Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-09-26
NOTICE TO RAILROAD COMPANIES.


PAM and the Missouri Pacific Rail-
road Company and the officers and
agents Of said companies:-
Your attention is hereby called to the
fact that section S07, chapter 2l, article
=, of the Revised Statutes of Missouri,
1879, was by an act of the general as
sembly of the state of Missouri, APP
proved March q, 1885, repealed, and
the following new sections enacted in
lieu thereof
Section S07. Every such corpora
ton shall construct and maintain good
and sufficient crossings, where its rail-
road CROSSES public roads, or town
streets. now or hereafter to be opened
for pubic use, which crossings shall be
constructed of the materials and in the
manner following: On each side of
each rail shall be laid and securely
spiked to the cross ties, a plank of not
less than ten inches in width. two
inches in thickness, nor less than six
teen feet in length on all public rOads, nor
less than twenty-four feet in length on
all streets in towns and cities, to be of
good and sound timber; the space be-
tween the inside planks shall be filled
with macadam or gravel even with the
top of the planks, and shall make good
and sufficient approaches thereto, of
equal width Herewith and of easy
grade; the same shall be covered with
gravel or macadam to depth of not
less than six inches, and shall be SUBJ
stantially and properly joined up to the
plank required to be laid on the out
side of each rail: provided, that such
corporation may make such road or
street to pass under its said railroad
where the same can be done with equal
convenience and safety to the travelling
also cause boards to be placed, well
supported by posts or otherwise, and
constantly maintained at all crossings
of public roads or streets (where gates
are not providedD so as tobe easily seen
by travellers, and OH each side of such
boards shall be painted, in capital let
ters of at least the size of nine inches
each, the words, "railroad crossing
1t such corporation fail to construct OF
maintain said crossing, or to put vi
} boards as above provided, then thu
overseers, municipal authorities or par
ties having legal control or charge o
, said roads or streets shall notify sucl
corporation of the necessity of the con
struction and erection thereof, which
notice shall be in writing and shall b.
served by delivering copy of the SAM
to the agent of the company most con
venient to the crossing. Upon the SER
vice of such notice, if such corporation
fail to construct said crossing or put vi
said boards within thirty days from tn
, service of said notice, the parties hav
ing charge of said roads or streets ma,
! proceed to construct said crossing O
put up said boards as herein provided
and shall be entitled to recover double
the amount expended, together witt
, all costs, in the name of the road dis
, trict, county, municipal corporation. o
other competent authority, at who's
I expense the said crossings were con
I strucled, or the said boards erected, il
anycourt of competent jurisdiction iron
, such corporation refusing or neglectin,
to construct or erect the same. An,
such corporation shall also be liable fO
all damages resulting from such neglec
l to construct such crossing or erec
. such boards, said damages to be recov
cred in the name of the parties injured
f in any court OF competent jurisdiction
, This section shall not apply to street
, III cities and towns or villages unless tn
. corporation shall be required to put u
a snch boards by the officers havin
charge of such Streets" See Sesslo
+ acts, 1885, page 81.
1t is notorious fact that the require
ments of the above law so far as tn
, construction, repairing and keeping il
, repair of the "public road crossings
3 in the county are concerned have bee
almost entirely neglected, and disregard
/; ed by your companies, thereby rem
dering it both difficult and dangerou
f for the travelling public to cross you
t lines of road in said county OF Lafay
ette.
a You are, therefore, hereby notifie'
Y and informed that it Is expected an
4 demanded of said companies and eac
! of them, that they shall without della!
, comply with the requirements OF sal
law. All road oversecrs in the count
l whose roads are or may be affected b,
this law, after waiting reasonable tim
for said companies to repair the sal
j. "public road crossings" and upon tn
failure of said companies or either {
them to repair them as required b
said law, will report the facts to the Ill
Y dersigned. Very Respectfully,
C JOHN s. BLACKWELL,
Prosecuting Attorney, Lafayette