The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-30

WHO REPRESENTED THEM, AND
The CITY OF PAWTUckET.
The railroads attorney ~ 5. Smlth'
who was accompanied by superintendent
Kenyon OF the Worcester division, cross
questioned the witnesses and endeaVoreo
10 show the nagman would give no more
effioscious service than the automatic
bell and i'm some cases endeaVoren 10
show the remonstrants were interested IN
some OF the fiagmen whose jobs we're lost
by the installation OF bells. The change
was made az the order on the Talli"""
commissioners, he said.
The statement of Mr.. Kenyon. manu-
faoelrer Of that section, seemed 70 SUM
up the opinion Of the people S wheh na,r ns sol of
gates was not too much Tor the peopie"
protection on grade crossings. "Whether
the railroad was tryins 10 save InvnSg ~.
the people IL what the people are Trying
to discover he said.
City Solicitor Blodgett said he came az
the reuest of the Pawtucket Doafu OF
aldermen 20 request the restoration or the
nasnsn.
Of people who passed over amounted 70
anything in the amount Of protection. lie
stated tho Massachusetts people were
more civilized because OF their care or
human life by the restriction about grace
The expense OF keeping a hagmsn. N
that is a consideration for the railroad
cOmpany. is not cOnSldeI1DIe "A malltI
of $iE week for all these CROSSINGS
FLAGMEN ARE BETTER.
The nagnan is undoubtedly, q better
safeguard. for the eye Is ntler ne ,
tective than the ear in the city where
there are so many sounds that he nave
in this city.
or he AZ blocked
and bell could not This alone Is worthy
of consideration. . -
Addressing Mr.. Freeman. ne sald: ~ ~
sacred trust which deyolves upon you
10 safeguard the human lives, ana you
should even take stringent steps 10 IN
sure the railroads taking precautions
Attorney Smith. on behalt OF tne new
York. New Haven a Hartford railroad,
spoke OF some unguarded crossings In
Massachusetts, permitted by the com
missioners, I'm replying TO Mr.. Blodgett,
and congratulated the people OF Paw
tucket upon the trouble they had taken
10 look into those boxes TO see how much
snow collected there.
GAVE GoNGs A TRIAL.
have no doubt that the people of Paw
tucket are honest and earnest about this
matter, and that they feel that there
Is danger 90 their people. III the people
will give these gongs fair trial think
they will find they give complete salts
faction.
Now there are II places through the
state roads and large villages whore
there has been no fatality as far as
can learn at these places in tho past
five years. At these places where we
had hagmen last year the report shows
seven fatalities at grade crossings, OF
which six had gates and one by a single
fagman. When human uncertainty was
ls..lln "a
and the company believes they are for
the hast interests OF the public.
FTAGMAN FOUND ASLEEP.
Superintendent Kenyon was asked 10
explain several circumstances about the
places where he said fiagmen were found
ssieep, but could not tell how many had
bsen found asleep on these six switches
on the East Providence branch, without
reference TO his notes.
In relation to a freight taking flying
switches over several crossings near the
United States Finishing company. when
no man was sent TO guard the crossing,
he said ne would institute an investiga-
ton at once. Testimony TO the effect
that such switches were made daily was
made during the hearing
He said the bell system was now all i'm
and that IL would cost very little extra
TO maintain II in addition 20 the crossing
tenders. The change was made solely for
the benefit ~1f the public safety
Asked 'ff the company would not
change back IL the citizens wanted IT," by
Mayor Higgins. he said he was unable 10
tell. that some one higher in authority
than he must be asked. lie stated that II
children were properly instructed at
home about the danger and used due care
at crossings there would be no more dan
ser from the bell system.
TOLD OF DANGER NOW.
Among the many citizens heard were
Mayor Higgins. who made the opening
speech Alderman McCaughey, Andrew
Coyle. Eugene Gaynor OF Atteboro. Mr..
Macullon OF James street and John Don
nelly, a grocer, near the Prairie avenue
crossing They told OF the dangers OF the
present system.
A mother with her nye-year-old boy,
who was endangered on the crossing, was
also heard
In conclusion Commissioners Freeman
expressed his surprise az the negligence
or the railroad In allowing the crossings
20 remain unguardsd while the bells were
not working properly and he sald the way
the bells worked according 10 testimony
was worse than no safeguard AT all.
Why. according 10 one mans story, the
bell at Prairie avenue rang three hours
steadily. Tuesday night and At other
times did not ring for the train AT all
nrst heard OF these crossing bells from
the railroad commissioner of Ohio and, he
said. they worked finely. ] tried them and
they always worked alright until this
time
Whether n day nagman and the bells at
night would be the best plan I do not