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... WILMETTE LIFE traffic has an inter-relation and should be considered together. Everywhere traffic congestion and danger from collision at intersecting lines of traffic are giving grave concern. The policy of s.e parating railroad and street grades is now nationally accepted. The policy of separating grades of high sp(ed through roads at intersections is being urged by an increasing number. Divert Throuah Traffic ft may l>e that through auto traffic could be carried elsewhere with less danger, inconvenience and damage to property than on Main street. A few years ago business men pulled every string to get the Lincoln Highway or othe_r big roads past their doors. Today, they know better and the wise ones see that it is becoming necessary to develop highways that will divert most of the heavy through traffic of cars and trucks away from our towns May 201 1927 with danger and the town would be cut I PubliC Forum Editor, Wilmette Life, Following statement on through traffic was presented by me before the \Vilmette Village board of local improvements Tuesday evening, May 10, in conjunction with discussion at public hearing relative to the proposed widening and repaving of Main street. Speed and Safety Are Firat The propose~ State Highway olt Main Street, the North Western and North Shore railroads are all three primarily to get traffic through Wilmette quickly and safely. These three are closely parallel and run north and south. They are intersected by a number of east and west streets carrying mostly local traffic. It is obvious that the north and south (A) The street might be raised to the same elevation as the proposed North western and North Shore elevation and be a through high speed safe auto highway. But such a plan, while commendable, would probably cost too much. (B) Main street might be raised as much as necessary in order to fit ln with the most economical depth of depression of the North Western and North Shore using the excavation from the depression to make the street fill and thus avoid very expensive haulage of dirt for filling, Elevation ·wm Cut Town In Two In "A," the east and west traffic would pass under the north and south traffic and there would be no confusion. In "B " the street traffic would be all on the 'same level at inter,lectlons, but because the rallroads are depressed approaching vehicles could be easily seen at the intersection of :Main and cross streets, whereas with the state road tight up against the high walls of the railroad, every opening in the walls for ~t reets would be blind spots fraught and cities rather than through the main in two. streets. With the east and west traffic separated If Main street is to be a through rrom the north a.nd south, the village would not be badly divided. With the North state highway : Western and the North Shore depressed the village would not be badly divided, but with the railroads elevated and thl' main street a~ a state road right up against the elevation · the east and weat traffic would be nearly squeezed off and the village divided Into two parts. Whil e all the town would suffer, the west side would lose more than the· east side. Elevation Damages Nearby Property Those having property along or near the railroad should give the grade separation question their closest scrutiny. Property close to tracks elevated on wall~ almost invariably decreases in valu(·. Loss in value is the rule and not the exception as experienced in Chicago, CleYt·land, Pittsburgh and other cities show. Track Depression Best Within the past week I talked with one ot the best informed men in the country on railway engineering operation. He lives in Chicago and works for tlw railroad interests. He is acquainted with ~·ilmette and hopes to liv.- bert- :-;unw day. He said, "Grades up to 1% ·art· perfectly satisfactory for steam and electric roads carrying both freight and passenger service. Grades Ui> to llh % ar. , perfectly satisfactory for roads c11.rryin~ only passenger traffic. "Depression of the North Western and North Shore," be said further, "is <h·sirable from the standpoint of th e citr. IJut from the standpoint of the raill"l)ads elevation is probably desirable." This authoritative statement is frum a man who works in the in te rests of the· railroad~ of the country and who i ~ nationally known and whose opinion. · are a.ceepted by railroad executin·:-: throughout the country. It behooves U!:> who are in official position in Wilml'lt· · to take his view not careless nor nt·g·n gent or the interest we r epr ese nt. The Pennsylvania railroad us£'s 1.:1',< and 1.98% grades on th e tunnel ap proaches to its New York station. Th· · aproaehes of the New York Central tn the Grand rentral station a1·e 2.7% and 3%. The Lackawanna. approacht·s 1" tlw Orange elevation are 1.5 % grad··. Since the approach grade from tho E\·anston elevation to depression throug-h 'Wilmett e would not be greater than 1 <r and since expert authority and g·nl·d practice a1}prove up to 3% gradt·s i 11 such situations, it follows that track dt·pression through Wilmett(· il:l thoroug-h)~· feasible so far as gradt·s are conc£-rrw!l . Drainage of the depressed tracks wou I d setm to present no great difficulty. These thoughts are suhmitttd in a prt·liminary way and not as ('Ondusions with the reltUest that they receive car eful l'(Jllsideratlon in the interest of Wilnwttt·. Let us not act hastily but only aftt·r· careful thought and in thf' light of all th e facts.-<'. E. Drap·r, Village Trust··t· . the Roses -The Blue!" and-The Gray! There's a heart-stirring thrill that comes to all of .us when we watch veterans of three wars parade tn honor of their immortal comrades. And you mu~t not _forget Hour ~oys" of other days. Decorate thetr resttng places wtth Spring Flowers. ·Let no grave go untended. . ,.·-·-·-·------·-·-·-··i· 1 I j I I I I Ch ap L . Ir otion is used by every member of the family-so keep a good supply of ! I f f We have Geraniums, Sweet Elysium, Petunias, and all kinds of potted plants PHONE Us-WE DELIVER I (-- . R. A. P. 1 1 1 j H an dL. ot1on I I ! f ! West End Florist . MATH. HOFfMAN, I 1 1 I I t ---· - --· -~---- ~ ' I ' tn the medicine cabinet where it will be handy for every one to use. Prop. Fust Greenhouse on Glenview Road, West of Ridge PHONE \\ILMETTE 1943 I RidgeAvenue I 1 . I I I Pharmacy c. c. RENNECKAR 1 I I See Ul lor your Asters, Panaie., and other garden flower· Opp. St. Joseph's. Church Ph. Wilmette 3 16 I I I ~c...--14111-IMH....0._~---14111-~-~~.:.