Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-16

Other News.
Mr. r. w. McCreery, manager of the
Western Grocer Mills and chairman Of
the special viaduct committee of the
Marshalltown Club, addresses the fol-
lowing strong plea for the Third ave-
nue. viaduct:
Editor Times Republican: On May
II tomorrow morning.. at 10 d. m, in
the mayors office. the state railroad
commissioners will have another hear
ing as to the city ordinance to build
viaduct over the c. & n w. and NJ. &
st l. railroad tracks at Third avenue.
In attendance at this hearing Will be
the representatives OF the railroad
companies, the city council, and all
n1eli .of Marshaltown who are inter-
ested in giving her people and her
traffic a means of safe conduct from
one side of these tracks to the other.
AS chairman of the viaduct COM
..mittee of the Marshalltown Club. and
having the interest of this proposition
very much at heart, I would like to
give few facts in connection there
with hoping thereby to arouse the in
terest Of that portion of MARSHALL
towns people who do not have 10 pass
from one side of these tracks to the
other. in behalf of that portion of our
people who are forced by necessity to
cross here several times daily.
1t is safe to say. in fact ii is con-
clusively proven to the members of
the Marshalltown Club by records
which were kept last year under their
direction, that a large percentage of all
travel, including all crossings over the
above mentioned tracks, goes by way
Of Third avenue.
Special Report.
This report, given below. shows con-
ditibn as to detention of traffic on
e6uth Third avenue by the Chicago &
Northwestern and Iowa Central rail-
roads. and covers thirty-three hours
Aug. II, 10 and 49, 1911.
It is to be noted that railroad traffic
at this time, is if anything. below
normal average of the past five years.
Total number vehicles
crossing $500. ... o.7o7
Total number vehicles
blocked ..-.. LILO &c
Total number vehicles
not blocked ........ 1851 $50
Total number of people
crossing o,Suo
Total number Of people
blocked ............... Ibi4 100
Total number of people
not blocked $50. 80. 2.I61 So
Total number hours of
record 50
Hours. Minutes
Total number hours
gates down ..... IS % to-
Total number hours
gates up ........ 10 81 SOC.
This report is a sworn statement
made by Charles X. Allison, under di-
rection of the Marshalltown Club.
1t will be seen that an average of
over 1850 people cross here daily, and
that an average of over 900 vehicles do
likewise. The above record was made
from 6: 80 a. M to 6 p. m. on the nth
and 18th, and from $50 to 4:3O on the
18th, total Of thirty three hours out
of seventytwo and it would seem safe
to assume that in the remaining thir-
ty-nine hours out of the three days
the number of people crossing daily
would easily reach 1900 to 100, and
the vehicles at least 1000.
Certainly the above figures show
conclusivcly that our people are pay
ing enough penalty in loss of time, tc
say nothing of the hazard to life anC
limb, to warrant radical and deter
mined action on the part of our city
government and the state railroad
commission in bringing about promp
and permanent relief. Accidents have
happened and will continue to happen
jeopardizing life, just as long as the
people who cross at this point do sc
under present conditions. In the
minds Of the members Of the MARSHALL
town Club, and we believe in the
minds of all familiar with the situa
ton, the only solution is the building
Of the proposed viaduct. The recen
accident which resulted in death of one
dear to all Marshalltown is still fresh
in our memory What happened ir
connection with this accident happens
dozens of times every day, namely
people, not only men, but women anc
children disregard the gates being
down and yet as has been shown il
this case which has just been in oul
courts. because the gates were dowr
there is no liability or practically none
attached to the railroad company. Tht
fart OF the matter is that these gates
as far as pedestrians are concerned
are absolutely no protection as no re-
gard is paid to them.
Gates No Protection.
There is good reason why the pub
lics disregard these gates. AS an ex
ample, people going from the south t
this crossing find the gates down; tn
NJ. & ST. L. is switching or making u
a train at this point, (and be it re
membered that all Of their trains an
7 the major portion Of their switching i
done across Third avenue.) PRESENT.
sst s:.z II. q. & st. L. switch engine wit
train. pulls down so that the crossin
4 il clear but the gates are still dowr
- II IL the intention of the SWITCHING
crew to return Immediately, but tn
waiting public to the last persol
4 scramble under or around the gate
even with the returning train almos
& upun them, only to find themselves
trey emerge safely on the other sid
i heYnned In between the two tracks. 70
WlIile they were waiting for the NJ.
II. I. to clear some c. & n. w. passen
x,~l,. hoe n,1lJed in from tho eas1