The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-19
NO LIMIT To SPEED
CITY NOT INCLINED TO PUT RE
STRICTIoNs ON RAILROADS.
MAYOR SEES NO NECESSITY.
CITIZENS WILL PROBABLY APPEAL
FOR ORDINANCE.

Grade Crossing Accidents Likely to
Happen at Amy Time without
Greater Care Is Taken to Provide
for Safety of Vehicles Which Cross
Railway Tracks-Gatcs Only IA Par
tiaI MISUNDERSTANDING Beneath
Tracks n Solution.
A number of years ago plans were pre-
pared and estimates were made for the
Lowering of Gwinnett and Bolton streets
and other streets crossing the Plant Sys-
tenn tracks, so that vehicles and pedes-
TRANS could go underneath the tracks
The Plant System offered to stand half
of the cost of the work, but the city did
not agree to the proposition and the
grade crossings still remain.
No ordinance to Regulate the speed Of
railway trains within the city limits is
likely to grow out of the accident last
Saturday at the Gwinnett street crossing
of the Plant SYSTEM, when a street car
was run into by a southbound passenger
train and knocked from the track, the
occupants of the car only escaping by
jumping in time, unless the Council is
forced to it,
search among the city ordinances
was made yesterday to ascertain if such
an ordinance is already in existence but
none could be found, and aldermen who
were asked said it was their impression
that none have been passed
Mayor Myers was asked about the mat
ter of decreasing the speed of the trains
by ordinance, but he considers the City
Council is not called upon to take the
Initiative, as there has been no really
serious accident for some years growing
out Of the rate of speed at which the
trains run. Should citizens bring the
matter to the attention of Council, how
ever, and insist upon something being
done, different phase would be put
upon it and Councils consideration
would follow
The city" said the Mayor, Should
not assume an antagonistic attitude to-
ward the railroads, for they are capable
or doing it great good or great harm
IL Is best to keep on good terms with
the common carriers, and it is not well
10 pass ordinances restricting their priv
ltegesN unless the necessity for them is
beyond all dispute
Inc Plant System, unlike the other
'rallroads entering the city, has to ira
verse a wide section within the limits.
and its schedules, if they are to be made
demand that there be some fast running
Inc Plant System has many grade
crossings, and every possible precaution
is exercised. by the road to prevent ac
cldehts. But, with the greatest precau-
IONS 1t is impossible to prevent an oc-
caslonal accident, and allowances should
De made for the infrequency of those
that occur on that road within the citv
limits 0-''
Inc fast through trains over the
rant system do not enter Charleston
because of the ordinances that are re-
saSped as too restrictive. They pass the
junction, but do not go into the citv
savannah cannot afford to get into the
49, category by passing ordinances
that are not altogether necessary
Inc union station, we believe will he
completed within year. and ALI tho mas
sehser trains will then be running into
that instead of into the present passen-
ger terminals of the Plant System and
the southern Railway The approaches
70 the new station will be through a sec
tlon mat is not thickly settled, and there
VIII be Few crossings. No fast trains need
tnen De run on the Plant System tracks
that approach the present passenger shed
'Of course the rapid rate of speed al
winch the trains run must be ANNOYING
10 the residents of the section through
Wnlch the tracks extend but the plant
system acquired the property before
houses were built there. Residents knew
"nal they might expect when they occu-
pied their houses"
Among the aldermen asked If the,, IN
TENDED 10 Introduce such an ordinance
were Messrs. Thomas, Watson and Dixon
All replied in the negative, but Alderman
Thomas said there was one method of
transportation that is growing in use that
ne would ike to see restricted as to the
speed developed on the streets. He
meant the locomobiles, and said that an
ordinance regulating their speed should
be introduced. That is a question thar
does not come within the province of the
departments with which he is identified.
but he said that if no other alderman sees
mt to introduce ordinance, he will I'M
dertake 1t himself
Savannah is believed to be about the
only city in the country, if not the only
one. that does not regulate the speed of
railway trains within the city limits
number of accidents have occurred, some
or them fatal, as a result of the high
speed at which trains run within the CITY.
None of the aldermen so far as known
are willing to take up the matter either
of speed regulating grade crossings.
and as long as there is no ordinance peo-
pie who live across the railroad tracks,
whose families are compelled to cross
and recross them several times a day.
and' people who drive for pleasure, must
pass the dangerous crossings or not go
out of the city at all, will have to take
their chances A petition, it is under
stood, will be presented to the Council
at its next meeting asking that some
protection be given by ordinance
Money Orders for Isle of Hnne