The daily sentinel., 1898-12-31
EJECT of Grade Crossings in Con-
AsctiOn with hAccidents-SmaH
Number OF Fatalities In
Great britain.

10 w PSisohS W nv w
cross cr walk at gradeupon the lines be-
tween the prescribed crossings. This
class of accidents forms large factor
in the sum total cf deaths and injuries,
and great care is taken by the foreign
companies to protect the public in this
particular. Fully one-third of all the
accidents to persons on the English
roads belong to this class; and while it
is generally regarded that these acci-
dents are the result of carelessness on
the part of those who take the risks of
entering upon the lines, it is neverthe-
ness noticeable that no reasonable pre-
cautions are neglected. In America, as
a whole, scarcely any provision is made
for preventing this class of accidents.
In the state of Massachusetts alone
there are about half as many deaths
from this cause as in the whole of Great
Britain ard Ireland; and during the
last Is years nearly one-half of all the
fatalities upon the railways in that
state have been of this class. BY averag-
ing the fatalities occurring in Great
Britain and Germony, and comparing
with the average for Massachusetts and
Connecticut, the proportion is about as
seven to one in favor of the foreign
countries. Certain classes of accidents
are now almost unknown in Germany.
Accidents to pedestrians at road cross
ings, or to passengers from crossing the
tracks at stations, are hardly possible
at the present time. Any one attempt
ing to walk upon the track is sure to be
stopped. and very severe penalties are
Iafi pf the orders
of an employe.
In this connection a few broad com
parisons are very significant. In the
nity of Buffalo. for instance, it was re
ported a few years ago, that 81 fatal
ties occurred at grade crossings i'll Is
months, being two more than the mum
Der reported for the whole of Germany
for the previous five years. Again. in
the report of the terminal commission
to the mayor and common council of
Chicago, it was stated that over 200
people lost their lives at the grade cross
ings in that city in 1891. This is nearly
as many fatalities as occurred in the
whole of Great Britain and Ireland
from the same cause during the sue
ceeding five years. These figures seem
from three to five times as many fatali-
ties of this class as the whole of Great
Britain and Ireland and Germany com
bined.
Generally speaking, the objections to
grade crossings were clearly foreseen
in England, and the remedies were ap-
piled in the cities when the railways
were established. In the country dis
tricts there are still n considerable num-
ber of grade crossings. They are by no
means so numerous. however, on the
continental lines. Under the regula-
tion of railway acts. 1865 and 1871, a
penalty of 40 shillings is provided for
the offense of entering or being upon
railway, except for the purpose of cross
ing the same at some authorized cross
ing. 1t is provided. however, that the
offending party shill first have been
warned by the agents of the company
This latter fact somewhat reduces the
efficiency of the regulation, as it is
often difficult to give satisfactory proof
of warning.
The board of trade have made regula-
tions and recommendations as to the ar
langements at stations, and regarding
the protection of grade crossings where
they exist. Platforms are to be not less
than three feet above rail level, except
in rare instances. Each passenger
track is to have its separate platform.
and stress is laid upon the principle
that passengers should find it difficult,
and always unnecessary, to descend
upon the tracks. The character OF
gates, and the manner of operating
them, are prescribed. Private road
crossings are also provided with gates;
and under the law of 1S45 penalty is
provided for persons who neglect to
close them after passing through. and
persons using them enter upon the
track at their own risk. The compare
tive freedom from accidents of all
classes on the English roads is due to
much investigation by parliamentary
commissions, many of the reports by
these commissions being very sugges-
tive and valuable. Among other tangi-
BILE results of these Investigations has
been wise extension, in 1871, of the
powers of the railway department of
the board of trade. Since that time, and
largely through the efforts of the board.
there has been marked decrease in
railway casualties throughout Great
Britain, as indicated by the statistics
covering these matters.-Franklin b.
Locke. in Century.