The Minneapolis journal., 1904-12-27
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THJNK
Grade Crossings.

To the Editor of The Journal.
It was the writer's fortune to assist in
removing from the car the victims of the
Christmas eve accident on the Eighth and
Central car line. If anythingsin this world
would start person TO seriously consider
means to prevent the repetition Of such d
disaster it would be to be present at such
"a time and see with his own eyes men,
women and children frantic with fear and
excitement, while cries. Of the: wounded
and groaps of the dying were mingled
with the swapping Of timbers, breaking
glass and grinding wheels. 49, rr
This, however, is no new experience for
our city, as I was witness to tho SINH
lar accident, eight years ago when the
same thing occurred at the Oak street Sc
crossing, when a university professor was
killed and several others were injured.
We all know that this sort of thing oc-
ours altogether too often, and thoughtful
citizens realize that something must be
done.
I Every man. woman and child Of our city
is menaced by this danger, and unless
action is taken to make a repetition of this
affair impossible, ! would not be at all
surprised if violence was done to the per-
sons of the street car conductor and loco
motive engineer connected with the next
grade crossing murder-yes, murder,
nothing more and nothing less. don't
mean to say that the conductor and the
engineer in this particular case were to
blame at all-but1I repeat What every
thoughtful man with whom I have con-
versed with on the subject admits, viz,
that to have this sort of thing continue
and be repeated again and again is to be
guilty of criminal carelessness. = -:
There is no need to have the like OF this
happen !" -..~:.; - +."--.
Everybody knows that the best thing
| to do is to have the tracks cross on dit
safety. But every one knows, toot that
wes cannot get the railroad tracks lowered
in. five. minutes, nor probably IN hVe
years. f s,:# p II -.--r.-: {. "e*.: H.: + =
| What, then. can be done?~ =.
! have proposition which believe will
] be both effective and practical-etfect1Ve
because experience has proven it so-prac'
! tical,: because it can be put into operation
at once without expense Thruout- the
state we have. many grade crossings OF
1 steam roads. Years ago: collisions were
| common, but who has heard of an accl'
dent since the enactment OF the state law
| REQUIRED every locomotive engineer tt
1 come to a dead stop and blow his :Whiss
4 tie before crossing: the other track? NOV
/ What should be done is to have a law en-
! acted that will compel the steam roads t'
treat the electric railway IN the matte
Of grade crossings just the same as the!
treat other steam roads. :.
Such a law WOulu give lili'lAe
and then~the matter of lowering or rails
ing. tracks could be taken. up by the CIT!
at its leisure and each case settled. on 1t
Individual merits.
4 I have talked with some members of tn
state legislature and they look with favo
on the enactment, Of such a law From
conversation with his honor, : Mayo
} Haynes, I find that his opinion is that sue!
| a law would be "a blessing pending .:th
final disposal of the grade crossing 80: ::
The. great dailies of Minneapolis hav
always been loyal and earnest in thei
support of measures for~the public good
and sincerely hope that my efforts wi
) be presented to the public: thru their col
umns to the end that the legislature ma
) be compelled by the force of public senti
: ment to give. the matter the necessary at
> tention.- 49, Charles H. Chalmers.
!, 523 Seventh street Sc.