearing on the question
Of The grade elevation OF the Grand
Trunk railway racks on Division St
in a telegram 20 Howard q. Kelly,
director general Of the Grand Trunk
system. sent late Tuesday afternoon
Mr.. Elliott made It plain that the
board Of works will not c-ountenance
any further postponement OF the
matter.
The tIegram was the answer q q
message received by the board Of
works Tuesday morning, iu which
Mr.. Kelly stated that the stress OF
business again compelled him 90
postpone his engagement with the
board OF works. This was for the
hearing set originally for June 20.
Delayed Many Times.
Kelly's telegram "a Pres't Elliott
TUESDAY was the 'steenth delay Grand
Trunk officials have effected. Every
time further discussion has been
scheduled in recent years the rail-
road officials have been obliged 90
make last-minute cancellations Of
their engagements here because of
stress Of business City officials
have come 10 view the situation as "a
chronic case Of stall and hitch. and
say that the railroads dilatOry tao
1ics cannot continue much longer.
Members Of the board of works
are tempted 10 look upon the latest
move Of the Grand Trunk as another
way 20 brusS aside and delay action
as long as possible. officials about
city hall are inclined 10 the opinion
that the comparative inactivity OF
Mayor r. r. Carson has led indirect
~ az least 10 Kelly's latest postpone
ment. The MAJ or himself has gone
on record with the statement that
the Grand Trunk is stalling. Wheth-
er he will force a showdown should
there be another postponment re-
mains 10 be seen.
Is Old Problem.
The Division st. problem is pro-
verbally las old as the hills" Years
ago after placing a single track in
Division 81 the railroad sought per
mission 10 lay a double track. The
request has never been granted. In
recent years the narrowness of the
thoroughfare has caused residents
20 agitate for abolition of the grade
crossings by either elevating or de-
pressing the tracks.
Joint action on the petition Of res
idents was taken before the war by
the local board Of works and an
agreement was reached whereby
grade crossings would be abolished
Later the railroads objected because
OF the costs the changes would in
vOlve. Further action was inter-
rupted by the war and nothing was
done for the next two years.
Road Resumes Efforts.
Early this year The board OF works
again set 10 work 20 have the diff
Guilty Strengthened out. Director
Gen. Hines of the United States rail-
road administration wired permits
sion for the railroads TO resume their
old work and the South Bend board
got in touch with the railroad on-
Gals. Promises Of a meeting how
ever. have not been fulfilled by the
Grand Trunk officials who are par
ticularly concerned over the Division
st problem. South Bend and SYRIA
cuse. y. Y, are perhaps the two
largest cities i'm the country i'm which
railroads are built in thoroughfares
in the heart Of the city.
A new right-of-way which would
remOve the tracks from Division st.
entirely is generally favored by resi-
dents OF the city. Elevation or de
preston OF the tracks would entail
the expenditure OF a million or more
dollars and a considerable portion
OF the burden would have 10 be
borne by the city.