South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-19
ELEVATION OF TRACKS
AGAIN BEFORE BOARD
CONTINUED FROM PAGE oNE.)

ACC@N - - III IT iNOAu Il aOEl OANGs.f
to secure the elevation OF railroad
tracks throughout the city.
Station Subject Is Up.
Mr.. Engles and other road repre-
sentatives brought up the question
Of a union station in South Bend,
and for a little while it looked like
this subject was going TO submerge
everything else. For a little while
it appeared that track elevation had
been forgotten in the discussion re-
garding a union station. However,
the road representatives and the
members of the board of works were
brought back TO the subject in hand
by Sec'y Howard Emmons of the
Chamber OF Commerce. Mr.. EN-
mons .dinted out the great need for
track ele, alton at the present time,
and how this need will be greatly
increased by the proposed industrial
expansion of the city during the next
few years. Mr.. Emmons urged that
some definite action be taken by the
city and the railroads to assure the
speedy carrying out OF the program.
Abe Frank also pointed out the
need for track elevation. He also
insisted that better facilities for
handling the New York and Grand
Trunk passenger service in South
Bend should be given this city. He
declared that the South Bend IA
cilities for handling the passenger
service of these roads is the worst
Of any city between New York and
Chicago.
Witwer Urges Speed.
Edward c. Witwer Of the Stude
baker corporation followed with an
argument for the speedy carrying
out of the track elevation program.
He said that all corporations are
confronted with an increase in the
cost of labor and material, but that
they must make up their minds that
this increase will be here for some
time.
Mr.. Witwer pointed out the great
loss In time experienced by factory
employees generally by the habit Of
the Grand Trunk and New York
Central lines in holding street cross
lngs anywhere from 10 minutes to
90 minutes. He said that the loss
OF time to these employees means a
loss OF money TO them.
Representatives of the Pennsyl-
vania line expressed themselves as
believing that the Pennsylvania will
be In no way affected by the pro-
posed elevation. Pres't Elliott. after
whispered conversation with City
Engineer Anderson, informed the
Pennsylvania men that their road
would be affected, as the city is 60
ing TO consider the construction Of
union station one of the para
mount issues OF the track elevation
program
After the conference the members
OF the board OF works became more
emphatic that they really mean to
carry out the track elevation pro-
gram with speed and dispatch. This
was after the representatives OF the
railroads had removed their infiu-
ence by departing.
Fund Is Depleted.
Pres't Elliott explained that there
is much preliminary work 10 be done
before any actual physical elevation
Of railroad tracks can be done The
track separation fund. which is
maintained by a special tax levy,
and which should contain at the
present time a little over S2O0. 900.
has been depleted 10 such an ex-
tent that II now has exactly SIS, 200,
with an ordinance now up for pas
sage in the city council transferring
$4,000 Of the s55.700 10 the city's
general fund Along with arriving
NJ what IL is going 10 cost the city
and the railroads. amendment OF the
plans and specifications for the work
and other preliminary matters. such
as hearing circumstances as TO as
sessment OF cost 10 property otS7r
than that Of the CITY and railroads.
the city must find some way in
which TO replenish the track sepa-
ration fund before any expense by
the city can be borne.