New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-02-20
TIE FATAL GRADE CROSSING.

A, I'D old lesson was emphasized afreSh u!
tho shocking accident in Newark yesterday
morning Tragedies Of the same KIND nave peeh
onacted over and over during the last nail ceh
+,,rv "Details vary. hut the one underlAIu
,,,,So continues TO operate in lamentahle ltei-
io, Until q dozen years ago it was either I"o
trains that met on grade crossing or one 'I''h
and q team. OF late the construction or troIieS
lines has opened up new possiblllneS OF eiico""-
tor with consequences as disastrous aS any
which had resulted before In the present III
stance both the steam road and trolley ltatN
were on down grades. The engineer OF me
Iackawanna train could not see the other me
because of obstacles: and the motorman Oh Tue
trolley car had icy tracks to deal WILL MS
efforts TO stop Roadway were IN YAM III al III
slant several passengers-probably eight OF zen
wore killed and something like a score serl-
onslv burt. Considering the fact that over
hundred nersons were on board the car, II IS a
wonder that so many escaped alive
The necessity for improvements at this par
ticuIar crossing as we'll at others, was long
ago APPRECIATED by the municipal authorizes OF
Newark and steps were taken to secure REFORM
Tho rronosed changes had been practically com
Melted at most points including that al the MAI
I,et-st crossing of the Pennsylvania road IN
deed. work had actually been begun at the
scene of Yesterdays collision, but 1t had not
been carried far enough 10 he of service Al
though the city and railroad company had beeh
discussing the matter for years they ola not
reach mutually satisfactory arrangement nltil
recently Hence a delay which made posslDle
the anxiety and sorrow that affiict score OF
more of Newark families to-day, but LOT "hlch
nobody is clearly TO blame.
Technically. at least the Lackawanna COM
many must he acquitted of responsibility for
this accident 1t had the right OF way ana IT'S
gales were down. although the latter were de-
signed as a warning, not as an enecuVe odrtLel'
The trolley company must be regarded as more
cuIpable The special risks growing out of the
condition of its tracks should have been more
distinctly and more promptly recognized Ener-
cetfc instructions should have been given to the
motormen 10 exercise more than usual caution
on the fatal grade free use of sand should
have heeu made compulsory and smaller loads
sbouId have been carried. If. from their knowi-
edga of the situation. the cOmpanys officials
did moi deem these measures adequate, others
should have been devised and adopted. IT was
tbeir dutv 10 forpspe such emergencies and
Guard against what happened. The public can
not he convinced that this wholesale slaughter
was unavoidable.
Movements for the abolition Of grade cross
ings in other cities will doubtless derive, and
should derive new impetus from Newarks e1-
perience. Much has already been accomplished
in Buffalo. Chicago ard other large centres OF
popuation in the last decade Much more re-
mains TO be done. though. Moreover since a
long course of public agitation and formal nego-
tfaton seems to be requisite in every case, 1t is
desirable 10 initiate the campaign so much the
sooner.