| Friday, November 10, 1899 | The Newmarket Era | Page 3, col. 4 |
Freight trolley.
The Metropolitan Railway connection with the C.P.R. was discussed by a committee of the County Council Monday morning. The question of using Yonge Street as a general railway right of way was threshed out. Messrs. C. D. Warren, J. W. Moyes and Walter Barwick Q.C., representing the Metropolitan Railway, and Mayor Davis and Mr. W. G. Ellis appeared on behalf of North Toronto. The members of the County Council present were Warden Woodcock, Councillors Evans, Pugsley, Fisher, Stokes, Johnston and several others. County Solicitor C. C. Robinson, County Clerk Ramsden and County Engineer McDougall also watched the county's interests.
Mr. W. G. Ellis, on behalf of North Toronto, strongly objected to the application being granted, contending that the company has powers of expropriation under which they could easily overcome strong detours the grades which it was argued would prevent heavy freight trains being run. He also pointed out that although it might not be the intention of the company to do anything detrimental to traffic on Yonge Street, they were getting extensive powers, which might become at any time vested in the C.P.R., which company it was commonly reported, controlled the Metropolitan Railway Company.
Mr. C. D. Warren denied that either the C.P.R. or G.T.R. owned a dollar of stock in his company. Mr. Ellis retorted that the possibilities were even worse than anticipated, as there was nothing to prevent the Metropolitan selling out to the G.T.R. and thus perpetuating the monopoly which people along Yonge Street thought they were getting away from.
Warden Woodcock said he would not be satisfied to have freight trains running twenty miles an hour on Yonge St. nor to have trains of six or eight cars running. The intention in compelling the company to carry freight was to enable places that had no railway communication to ship carloads of dry goods, etc. It would also be objectionable to have cars standing on the tracks for four or five hours loading or unloading.
Mr. Pugsley said it would be no worse than now. This morning in coming down he met two truck loads going out and a third was standing at the C.P.R. crossing loading.
Warden Woodcock insisted that the speed should be regulated to twelve miles and eight miles per hour in the open and eight miles in the congested portions of the road, and the number of cars attached to any motor should not exceed three. He justified these demands by his experience coming down that morning when a horse would have been killing crossing the track had there been a train of freight cars instead of a light passenger car, which was easily stopped. Mr. R. J. Gibson urged that the broad question of public policy should govern the Council's action in this matter. He opposed hasty action and advocated a careful consideration. The public travelling Yonge street were entitled to as much protection as the people enjoyed on King and Queen streets in the city.
Mr. John Fisher understood that the city would give the Metropolitan Railway Company twenty-four hours' notice to cease operating by electricity within city limits. He opposed any definite action until all the municipalities interested had been notified.
Mr. Warden denied that it was the intention to make this a regular freight railway. In reply to a question he said they were not opposing a postponement of the question before the Railway Committee of the Privy Council, but later both he and Mr. Barwick emphatically asserted they would not consent to an adjournment. Now that they had gone to a lot of expense they would not withdraw.
Mr. Barwick also denied that the City of Toronto had not had sufficient time to look into the matter, as on February 22nd last he had notified the City Engineer and Ald. Saunders of the intention of the company to make the connection. The discussion was continued at a session of the committee in the afternoon. There was some doubt regarding the power of the committee to make recommendations, and a few of the members wanted the matter left to the County Council, which meets next week. After a vote had been taken it was decided that Warden Woodcock and Chairman Evans of the Railway Committee should go to Ottawa to discuss the matter before the Railway Committee of the Privy Council. They will be empowered to make the following suggestions: (1) That the connection between the railway tracks and those of the Metropolitan Railway Co. be made; (2) that they be allowed to run three cars in addition to the motor, and to run two more if the traffic required; (3) that the company be allowed to run their freight trains at a speed of fifteen miles per hour in the country districts, and six miles per hour through incorporated towns and villages, including Thornhill. Mr. Warden wanted the rate made eight miles through towns and villages, but finally agreed to the original proposition. The Railway Committee at Ottawa meets today, and Messrs. Woodcock and Evans left for the capital Monday evening.