New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-24
To 10 fU4T NTH GRADE CROSSINGS
THE STATE RAILROAD COMMISSION SEEKS AU-
..1nn1n.,, 70 ,rR1rRArE CHOOSING DISPUTES.

TIE STATE RAILROAD COMMISSION SEEKS AU-
-1IORITY TO ARBlTRArE CROSSING DISPUTES.
Albany Jan. % (Special.-One Of the questions
which has been troubling railroad companies and
The residents Of the various cities Of the state for
many years has been that of grade crossings. The
annual loss of life which is large. added 10 the
cost for injuries persons and property on the
Grade crossings makes an extensive item in the
yearly accounts which the railroad companies OF
the state compelled t. pay. Then there IS the
danger OF which the residents Of the cities. towns
and villages through which the railroad tracks pass
at the street grade IN constant fear ana "hch
tney are anxious 10 done away with AS con-
di,ions now are there is apparently little prospect
Of railroads and the various corporations OF the
state coming together and setuihS thls extern
svey discussed topic satisfactorily 10 either or
both sides Two or three Of the cites or me state
through legislation Of special character nave COM
pelled the railroads which run through them to
lower or elevate ,her tracks. hut there always has
been hard ;lght over it in the Legislature and
the result generally has made considerable hard
feeling on both sides. How best 10 get at and to
solve this problem in way that VIII cause every
one 20 be satisfied Is now agtating the minds or
the members of the State Railroad Commission II
Is well known to all railroad men. al least that
The Commission in reality was the creation OF the
railroads. The expense Of maintaining II Is paid by
the railroads that besides looking ont for The
interests OF the public the board is expected to
0Dk
selves.
II is the opinion Of the members Of the board
that the best interests of both the general public
and the railroads can be served by the ultimate
abolition Of the grade crossing. and upon this work
the board is about to set ont. Charles r.
DeFrccs, the secretary OF the board, has had con-
siderable correspondence lately with the Railroad
Commission of Massachusetts in relation TO the
work which the Commission Of that State has done
toward doing away with the grade crossing. The
correspondence is in itself encouraging for II shows
through the efforts Of the Commission nearly 100
grade crossings have been done away with IN that
State. in many cases in Massachusetts, the cross
incs abolished through an amicable agree
1nent between the railroad company and the town
shows that out OF nearly 100 grade crossings which
have been abolished, nearly one-half Of them were
done away with on tee applications or the railroads
The preliminary part of the work of the Railroad
Commission looking toward final abolition OF the
grade crossing will begin In few days and II is
a work OF no small consequence This is TO be the
every railroad in the STATE; II IS imI9ssSiDe FOR
Der without being rdicuously on; Of the way un-
less he has been extensive and frequent traveller
eral has been collected there Will be in the hands
of the Railroad Commission all the Information
crossings which need changing. II Will take some
ton. and in the mean time measure for the con,
sheraton of the Legislature Will be drafted and
Of fhe e NJ Of T S5h i h6 Th 81 M
undoubtedly be based upon the Massachusetts law,
the railroads and the public OF that State it will
permit the Commission to act as the arbitrator in
all cases of grade crossings which may be brought
before It. either by the officials OF city town
the officials Of n railroad company itself. In
cases the board may determine that the city
town should bear a portion Of the expense in
others that the railroad company whose tracks
complained Of shall bear all the expense. and
perhaps in other cases that the State may be re-
ehang 70 Ps h6Gh by the ha
statute be agreed upon which will extend
their powers in this matter. and thus take away
from the Legislature question which at times is
exceedingly veXatious 10 some members. II IL not
thought by members OF the rtailroad Commission
that the railroad companies Of the State will op-
pose the passage of such IL It is
rounded with the proper safeguards afeguar1s
which would prevent some future and perhaps cor
rupt commission from using uniustly the power
granted to Il under the law. Neither Is II thought
by the members Of the Commission that the public
represented by their members Of the Senate ana
the Assembly. will oppose any objections TO such
measure If. too. its interests well protected.