Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-11-04
KEEP Up I0HA'S CREDIT
State Soldiers Win High Hon
ors at Fort Riley.
GEN. BELL COMPLIMENTS MEN.
Fifty Eth Regiment Returns From
Maneuvers Covered With Glory
Proposed Changes in Grade Cross
Ino Law-lnsurance Decision.

Proposed Changes IN GRADE CroSS-
Ing Law-Insurance Decision.
Des Moines, Nov. 3.-The Fifty-fifth
regiment, Iowa National Guard.
which attended the maneuvers at FIT.
Riley, Kansas, returned home last
week covered with glory. 1t seems
that the Iowa boys made splendid
showing not only in comparison with
the state troops from other states
but also with the regulars with whom
they were brigaded. Adjutant General
Byers and General j. Rush Lincoln,
who was in command of the regiment,
are loud in their praises Of the good
conduct. skill, and efficiency manifest
ed by the Iowa troops. General Lin
coin saws that the Iowa boys were al
ways ready to execute any command
given them. and that their participa-
tor in the various drills and man.
euvers showed that they were exceed
ingly we'll posted in matters pertain
ing to the art of war Not only were
the officers of the Iowa regiment
highly pleased but the officers in
charge of the maneuvers, including
number of men holding high positions
in the regular army, expressed them
selves as greatly pleased with the
proficiency of the Fifty-fifth. Perhaps
the strongest praise was received in
letter from General j. Franklin
Bell who was in command at FIT. Riley.
In a letter to Governor Cummins he
said that he found the Iowa regiment
to be one of the most fully and uni
formly equipped of any National
Guard regiment attending the en-
campment. In speaking of the Iowa
regiment In comparison with one OF
the crack regiments of the regulars
he said: In all matters of appearance
and ordinary drill the Fifty-fifth Iowa
did not suffer in comparison there
with" Further on he says referring
to the Fifty-fifth: when its officers
and men shall have had sufficient ex-
perience and training in their field
drills in time of war | would want no
better regiment to command in bat
tie" General Bell also spoke in
highest terms of the conduct of the
Iowa troops, and said that he had no
occasion to criticize them in any way
nor did he hear that they in any man.
ner invited any criticism by their per
sonal conduct. This is certainly high
praise from one who, being strict
disciplinarian, would not be disposed
to give praise where it is not due.
Deadly Grade Crossing.
Among the matters which win
be considered by the next General
, Assembly will be certain changes in
the railroad laws to make more clear
the meaning of the law. in regard to
farm crossings. Under the present
law a railroad is required to furnish
An adequate crossing" in case the
road runs through his farm. In many
instances this provision of the law
has led to controversies with the rail-
roads which have been taken up with
the railroad commission and the
commission finds that it really has
l:ttle authority on this subject, since
the supreme court has decided that
an adequate crossing" may consist
simply of a few planks laid between
rails, slight grade and gate in the
fence on either side of the right-of-
way OF course every farmer is anx-
ious to have a crossing under the
tracks, if there is any place where
such a crossing may be arranged.
These of course are more expensive
and the railroads decline usually to
put them in when it is possible to put
in a grade crossing. The supreme
court, as stated, has sustained the
railroads on this question, so that 1t
is not necessary for the roads even to
put in cattle guards at these farm
crossings. 1t is probable that bill
will be introduced to define more
clearly what an adequate crossing"
should be and to provide the duties of
the railroad and the authority of the
commission in such cases.
1t has been suggested that the law
be further amended so as to provide
that when it is possible for an over
head or under-side crossing that the
commissioners be empowered to order
such a one but that in case a grade
crossing could be put in, the farmer
and the company may agree upon one
Of the other sort and it shall be order
ed, the farmer paying a part of the
expense While on this question it
might be stated that there is consid-
cradle talk about the absolute. need
in certain parts of the state that higA-
way crossings be put iii above or y.
low grade in order TO prevent tho
danger which now attends faom. IN
many cases, especially i1 southern
Iowa. where hills are numerous tie
highways approach the tracks 30 such
a manner that one can scsl, detect
the approach of q train until tnay are
too close to the track 10 prevent dam
ger Of collision or friEh-onjEg Of
teams or other accidents. IL has been
suggested that q law might be passed
providing that after a certain number
of years every road be required to put
in overhead or underside crossings
wherever possible. II case the high
way has to be changed in order 10
provide for an overhead crossing