Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-09-19
ARGUMENT ON
GRADE CROSSING


in the injunction proceedings relating
TO The trolley hold.up at the ID. l.. 4
". crossing, Mill street. took place
before Judge Evans at Bloomsbury
Thursday afternoon. Three able ad.
dresses were listened to by large as
semblase. among which we're n hundred
or more Danville people, who had
iourneyed TO bloomsbury by the Dan.
Vile and Bloomsbury trolley line. All
interest now centers in Judge Evans
decision. which in all probability will
not be rendered for some weeks to
come.
The first address was made by Hon.
II. NJ. Hinckley representing the ID.
L. 4 ". Railroad company. Il was an
especially strong effort. The argument
was based on the testimony adduced
at the previous hearing and therefore
presented nothing that was absolutely
new.
Mr.. Hinckley advocated an overhead
crossing. No matter how expensive
this might prove to be, how inconveni.
ent or how unsightly, 1T was .praotic-
able and necessary, he said. in order
to prevent accidents. He especially
emphasized the danger attending a
crossing at grade. On behalf of the
ID. L. u W. railroad company Mr..
Hinokley presented plans to illustrate
the feasibility of the Danville and
Bloomsbury line using either Ferry
street or the alley between that
thoroughfare and Mill street, crossing
the D.. L. q W. track at either point
overhead. He also used a wooden
model to illustrate conditions at the
Mill street crossing.
Mr.. Hinckley was followed by Hon.
Il. H. Koch, solicitor for the Danville
and Bloomsbury company. Judge Koch
is clear and foroeful speaker. He
was listened to with deep interest as
one by one he met the arguments adj
vanced by the representative of the ID.
l.. q w. company. The Danville con
tingent was especially delighted when
Judge Koch informed the court that
the Danville and Bloomsbury company
was ''street" railway not an "al-
ley" railway. Disdsining both the
Ferry street and the alley proposition
the speaker proceeded TO discuss the
grade crossing on Mill street.
On grade crossing at that point in
view of conditions existing and mod
ern appliances for safety employed the
speaker declared the element of danger
is scarcely present at all. Taking in
to consideration the lengthy intervals
at which the cars are run and the still
longer intervals between the passing
of trains the danger of collision, il
was asserted, is very remote indeed.
With proper precautionary measures
there would be absolutely nothing tC
fear
On the other hand, an overhead cross.
ing with its steep grade would afford
an opportunity for mauy mishap,
which would be sure to result in dam.
age to property, and perhaps loss OF
life. In time of electrical storms,
especially, when the mechanism of an
electrical system can not be relied up.
on, Judge Koch explained how the car:
might get beyond control and accid,
ents ensue.
Judge Koch emphasized the fact
that at a grade crossing three persons
are always on the close lookout fol
danger-the motorman on the trolley
car, the engineer on the train and the
gateman who has charge of the cross
ing. Before anything could occur al
such a crossing there would have to be
most remarkable combination oi
csrelessness involving men..fat three
different posts of duty. On an over
head crossing on the other hand, dan
ger turks not only IN a failure of the
machinery during an electrical show
er, but in times of snow fall and sleet
when due to these conditions the
wheels are clogged, the current is cut
off and the cars become unmanage
able. With the motorman helpless al
one end of the car and the sand box al
she other end, in view of the steer
trestling and the crowded street be
low the situation becomes one of ex
treme peril. From the standpoint Of
one experienced in trolley manage
ment it was explained how one of sew
ersl kinds of bad accidents might oc
cur.
Hon. A. H. McClintock of Wilkes.
Barre made the closing address dwell
ling mainly on the points of law.