RAILROAD WANTS TO MOVE RIVER
B. & A. PLANS LARGE CHANGES.

The old railbed at the Keystone Arch Bridges went over the 65 foot stone arch bridge…Will Shift Tracks for two miles in Becket and Middlefield-Desires to Alter Channel of Westfield River.  Plans have been made by the Boston and Albany railroad to change the alignment of the divsion’s tracks in Becket and Middlefield so as to shift the tracks for a distance of over two miles and to move the tracks at some points as much as 1000 feet. The purpose of this change is to enable the railroad to do away with two stone arches which now span the Westfield river. These arches have become worn out, making it necessary to rebuild them or to change the line of the road so as to avoid the stream. The bridges which are to be avoided are known as Nos 138 and 139. These will be abandoned and the tracks will be located on the side of the hill south of the stream in Becket. The railroad counts it as greater economy to change the line’s location rather than to attempt to rebuild the arches.

These changes are in keeping with the improvements which the road has been making all along the line to prepare for the carrying of larger and heavier engines for a trafic which is expected later to be much heavier than it has ever been in the past. Bridges all along the division have been changed and made stronger. In addition to the change in alignment and the abandoning of the old arches. a third track will also be built through-out the two-mile stretch. This is expected to be especially useful in facilitating freight traffic over the road.

These shifts, it is claimed, will necessitate a change in the channel of the Westfield river, which is the boundary line between Berkshire and Hampshire counties and the towns of Becket and Middlefield. If the stream is changed, the boundary line would naturally go with it and residents of Becket and Middlefield are anxious to know whether they are to lose or profit by the change. The selectmen of Becket are to hold a hearing on the petition of the railroad company for the proposed changes, at the Becket railroad station Thursday, July 6, at 1 p. m. The change in the channel of the river may cail for state legislation, or at least action of county and town officials.

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