New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-13
TO REMOVE GRADES
COMMISSIONS AIN
H-ouH -4pportion Erpe"se Be
tsceen City and Railroads.

.,-;z,-,.r.s % the grade crossings STAT
-i,r &c rart Of the railroad law. Ne'f
-.cor--aenled in an appendix 10 the am u'I
-. - the Public Service Commission
"a. yesterday by Edward NJ Basse'' y.
-, -o,-7-,Ission which aims by mems "a
.-,,-.io7irrel't OF the expenses pew ."
49,. ,-;+,- and the r.IIiroads 20 wipe oui 'He
- --,ssfr7gs within the limits or the nv
-,.srs1i,r and would give the coTniiliss'o.
.,,,,-er 70 raise or depress the Ne" Ao'A
-o-+rs1,s tracks Of Eleventh avenue
n the life az the commission. from = -i'
ar - January 7. 1910. ffty-s'A per S''.i'
- killed and ore hundred i1Jureu : ~
crossings. and the deaths ana i"JI1 io'
= s,+-ii.g-eJ directly 10 the fac' t'a' ! az
-o-zs crossed public thorous ma"
,-,,-o--istions BY the stare, tht
-...-e have not satisfied the needs OF
.-,,,.- s,-,5 COUNTRY districts ana since
.-a passage Of tire railroad "a" o. IN d
-, os o total OF sl.515e3 this city
las rrrained only So" ..:.
--,5e- ,.xisting conditions the elimination
. --z5a crossings. according 70 lhe Ftpol l
-. .be willingness Of the railroads 10
- a their own expense, OF the pas
% s,eciaI acts which. Commissioner
80 declares. are usually prepared by
-. rsilrosds and enhody veil driven nar-
-,adA beforehand with the munich
,sli+r The amendments as proposed pro
vide:
PAYMENT q al expenses by railroads
--e-e new tracks are 70 be built across
,,is-inc streets or highways: where new
streets or state or county roads are con
.t-5.-re5 across steam o. surface tracks the
commission * - have the power 10 change
f5e c-sde tire city and the railroad 10
agree upon the appoIticnment Of the cost
ard II H. agreement can be made then the
commission shall determine the manner Of
rs7merr. the city never TO pay more than
has. re same 10 apply when grades OF
streets on which tracks nov are should be
r7srcel Hearings before the commission
sc provided for before the division Of the
e.rersls Is determined upon In any case.
n : s-nr1a-v 90 the effects OF the amend
n.snts proposed the commissioner SAYS:
TIE proposed amendments simplify the
r@lerlcr # both railroads and muniCipal1-
- toward railroad crossings The COM
mission can prescribe HOW new streets may
= built over or under railroad tracks or
non tracks may he elevated or depressed.
adequate precautions being provided 10
prevent excessive grades. After the deter
-.-.as-.o-7 q the commission as to the
-7errod. the municipality and railroad are
r-a@ TO agree on the division OF the cost.
srd 2 rne- cannot agree the commission
nav CI-r6e the expense according 70 the
----f-s q each case Existing grade cross
i--~ that have become dangerous can be
eliminated h- order Of the commission and
RE coe- divided according 10 the Circum-
stances ~ each case between the munich
-srt-- and the railroad. the state not being
called 1uor n pay any part OF the ex-
7erze except N the case Of state and CoLn-
. highways
There are = grade crossings IN Manh2+-
tz- ~ which - are on the New York Cen
- Railroad below 61st street. n in Brook
'-r -1s I'm Queens on the Long Island
Railroad alone. and 81 in Richmond
On Tue=dav morning there viii be G hear
~ before z committee Of the Board Of
Estimate and Arporuonment on 2 proposed
g. affecting grade crossings in al the
tor0uEn= excepting Manhattan. The bill
n 1e introduced provides for the elinnIna-
Ton ~ al grade crossings after bearings
sad agreements 1ith the railroads affected.
TIE terms UPON which the changes shall
Re made under the bill, Il II IS enacted,
mast IN al cases be approved by the
Es-0-