Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-08
CROSSINGS AT GRADE
CONDEMNED BY ALLEGHENY CITIZENS
OF ALL CLASSES,

The Annoysnces and Danger Caused By the
Gate system-Lives ImperiIed by the
Delay-DamaRe TO Business Interests
An Elevated Railroad Track Favored.
It is estimated that there are over 8. 900
different languages In use in the world, but
not one is strong enough to express the feel
ings Of the crowds of hurrying humanity
that tear along the principal arteries Of Al
legheny and are suddenly stopped in their
course by passing trains at the railway
crossings on Federal street and several other
thoroughfares that cross the Pittsburg, Ft.
Wayne and Chicago Railway.
Complaints innumerable have been heaped
upon the head of the railroad cor.
poratioD, and storm of protest aroused
within the people that, though it may not
have expended itself in mighty uproar,
is brewing on the quiet, just the same.
The choice mixture of mingled profanity
and harsh imprecations that emanate from
the crowds of pedestrians and drivers of all
kinds of vehicles blockaded on Federal
street by a passing freight train with 40 or
more cars, is not exactly what Sunday
school scholars commit 10 memory.
1t is agony to the citizens to have to wait
at a crossing for the gate to go up when
there is pressing engagement on hand and
important business to be transacted. Then
is the time when cuss words fairly fash in
the sky, blossom on the earth and breathe
birthstone in the air. But there is dam
gerous and serious side to the trouble, and
that is voiced in the sentiments expressed
by Alleghenians who do not hesitate to con-
denim the existing state of affairs as nui-
sance and
A DEATH TRAP.
Their opinions are given below, and in all
probability the echo of their denunciations
will be heard at the coming conference be-
tween the Pennsylvania Railroad officials
and the Allegheny Railway Committee,
which will meet the early part of this week
to consider the building of elevated tracks
over the crossings in Allegheny.
81 have seen many people killed at these
dangerous places, where the railroads cross
busy thoroughfares like Federal street."
said DR.. Huseltine, "and it is getting worse
and worse every year. Something must be
done to avert these horrible catastrophes.
am not an engineer, but have heard of the
proposed plan to place the tracks under
ground, and think the latest suggestion of
an elevated railway is the better by far. IT
the elevation begins at Lawrenceville, the
road will be almost level grade and come
very nicely into Allegheny on a second
floor of the depot"
The ambulances of the hospitals are fire.
quently detained by passing trains, and DR..
McNall, of the Allegheny General Hospital.
commented on the proposed change as fol-
lows:
"An elevated railroad is the crying de-
mand of the city. and from our standpoint
we urge it upon the Council to see that the
railroad inaugurates change in the present
system of railway crossings. In critical
cases moments delay is often fatal, and
when we are stopped at a crossing with a
dangerous patient in charge the consequences
are very serious"
CASE IN POINT.
''1 am decidedly opposed to the gate sys-
tenn in vogue at present." said Mr.. Holden.
a prominent Allegheny druggist, "and
want to see elevated railway crossings for
reasons which cannot be made palmer than
by simply citing an instance that occurred
to me the other day. was
riding on an electric car, and just
as we were crossing the railroad tracks, a
train came along and the gates were let
down before we were across, almost shutting
us up in death trap. Terrible accidents
are liable to occur every day through the
present arrangement, and think the tracks
should be elevated"
One of the principal business interests
that are affected by the railway crossings
are the livery people. Mr.. Teats, OF the
Allegheny Express Company, said last
night: "We have dozens of patrons who use
our carriages that particularly caution the
drivers when crossing the railroad tracks,
but so far am glad to say that no fatalities
are reported"
The introduction of elevated tracks will
necessitate the removal Of the gatemen sta
toned at the numerous crossings, "But, !"
said one last night, "whatever suits the
company suits us. The elevated road will
cost great deal, but there is considerable
expense attached to employing gatemen,
and when they build the new tracks they'll
drop u.s."