The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-08-19
GRANTED POWER 10 MOVE
TRACKS IN PORT DEPOSIT
Railroad, However, Must Make Grade
.38 Per Cent Instead OF .35

Railroad, However, Must Make Grade
-.3S Per Cent Instead OF .35
With Ezra B. Whitman, retiring
member, dissenting, the Public Ser
vice Commission Friday authorized
the relocation OF tracks of the Col
umbia and Port Deposit branch OF
the Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Washington Railroad between Port
Deposit and the Maryland-P Pennsyl-
vania State line under certain condi-
tions. The majority opinion was
signed by Harold E. West, chairman,
and ]. Frank Harper.
The relocation of tracks is author
lied provided that portion Of the
branch line between point 200
feet south of the Port Deposit
station and point where the line
will run out south of the Octarora
bridge, when relocated, be built to
.3S per cent grade, instead of a .35
per cent grade, as asked by the Co.
The ruling specifies that the Phila-
delphia, Baltimore and Washington
Railroad provide access to the Sus-
quehannna river by suitable means
at points where public crossings now
exist
After the opinion had been hand
ed down Mr.. West explained that the
relocated tracks would be at the
present level at the Port Station and
the embankment would be reduced
materially by the .3S per cent grade,
thereby eliminating a nuisance to
the town.
The protestants argued before the
commission that the town was practi-
cally onestreet town, that the view
of the river would be cut off as well
as air and light, from residents in
the northern section OF the town, and
render the town undesirable as a
place of residence.
They also argued that the eleva-
ton of the tracks to the proposed
height would place the main street in
the bottom of trench. They show
ed that the town has mile and
half of river front available for navi-
cation and still is an important ship
ping point.
The commission pointed out that
it was not until large part of the
most expensive construction work in
relocating the tracks was completed,
including the Octarora bridge, cost
ing approximately $500,00O, that ap-
plication for approval of the COM
pany's plans was made. The COM
mission said that, advised of the
work being done and the fears of the
people of Port Deposit that their.
town would be damaged materially,
the commission invited railroad au-
thorities and the town people to an
informal conference.
The opinion showed that the rail-
road representatives, on the COM
missions insistence, met commit
June 81. 1t also said: up to
June IA there was, to the commits
sion's mind, very apparent reluct-
ance on the part of the Officials OF
the company to reveal or discuss
their plans as they affect Port De-
posit either with the commission or
with the people of the town, although
the work was going steadily ahead
day by day." ,.o
1t was explained in the opinion
that the law required applications
for commission approval of any rail-
road to be made before and not after
construction work began. .... +,
The commission held that the re-
quested grade of .35 per cent was
not required by the public conveni-
ence and necessity. Testimony OF .
the railroads officials, the opinion
added, showed it was not necessary.
The commission said it felt no
hardship would be wrought on the
railroad company by the .3S per cent
grade, that all it's needs would be
be only slightly impaired.
The slight effect ON the cost of op-
Grafton will be far more than Offset
by the fact that the railroad is get
ting a new road of the most expen-
sive construction at practically no
cost to itself, the opinion asserted,
except where it elects to have a
double track where now there is a
single track and this cost would be
small compared with the whole cost.
The .35 per cent grade also will
diminish to a considerable extent the
nuisance which would be created in
the northern part of Port Deposit by
building .35 per cent grade accord
ing to the opinion. The commission
also asserted there would be no
to the railroad in the num-
Der of freight cars drawn by one
engine.