The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-11-13
S. KILLED ON
DEQUINDRE-ST. !.
IN EIGHT YEARS
Lawson Tells Awful Toll of HUI
man Life in Arguing for Sep
aration of Grades
gkU WAY COMMISSION
HEARS CASE PRESENTED
Members Of Board and Others
Interested Visit Crossings
Hearing Adjourned

Fifty-nye lives have been sacrificed
at Dequindre-st. crossings in the last
eight years, according to a statement
made by Corporation Counsel Law
son In his argument, In the council
chamber. Wednesday morning. before
the state railway commission, to in
duce that body to compel the Grand
Trunk to separate the grades between
Jefferson and Holbrook-aves.
A map was presented showing the
locations where So Of these accidents
occurred.
An investigation will show that
the toll of life at these unprotected
grade crossings Is increasing as the
city grows larger" said lawson.
I'm determining the necessity Of
separating these grades, the cost In
money should not be weighed against
the cost In human life.
For 20 years the city has been try
ing, without success, to properly safe
guard these crossings. The council
committee on grade separation, I'M
able to come to any agreement with
the railroad company, has been COM
PEELED to bring the matter before the
railway commission and appeal for
an order under the statute which
gives to the commission the power to
compel railroads to separate danger
Gus grades"
This commission does not want
much proof Of the necessity of sep
arating grades of q railroad coming
into q city Of 100000" remarked Law
ton +. HemAns, chairman of the COM
mission. Grade separation work ID
being carried on In all the large
cities of the country at the present
time"
City Engineer Mccormick produced
q map prepared by the city engineers
stan IN 1904 showing proposed plan
for separating the grades on DeQuin-
dre-st. by depressing the tracks 20
ave., and using subways north Of that
thoroughfare.. According to his plan
It would not be necessary to raise
the grade Of Gratiotave., he said.
The city engineer could give no es-
innate on the probable cost Of this
work to the railroad, and he was q
trifle haxy on other data connected
with the plan, but he stated that he
did not think the change In grade
would interfere with shippers along
DeQuindre-st. In other grade separa-
ton work In the city 1t has never
been necessary to depress the tracks,
and the engineer was unable to argue
from precedent.
Coroner Rothacher was also called
as q witness, and he reviewed the cir.
cumstances surrounding several re-
cent deaths occurring at DeQuindre-
ct. crossings. The coroner said that
the crossings at present were not
properly guarded day and night.
l.. G. Stanley, attorney for the
Grand Trunk, argued before the com.
mission that the city ought to give
figures on the cost estimate, making
the point that the cost might be so
great that the commission would not
be warranted In ordering the grade
separation work.
Chairman Hemans suggested that
the necessity for the grade separation
could be determined first and then the
city and railroad engineers could pre-
pare the cost figures.
Attorney #. A. Behr, representing
the DeQuindre-st. shippers, made It
plain that the latter are not anxious
for a separation of the grades under
Engineer McCormick's plan because
OF the injury 1t may do them.
The commissioners, accompanied by
city and railroad oflcials and q num-
Der of shippers, inspected the grade
crossings Wednesday afternoon. The
commission will hear the argument OF
the railroad attorneys later.