Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-03-15
CROSSING GATES MAY
SOON BE PUT in
Representatives of Two Rail-
ways in the City Friday to
Confer With City.

Pursuant 10 the recent notification
to the state railway commission by
City Attorney John A. Gaynor of the
complaint of the city council in re-
gard to safety appliances at the
railway crossings in this city, repre-
sentatiyes of two of the roads were
here Friday, and arranged to meet
the city council and agree upon what
shall be done in the matter. They
came here, upon notification by the
State Commission of the city'S COM
plaint; to look over the crossings and
to arrange for the meeting with the
city council.
Supt. P. j. O'Brien of the Chicago
& North Western and Supt, A. R.
Horn. of the Wisconsin Central,
represented their two companies and
came here Friday morning and
appriSed Mayor L. NJ. Nash of their
purpose of coming to the city. With
Mayor Nash and Messrs. Zoelle and
Hancock, agent for the two companies
here, they went to the office of City
Attorney John A. Gaynor, where the
matter was thoroughly discussed.
Both railway men complained that
they had received no reports of dis
satisfaction in regard to conditions
existing at their respective crossings,
before the city'S complaint was made
to the Railway Commission and the
commission notified them. They
expressed the entire willingness of
their respective companies to do what
ever should be determined upon as the
right thing to do in arranging proper
safety appliances for their crossings,
and awaited only till they could meet
the city council and find out just what
the city wanted.
The Chicago, Milwaukee 4 st. Paul
company, whose crossing is considered
to be the most dangerous of the four,
were the first to write the city in
regard to the matter. They stated
that their company had always been
ready and willing TO do anything that
would add to the Accommodations and
safety of their patrons and those who
must cross their tracks, but they had
considered that the watchman was of
more value in keeping people out of
danger than crossing gates would be.
The experiences of those many
persons who have had narrow escapes
from being severely injured or possibly
killed at this crossing do not seem to
bear out tbe supposition of the watch
mans being better protection,
h0Se9er, and the gates seem TO be
necessity. AT the next meeting of
the city council, the representatives
of the different railway companies
will be present to determine what the
city wants, and undoubtedly, to
endeaYOr to diSSuade the aldermen'S
asking for crossing gates. They will
probably suggest that a watchman
would be better, and of more value as
protector. We do not, however
believe that in view of the recent and
many close escapes at railway crossings
and in view Of the city'S constant
growth, the aldermen in the Grand
Rapids council will allow themselves
to be fooled by promises or by state
mentS that are not borne out by past
experience. The crossing gates are
needed, they should be in now, and as
they must eventually come, they
might as well be put in now as later,
after someone has been either killed
or severely injured.
If the railways are sincere in their
statements that they wished to do
whatever would provide the greatest
safety to the citizens of this city, and
their Representatives seemed to be
when they were here Friday,
they will not endeavor to escape
putting in the gates, at the council
meeting, The aldermen will be
watchful, however, that they do not
succeed in escaping such precautions
for public good, if such attempt should
be made.