Salt Lake Telegram | 1932-09-07 | Page 9 | West Side Group Renews Rail Fight

West Side Group Renews Rail Fight I Residents Protest Alleged Speeding and Noise by Trains The year two controversy between be between tween home owners living on Sixth West street and officials of or the Denver Denver Den Den- ver Rio Grande Western railroad over alleged speeding and unnecessary sary s ry noise of trains assumed new proportions proportions pro pro- portions at a hearing before the ci city y commission Wednesday Upon concluding the hearing the adopted a motion authorizing author author- izing the city attorney and city en engl i. i neer to notify railroad officials the company must live up to its franchise or suffer the consequences in court The franchise requires trains travel at 12 miles an hour and that the way right be maintained at the street grade Failure to comply with both these provisions pro was alleged by bya a delegation of 30 men and women who waited on the commission PLACE RESPONSIBILITY Five thousand people of or the west westside westside side have put the responsibility o of remedying this situation on the city cily commission declared Dean Flanders Flanders Flan Flan- ders one of the delegation spokes spokes' spokesmen men The liThe commission cannot pass this responsibility to the law department depart depart- ment mont or the police department any longer Police Ch Chief ef W V. L. L Payne told the commission there has been an investigation invest gation in progress for the past 10 days das to t determine whether trainmen trainmen train train- men are violating the speed laws At Atone Atone Atone one time Chief Chic Payne informed the commission that checks made by officers of on the speed of trains showed no violations It was this report which caused residents to renew what they termed their fight for justice be before ore the city commission Hugh Wilson division superintendent for the railroad declared the speed seed laws are arc being observed ed by trainmen DISCLAIMS VIOLATIONS The company h has s never intentionally intentionally violated any ordinances or terms of its us franchise said Mr Wil Wll son Various members of ol the delegation declared their homes are arc bein being shaken shak shako en to pieces by vibrations from heavily ily fly loaded trains The condition is aggravated by the fact that the tracks are arc several inches above the street grade it was explained Commissioner Harry L. L Finch acting acting act act- ing lag chairman of the meeting appealed to members of or the board to put a astop astop astop stop to the controversy which is continually continually continually con con- recurring before beCore the comI com corn mission I The action taken b by the board provides pro pro- provides vides first for rigid enforcement by bythe bythe the police department of speed laws Secondly the street department wilbe wil vill be asked to establish a grade along Sixth West street Th Then n the railroad company will be compelled under unde its franchise to make the tracks conform conform con con- form to the grade Jrade