The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1908-12-18

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ons PuFpe,, IA 10 Get In cIossr Teuob
With Fa||e|,ys ard ehlppers Ellml-
nlal<a Grade Crossings Urged.
Measures baln,s TssSpnsssra sua-
u,utea
Railroad commissions OF I'VE states
met IN Chicago the other day and or
9anIzed permanent association to be
know M thb North Central Assocla-
ton OF Railway Commissioner. The
oblRt Of tho association Is declared
70 be .'thp consideration Of matters Of
mutual interest to the association and
70 the pubic"
The falA 3 represented are Illinois.
MichlgAh Ohio. Wisconsin and Indi-
0na The movement was started by
the epmmissiOn Of the state Of Michi-
gan and G. l.. Glasgow OF that body
We selected president OF the associa-
ton. Commissioners w. III. Boys of
Illinois was elected vice president and
William Fitzpatrick secretary. The
headqnarters Of the association will
be IA Chicago. and meetings are to be
bald 1t the call Of the chairman or
upon the request OF any commission
which IL a member Of the association.
The movement Is regarded by many
IS one Of the most important since the
creation OF railroad commissions, says
the Chicago Record Herald. In the
discussion pressing the organization
Il wRH agreed that there Is too little
uniformity In the action Of the vari-
Gus state commissions and that gen.
orally speaking what IL Of interest to
the shippers and the railroads OF one
state Is equally interesting to those Of
another.
TO Is also admitted that there is
lack OF sympathy and understanding
between the commissions and the rail-
roads, and It IN desired to get in closer
touch with both the railroads and the
shippers. It IN also hoped that the
scope OF the organization may be en-
larged 10 include many commissions
and that other organizations Of similar
character may be perfected to consist
OF the commissions which have kin
dred interests by reason OF their terri
torial grouping.
As beginning the association Is d.
recting its attention to the elimination
Of grade crossings and to the subject
OF trespassing on American railroads.
Reports on both subjects were made
by committees appointed some months
ago when a preliminary organization
was perfected. The committee on
grade crossings, OF which Commission.
er Woods Of Indiana Is chairman, re-
ported that such crossings should be
eliminated, but the members were al
a loss 20 know how the movement
could be accelerated.
In Indiana, for example, there are
more than 1000 unprotected grade
crossings and nearly 10000 In Illinois
1t would cost the railroads at least
$3.50, 100000 In the former state and
twice that much In the latter to elimi
nate these crossings In Indiana the
railroads have spent only 100000 In
the last I'VE years III eliminating bhcSt
crossings, but during the coming year
they are expected to spend 81, 600 900.
The committee decided that future
crossings at grade should not be per
mitted, that the state commission
should be given the power to dea
with the separation Of grades and t.
apportion the cost between the rail
roads and the municipalities, thai
laws should be passed requiring the
railroads to do away with a certain
proportion Of grade crossings every
year and that the slaughter Of people
at such crossings had been properly
characterized ''the great American
crime"
The committee on trespassing re
ported that fully 80 per cent Of thu
fatalities on American railroads wa;
due 10 trespasslng, that laws should bC
passed and enforced which would ade
quately protect the railroads against
trespassers, that section foremeI
should have police powers and tina
railroads should be required, as II
England, TO post at their stations thu
names OF all persons convicted Of tres
naocfnn