South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-03-20

III u - AAfOA iaAAs
Vision the eIongation southwark
~ the Michigan %. business district.
the lens. henlng and widening south
ward and westward OF the rest Of
the downtown portion Of the city,
the elimination Of traffic congestion
caused by the Grand Trunks sur
face tracks on Division St. and the
New York CentraIs surface tracks
ou IT'S right Of way between South
and Bronson sts.. the operation Of
o. street car line on Division s..
west from Michigan 81. 20 Laurel ST.
and connecting with "a proposed loop
there, the converting OF Division
81 into a business thoroughfare and
the erection OF union station
vision an these things and YOU will
see only a part IL what is antici-
pated with the carrying out OF the
city's track separation plans.
Fathers OF the track separation
movement see this vision. 1t is also
held BY city officials in whose hands
the carrying out OF the proposed
plans now rest. But the vision Is
even broader than IL has been set
forth. In addition 20 the things
seen for the future Of the city by
the removal OF the railroad tracks
from their present surface locations,
is the enhancing in value Of much
property.
The Chamber OF Commerce and
other business and commercial or
sanizations Of the community have
adopted slogans foretelling the flu
ture growth Of the city in popula-
ton. and It's expansion in an indus
trial and IN a business way. For
several years the track elevation. or
as II IS technically known. the track
separation plan. has been under way.
But today South Bend is nearer the
realization OF the plan than # has
been since the movement begun.
Awaits Many PrcIiminaries.
For one thing, additional legisla-
ton, enacted at the recent session OF
the Indiana general assembly. MAX
ing the plan possible from a legal
standpoint has been obtained. For
another. officials Of the Grand Trunk
and New York Central lines are more
heartily In accord with the plan than
they have ever been in the history of
the movement here.
Naturally in such movements there
IS necessarily much preliminary ne
gotiating to be done Much OF this
preliminary work has been accom-
plished i'm the present case. The
two railroads are now agreeable to
the carrying out OF the plan. and
through the means of many confer
ences between city officials and those
Of the railroads. tentative under
standings have been reached.
OF course 10 cannot be expected
that there will be any actual track
elevation in South Bend during the
present year. and probably not dur
Ing the next or the next. but the
movement has progressed to such
degree that it's Accomplishment may
be foretold.
The preliminary work has gone so
FAR that the Grand Trunk officials
have agreed to enter into a con
tract with the city for the removal
of It's tracks from Division ST. and
TO spend at least 100000 in car
lying out its part of the expense Of |
the project.
New law Enables Contract.
And right here is where additional |
legislation affecting track elevation
IN South Bend has its important !
bearing. Until Bill No. 1O7 was
passed by the general assembly and
became law through the signature |
of the governor. there was no legal /
authority for the city 20 contract !
with the Grand Trunk for the re- |
moval Of its tracks on Division ST
Under the new law. however. which 1
was prepared by City Atty. Thomas
W. Slick, the city now may contract !
with the railroad company for the |
abandoning Of its present right Of /
way through the city and the OBJ
tanning Of another right Of way
through the purchase OF private |
property. Tn fact tentative nerotia-
lions are already under way between |
the city and the railroad company
for the accomplishment OF this very
thing Under this agreement the
city is TO pay the Grand Trunk /
S5So,O00 for giving up its Division /
st. right or way, held for many years /
under the right or eminent domain. /
and the securing of another right of 1
way 20 parallel that OF the New F.
York Central
This new law also provides for