1914-12-03ss

In 1895, the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway company had built a line through Hamilton. Less than 10 years later, Hamiltonians were getting hostile to the railway because of the level crossings. Trains stopped at the passenger station on Hunter street east would block all traffic on busy thoroughfares such as James and John streets for considerable lengths of time.

In December 1914, conflict between the T. H. & B. railway and Hamiltonians arose as a result of repair work being done on a T .H. & B. bridge on Locke street south.

On December 3, 1914, the Spectator reported that work on the bridge caused prolonged inconvenience :

“The work started about three weeks ago, and is still far from complete, although it was expected it would only occupy a week. All street traffic on Locke street over the bridge is still blocked.

“It was pointed out this morning by one citizen that the G. T. R. bridge on James street north, was constructed without the least delay to traffic, ad that one street car track was always maintained.

           “ ‘Why is it that the T. H. & B. cannot work in a similar manner?’ he asks”¹

        ¹ “Object to Delay : Citizens Complain About Slow Work on Locke Street Bridge”

Hamilton Spectator.  December 3, 1914.

As of December 3, 1914 only one side of the new railway bridge had been completed, while work on the other side had barely begun. Materials and equipment for the side being worked on were piled on the completed side, thus continuing full blockage of traffic.

Citizens, fed up with the traffic blockage to that point, with the possibility that it could continue for another three weeks, took their complaints to Hamilton City Hall to little avail :

“ ‘The T. H. & B. has an order from the railway board to keep this bridge and roadway in repair,’ said Archie Kappele, secretary of the works department. ‘It is therefore at liberty to make such repairs whenever it sees fit, and there seems little chance on the part of the city to compel it to complete the work in any given time. It might be possible to compel the T. H. & B. to open the completed side of the bridge for traffic, and if there is evidence of continued delay, action may be taken along these lines.”¹

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