Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1911-08-18
FRIDAY. AUGUST IS, 1911.
Proposed Elimination of Grade
CROSSINGS.

crossings
We give on another page the report
of the Public Service Commission of
the State of Vermont regarding the
grade crossings in Middlebury village.
The first thing noticeable is the in
troductory sentence that this report
is on petition by the Rutland Railroad
Co., against the town and village of
Middlebury, etc; That is, the action
sought is by and for the benefit of the
Railroad Company.
The next point is a statement that
these, Middlebury crossings, are among
the most dangerous on the line of
this railroad, and that public safety
requires that they be eliminated which
can be done by the construction of an
underpass, etc.
Certainly public safety does not re-
quire that they be eliminated, if the
danger from them instead of being
lessened is increased Such changes
might benefit the railroad but not the
public.
The facts are that there has never
yet been an accident from these cross
ings in the sixty odd years that the rail
road has been built, though practically
they are the same now as when first
made. If the safety Of the public is the
special and only reason for changing
the crossings, great care will have to be
take RI n fbar,o cafo IN, tha fin.
ture as they have been in the past, and
in doing this every change in the con-
ditions should be most carefully consid-
cred and provided for But it is most
evident to all that present conditions are
very different from those of the past,
because of automobiles.
An underpass necessitates a narrow
roadway for quite good many rods,
and it is plainly evident that for
this distance the danger to travel
ers on the roadway, if not on the
sidewalk, will be much greater than
it would be with surface road; unless
the passage of automobiles is entirely
forbidden. In that case the danger as
between the two systems would prob
ably not be increased.
AS we understand several of these
underpasses have been constructed in
the last few years. Our information
extends to only two, that at Royalton
and at Vergennes, which also were built
by order of the Public Service Com
mission. In the former there have
been already one or more serious
accidents and in the last several mar
row escapes, in one of which a citi-
zen of our town (Mr. Hubbard) was
involved, and this time instead of using
an automobile he was driving a horse,
and the other fellow had the auto. We
think it will be evident to all that if
automobiles are permitted to use this
underpass the danger from the cross
ings instead of being reduced will be
very greatly increased.
We understand that the railroad is
interested in this matter at the present
time because of its desire to secure two
distinct tracks, and in connection with
these, or in fact for the purpose of Sc
curing these, is DESTROYS of removing
the depot to the East side of the present
track. All of this, if properly done,
would doubtless be benefit to the pub
lie as whole. Two tracks will lessen
the danger from collision, the trains on
each track always going in the same di-
rection. But the Railroad Commission
and all who may be interested in these
changes should not only wish, but insist,
that sufficient damages should be paid
to those whose property is taken or in
jured by them; those certainly who are
not able to suffer such loss, and there
are several such, should be paid lber-
ally.
1t is noticeable again in this matter
that there has been no general meeting
of the citizens of the town or village
for the consideration of this whole sub
ject. We have not yet looked into the
legal aspects of the question, but do
not believe that any commission of
three men or more would be permitted
to seriously injure the interests of a
town or community.