New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-17
800 cROssIYq PRORLENs

GRADE CROSSING PPOBLENS.
The positive declarations In both the
New jersey party platforms on the sub
iect Of grade crossings indicate THAT some
definite and efficient action will he taken
in the near future for the abolition Of
those death traps, which in that state are
particularly numerous and have proved 70
be particularly deadly. That such action
ia urgently demanded for the welfare Of
the public is not 10 he questioned but it
is scarcely less certain that the taking
OF It on just and equitable lines will be
found 10 be involved I'm grave embarrass-
ments and difficulties.
The matter was forced upon the at
tention Of the two party conventions BY
the energetic action Of Mr. Carlton 3
Pierce in pointing out rs already noted
in these columns. that practically all the
railroads in the state were bound by the
terms Of their charters N abolish grade
crossings. or ar least % provide for the
public safety at such crossings and 10
obviate delay 10 traffic al their own eX-
pense: and at his instance the Repub-
ucan convention put in its platform a
demand for the gradual abolition of all
grade crossings at the cost of the rail
roads. while the Democratic convention
contented itself with calling for the abo-
litiOn Of those which were sources Of
danger which might be- interpreted as
meaning ALL II seems probable. how
ever. that Mr.. Pierce's principle. sound
and salutary as it is. cannot he enforced
without enabling legislation. and In the
course Of framing such legislation some
puzzling questions are sure 70 he raised.
There seems 70 he no doubt that the
charters Of the roads do require them 70
make the crossings safe and it may rea-
sonably he held that safety. without de-
lay 70 traffic. can be secured only by
change Of grade. But while that obliga-
ton clearly applied 10 the crossings
which existed when the roads We're built.
n may be cOutended that IL does not as
certainly apply to the crossings Of roads
which have since been constructed. 4
place may have ben a village when the
railroad was built half n century ago,
with only a single crossing. and may now
be a city with a score or more. The
question arises whether the railroad is
bound 10 provide elevated or depressed
ways at the crossings Of all new roads
which may be constructed. Another
concerns the obligation Of a railroad 70
provide such facilities for a trolley line
which may cross its tracks. and there
are other complications which viii prob
ably arise in equity.
None Of these problems will prove IN
soluble and none Of them should deter
the state government from promptly and
resolutely taking up the matter for final
and complete disposition. Indeed. the
more such complications there are the
greater is the need Of prompt and reso-
lutte action, since delay is certain 10 in,
crease rather than lessen the difficulties
II may be decided that general princl-
pies Of equity should be applied, instead
OF insisting upon strict technicalities.
though the inclination Enthusiastically is
10 require fslflment OF charter obliga-
lions. But however IL Is done, there
must be speedy and radical abatement
of the deadly nuisance Of grade cross
ings.