South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-18
ELEVATION Of
TRACKS AGAIN
BEFORE BOARD
New York Central Not Ready
to Commit Itself to Spend
ing Money on Pro-
jeCt, City is Told.

Whether track elevation in South
Bend is to become a reality during
the comparatively near future, de-
pends upon the action Of the present
city administration during the next
three vears Of its tenure in Office in
carrying out the provisions of the
law provided for such improvements.
At the resumption of the hearing
on the city's track separation pro-
gram in the council chambers at the
city hall Tuesday morning it was
very apparent that the railroads, es-
pecially the Grand Trunk and the
New York Central do not take the
citys program very seriously.
The hearing Tuesday, which was
attended by the members of the
board of works, representatives of
the various railroads passing
through the city and a number of
prominent citizens, was a continua-
tion Of the hearing started Nov. 20,
1917. Since then the board of works
on. two. separate occasions, May 20,
1918. and Aug. 90, 1913. continued
the hearing, the last continuation
being TO Feb. IS of this year.
The combinations were granted at
the request Of the war department,
the country at that time being in
volved in the world war. The meet
ing Tuesday morning was declared
by the members Of the board of
works 10 be for the purpose OF TAX
ing some definite action 20 carry out
the track separation plan. which in
cludes the elevation OF the New York
Central tracks and portion of the
tracks Of the Grand Trunk railroad
Don't Want to Spend Money.
A. S. Engles, general manager Of
the New York Central, here from
Cleveland 10 attend the hearing,
frankly told the members Of the
board Of works that the New York
Central was perfectly willing TO talk
things over with the city officials
relative TO plans and specifications,
but that it was not ready TO commit
itself IN any way TO the expenditure
OF money in carrying out the track
elevation plan.
MIR. Engles said that the New
York Central has not the money
with which to do its share, and that
it already has a large number Of
proposed improvements that should
be partly completed az least. He
declared, however. that he believed
that all the preliminary work, such
as fixing the cost to the city and 70
the railroad. fling the necessary
amendments to the company's plans
and determining the total cost OF
the proposed improvement should be
done. but he insisted that the New
York Central would not commit Il
self 10 the expenditure OF any money
for the elevation of its tracks.
Pres't Elliott OF the board of
works made it plain that the city
does not want TO hurry things. He
said that the preliminary work could
b done without expense TO elther
the city or the railroads. At the sug-
gestion OF City Engineer Anderson
however. Pres't Elliott modified his
first statement by saying that be-
ginning must be made If track sep
aration is ever to be accomplished in
South Bend
Cite Increased Costs.
NJ. Engles and the other road
repr sentatives spent much time in
telling Of the increase IN the cost
of material and labor. making t
plain that a revision Of the probable
cost Of the improvement must be
made. As originally estimated. the
Improvement would cost the New
York Central little more than 81
100000 and the city OF South Bend
in the neighborhood Of $500, 900.
Again at the suggestion OF City
Engineer Anderson, Pres't Elliott de-
cided that conference should be
held between the members OF the
board OF works and the representa-
tives OF the two roads affected by
the track elevation program al
which conference an estimate OF the
cost OF the proposed elevation should
be made and the apportionment cost
70 the city and 10 the railroads ie-
termined
The meeting at which this IS 20 be
done will he held March Il at 1880
O'Clock in the afternoon at the city
hall. The members Of the board in
sist that the meeting March II viii
mark the real beginning OF the work