Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-17
VIRGINIA AVENUE AND THE NJ


from their report in the case of the petition Of
the city of Buffalo for relief from the inconve-
niences and dangers Of grade crossings:
In cities it is the growth Of railroad bust
ness that creates the difficulty, and hence when
q change becomes necessary to relieve the streets
the railroad ought to pay the most of the Expense
On the other hand, cities are justly liable for a
portion Of the expense Of carrying out some
proper plan of relief. because, first. they have
invited, OF at least without protest have per-
mitted railroads to expend vast sums upon the
grade crossings and the rails systems adapted
thereto, and in the change this amount becomes
q loss; second, the people and their business
can well afford to pay something to be relieved
from q burden partially self-imposed; third,
when tracks are elevated or depressed the city
and its people become reinvested with the ex-
elusive right to the street and the railroad sur
renders such rights az it had acquired under
the consent given to IL to lay rails in the street
and TO use them
''Since the LIST of June, 1887, the railroad COM
missioners Of Connecticut have ordered q sepa-
ration of grades ut sixty-one crossings at an
estimated eost Of s443, 900. or an average cost
OF SI.272 and the total amount apportioned to
the towns has been 5000, or between II and
10 per cent of the whole.
HOW 1T PAYS TO ABOLISH GRADE CROSSINGS
The principal considerations which will infu-
ence a railroad company in determining
whether q separation of grade crossings at any
crossing Is desirable are, on the one hand, the
present aud the probable future expense at
tending the crossing. including the pay of Tag
men, the care of gates, the possible legal ex-
Pense and damages growing out of accidents,
and the possible danger to traffic on the road,
and, on the other hand, the cost and the inan-
cial condition Of the company.
The cost Of u hagman per annum is $500 or
$500. ~ q hsgman is required night as well as
day the cost will be nearly double or 81 900
and N. as in the case at some crossings two
nagmen OF gatemen are required all the time
the cost Is again doubled. A railroad in good
financial standing can borrow at from to .
per cent per annum. To such companies the
separation Of grades at a crossing where the
company Is obliged TO keep a single gateman or
hsgmsn would be a measure OF economy If il
could be accomplished at a cost 10 the railroad
of not exceeding $4,000; and If day and
night gateman or hagman required the
company could afford to pay as much as
100000; If two were required all the time,
s4O. 900. The liability to accident and the
damages with which a railroad might suffer in
consequence thereof would somewhat increase
these figures. There are many crossings in the
state at which iagmen or gstemen are or soon
will be, required where the grades should be
separated as q simple measure OF economy,
without regard to either convenience or safety
Although most OF ths expense falls upon the
railroad companies they are more anxious than
the towns TO undertake the work of abolishing
grade crossings. and If provision is made SO