New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-23
GRADE CROSSINGS TO GO.
V4N CORTL4NDT GATES.
Establishment Later-PL0ns Of Long
: IsLand Road To Be accepted.


Bronx, and Vice-Prosident Wilgus Of the New
York Contra. regarding the placing Of gates
a. the Van Cortlandt Park crossing until the
crossing was eliminated. was entirely satlsIac-
tory and that the gates had been ordered ana
would De put u7 at once. He said tiiaI Inc
share Of the expense would he decided later
After the conference spoken OF by the Mayor
Yesterday morning with Chief Engineer Nhgus'
of the New York Central and HUDSON River
Railroad, Park Commissioner Schinlt aIllouiceu
that the work Of placing safety gates on both
aides of the tracks the Van Cortlandt PARK
crossing would be started at once and that
the gates would be in place in about twenty
davK The order for their construction has al
ready been given. The more important matter
of eliminating the grade crossing was discussed
by the Commissioner and MIR. Wigus, and 1t
may be said that the New York Central VII!
begin the Job OF doing away with the grade dur
ing the present summer. Mr.. Wilgus assured
Commissioner Schnitt that his company had
been anxious for some time to dispose Of the
grade crossing at Van Cortlandt and had been
waiting 10 obtain the consent of the city 10 pay
ing one-quarter OF the cost of the Improvement,
which is the amount fixed by law. the State as
Stunning another quarter and the railroad COM
pany the remainder.
Mr. Wilgus fntirnated to the Commissioner
that the New-York Central would probably not
wait to obtain the formal assent of the city II
pay its share Of the expense but would proceed
with the work and after its completion present
a bill 10 the city.
Chief Engineer Schenck Of The Bronx Park
Department wifi meet a representative Of Mr..
wilgus at the Van Cortlandt Park station TINS
morning to select a site for the placing of the
gates and to discuss preliminary plans for the
eliminating Of the grade. The gates. said Mr..
schenck would not be placed directly in front
Of the station, but TO the south OF 1t. so as 10
permit of carrying the work of abolishins
the grade. This fact IN itself. he added. was
sn indication that the New-York Central pro-
posed TO get nd at once of the grade as the
placing of the gates In front of the station would
make it impossible TO carry on the work.
The necessary plans have been approved for
some time. and there is at the present moment
no obstacle in the way of their being carried out
Mr. schenck said that they called for an ex-
penditure of about $4,000. The Improvement
can be completed in six months. The plans IN
clude also the construction Of a new station. but
when Commissioner Schmitt asked Mr.. Wilgus
yesterday If the New-York Central contem-
plated the replacing of the present station stimuli
taneously with the wiping out Of the grade
crossing he failed TO receive any definite
answer.
In answer to questions regarding the steps TO
De taken lot the NidNillB up VI 'HS pSt4NADAI ~
the State Railroad Commission for the elimina-
ton of the grade crossing al Van Cortlandt,
the Mayor said that he would send a formal
message 20 the Board OF Aldermen at its
meeting next Tuesday, stating the dangerous
conditions existing the crossing. and suggest
ing that the board draw up a petition TO the
State Railroad Commission for the adjustment
Of the crossing. 70 which petition he would af-
TX his signature He said that the city could
easily appropriate its share of the expense for
the elimination Of the crossing, and that State
Railroad Commissioner Baker had assured him
that while the commission hampered by
lack of funds money intended for other purposes
would be used as the States share of the ex-
pense Such being the case, the Mayor thought
the crossing would be eliminated in the near
future.
The outlook for Brooklyn IS equally bright.
The Grade Crossing Commission. after an ex-
ecutive session which lasted Until noon yeSter-
day announced that final vote would be taken
next Tuesday on the acceptance OF the plans
OF the Long Island Railroad Company for the
almost complete reconstruction OF its tracks in
rhc section between Bay Ridge and Long Island
City besides the erection Of a large freight
terminal Fort Hamiton-ave., Bay Ridge.
The reconstruction of the tracks as planned by
the railroad company will cost 1t about 5000,
coo The 100000 asked from the city its
share Of the cost OF the improvements will be
mostly used for grading track near the pro-
posed freight terminal at Bay Ridge
This proposition Of the railroad company has
been before the commission since last November,
but the commissioners have baked al the ex-
penditure Of 100000 by the city, arguing that
the whole expense Of the improvements should
he borne by the railroad company. ". II. Bald
win jr., president OF the railroad, insisted that.
considering the advantages eventually to be
gained by the community, the city should bear
some Of the expense.
The commission has recommended that the
contract for the construction 10y the Brooklyn
Rapid Transit Company of overhead crossing
on the Brighton Beach line Sterling Place
and Park Place be awarded 20 Crawford & Co.
contractors. Until colder weather begins when
the traffic between Manhattan. Brooklyn and
the seashore is lighter no more work on reduc-
ing the crossings viii be attempted on this line
but when winter comes reducing all the grade
crossings on the Brooklyn Rapid Transit lire
will be hurried
C. T Addison, general superintendent OF the
Long Island Railroad. is conducting the investi-
cation Oh behalf Of the railroad into the auto
mobile accident at Kings Highway on Wednes-
day. in which person was probably fatally
Injured ard three others narrowly escaped
death. lie said yesterday that he had finished
his part OF the Investigation, and summarized
TIE evidence obtained briefly as this:
The train that struck the automobile was conf
posed Of xix empty freight cars. and the time
OF the accident returning from Coney Island
the of about sA miles nour. The tracks
high fence surrounding the Brighton Beach race
track. The automobile approached the tracts from
uhs side. ANA calculating upon the statement made
by the engineer OF the freight train that the auto
mobile Was ranEnins az a speed Of twenty miles
be