The sun., 1891-01-30
JUST ONE HOURS NOTICE.
MAYOR CLEVELAND THREATENS TO
STOP PENNSYLVANIA TRAINS.

Assistant superintenAent Bechdolat Hur-
r1es Over In Half the Time Allowed 20
Promise that the Crossings In Jersey
CITY shall be BETTER Guarded.
Fatal Academia have been 30 numerous at
the Penntylvania Railroad crossings IN jersey
City since the company began The work OF slo-
vnting the tracks that tho authorities have
boon aroused to the necessity Of some action
to prevent them. About . month ago Mayor
Cleveland wrote to Superintendent Crawford.
calling his attention 10 the necessity OF fur.
nishing better protection at the crossings.
Tho superintendent called on the Mayor and
agreed to double the number OF nagmen. This
was done. but the accidents continued. 1t 10
alleged that the fsgmen are incompetent and
negligent Tho rules OF the company for the
guidance OF the men are very strict, but as
there ia no one TO watch them. they shirk their
duty. especially at night
since tho conference between the Mayor and
Superintendent Crawford there has been an
average OF two or three deaths o week at tho
crossings in the city. Some Of the accidents
have been OF very sensational character.
Ono Of these was the killing OF Fireman Dinan
last Saturday night at the Barrow street cross
ing as he was driving to the fro at which ChIef
FarT!sr los. his life. There have also bsen
many narrow escapes OF horse cars filed with
passsngsrs
Yesterday morning Mayor Cleveland sent
this letter to Superintendent Crawford:
DEAR SIR: After our interview short time
be given at the street crossings but II appears
sense Of the value Of human lie and unless
adequate protection be given at once ! shall
proceed to drastic measures in protecting our
You have not kept faith. You promised
that fasmen. ample IN numbers and onuai 10
smDo1sd at once IN sHs ssrvc.. but Il L
are, are, are ovsrworked and pppdsrpsid. No
the alert and in a condition OF an 1let1 of mind
twelve consecutive hours for tl.l0. and be o.
sSch severe service nor Tor such % eompense,ion. @ ]
Unless assured within an hour that proper
RS'ss Sss T b. csSnsd ssS "ns a ,s x: cs %
my satisfaction. I will deem, the emer-
esncy ersnt enough to Justify taking the mat:
our people. and In doing that will stretch the
law to It's utmost limits: even II have to stop
The r1nninK OF your trains at soeed across our
=, About half an hour later Mr.. Bechdoldt Mr..
CIswford's assistant, called at tho Mayors
the atssnce q MI: Crawford, who w. Ill MIR.
Dechdoldt said the company was willing to DO
desme% mats the crassnas saer
After q long consultation 1t was agreed that
91 thu rornS assna s%la
70 the ilagmen now employed; Fxtra men
T g. to attend !" hs Mr.
Brooks with view OF Ieyislng some othcr and
better plan for accomplishing the purpose. II
It 1. practicable fold ing gates. such a. are used
on tho Pennsylvania Rnil road ferryboats. will
be erected at each crossing. II this proves to
be impracticable. some other plan will Re de.
whatever is decided upon will be submitted to
the Mayor for his consideration.
Sun reporter interviewed Mayor Cleveland
yesterday afternoon as to his power to enforce
his threat OF stopping the trains. The Mayor
said.
The State law permits the company to run
both sides OF the track and gates at the cross
inga The company has no fence and no gates
and consequently Is not under the protection
Of the law.
"A city ordinance permits o apeed OF sixteen
miles an hour under tho Same conditions. that
Y when there are fences and gates. Without
OF the city ordinance. Unless tho company
carries out the agreement made with mo TO-
day VIII II necessary; station policemen at
the crossings to stop the trains; l am deter-
mined that everything that can be done to pre-.
vent accidents shall be done"