Ligonier Valley Rail Road Newspaper Articles
We have compiled over 1,400 newspaper articles that mention the Ligonier Valley Railroad, or related subjects. The articles were originally published starting in 1873 and our collection runs through 1995. Enjoy!
Latrobe Bulletin
June 6, 1905
Council Didnt Compromise
Councilman Herrmann Spoke In Favor Of But One Crossing
A special meeting of the borough council was held last evening in the new council chamber to hear a proposition from George Senft, superintendent of the L. V. R. R., relative to an amicable settlement of the pending equity suit which is to come up for a hearing tomorrow. The suit has reference to the placing of crossings over the L.V.R.R., at Weldon and Spring streets, the injunction which the railroad company got out in the year 1900 prohibiting the borough from going ahead with the building of the crossings coming up for a final hearing tomorrow morning.
Mr. Senft addressed the council in behalf of a proposition which he was authorized to make, and which consisted of an offer on the part of the railroad company to place a crossing at either one of the two streets, in return for which the railroad company would ask council to close the other crossing. Mr. Senft made a strong argument in favor of his proposition.
The distance from Main to Weldon street was but 218 feet, he said, and from Weldon to Spring street the distance was but 236 feet, or a matter of about 450 feet in all. He contended that a crossing at Spring street would by amply sufficient for the needs of the community. He pointed out the dangers of grade crossings, and also how two crossings at these two streets would interfere with the traffic on the road. The business of the road is growing every day, he stated, and would continue to grow, thereby making the grade crossings danger traps of the worst kind.
President Ackerman then called upon the solicitor, John S. Lightcap, and the latter squelched all hopes of Mr. Senfts proposition being carried by pointing out a recent act of assembly which prohibits all grade crossing in the future. In case council should accept one crossing in lieu of two, it would be necessitate an abandonment of the other crossing, and in case the future should develop an absolute necessity for a second crossing, the act of assembly would prohibit it, and would compel the building of either an overhead crossing or an underground crossing. The act of assembly does not affect the two crossings as they are at present, inasmuch as they were both provided for prior to the passing of the act. In case one should be abandoned, however, it could never be revived, as it would be in effect a new crossing and therefore prohibited by the act of assembly.
Upon motion of Councilman Hartman, seconded by Councilman Donnelly, the offer of Mr. Senft was rejected and the meeting was adjourned.
The matter is now up to the Court and it will be decided by one of the judges whether the borough is entitled to two crossings, one crossing or no crossings at all.