Railway Committee of Privy Council.

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Toronto matters.—A deputation from Toronto City Council was heard in reference to the crossing of the C.P.R. & G.T.R. tracks at Lansdowne Avenue, Parkdale, which the city wants to be declared a public crossing. The Postmaster General said, after examining the site, he had come to the conclusion a subway was necessary. It was contended that this would cost $80,000 & the city wanted to avoid the expense. It having been pointed out that in Jan. 1898, the committee had given instructions that a subway, a foot bridge or an overhead bridge be constructed by the City, the Minister of Railways said the order should have been obeyed. Counsel for the City asked to have the matter reopened. The Minister of Railways said the Chief Engineer of the Department had reported that a level crossing would be dangerous. Decision was reserved.

A request of the city that gates & watchmen be placed at the G.T.R. crossings of Dunn, Jamieson & Downing Avenues, was left over till the next meeting so that counsel for the City & for the G.T.R. could confer with a view of arriving at an arrangement.

A similar request was made by the City in regard to the crossings of Cherry street by the G.T.R. & C.P.R. The Co.'s claim is that the street was only opened up by law in 1890, & that the City should therefore foot the bill. The City Surveyor said that Cherry street had been opened at the point in question as far back as 1855. Counsel took issue on this point, & the committee decided to defer the consideration of the question until its next sitting.

The City of Toronto applied for the extension of the Toronto Ry. Co.'s Bloor St. line west of Lansdowne Avenue to Dundas Street. The City Council had ordered the Ry. Co. to extend the line, but the Co. declined to do so. The Council contended that a population of about 3,000 would be served by the extension. Manager Keating, of the Ry. Co., stated that there was no public call for the new line, & that if completed it would not pay. He saw no probability that the line could be utilized in the future as part of a belt line. Mr. Bicknell, on behalf of the Co., claimed that the act provided that applications for permission for electric lines to cross steam lines must come from the former, & not from municipalities. He gave notice that in case the Committee granted the city's request he would call into question the Committee's jurisdiction. Counsel for the C.P.R. said another set of gates would have to be placed at the C.P.R. & G.T.R. crossings at Bloor St. It cost the two companies $1,000 a year to guard these crossings. He hoped that if the city's request were granted the railway companies would be enabled to continue the arrangement at the same annual charge. He thought a level crossing would be undesirable. The Committee reserved decision.

Railways: C.P.Ry., G.T.Ry.

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