The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-03-27
SAYS CROSSING IS DANGEROUS
Commission Demands Installation of a
Tower and Gates or an Electrically
Operated Gate Protection With July
1st as a Reasonable Time to Comply.

The Prairie avenue crossing OF the
Chicago and Milwaukee Electric Rail
way is to be properly protected as to-
day the Wisconsin State Railroad Com
mission handed down an order direct
ing the company to put In gates at
the crossing and the date set for the
company to comply with the order OF
the commission is July 1st. In the
decision on the case the commission
Goes into the conditions surrounding
Prairie avenue at length. The hearing
was in charge of Commissioner David
Harlowe. In its decision the commits
sion says in part:
9 After a careful consideration of
the testimony and Of our engineer s
report, we find that the crossing IN
question is more than ordinarily dan
gerous, and that the bell protection
now provided by the respondent is in
sufficient to render the crossing rea-
sonably safe. With regard to methods
of additional protection our engineer
reports as follows;
This crossing can be satisfactorily
protected by flagman, or by gates
operated by man stationed at the
crossing, but it appears that the most
economical method, and perhaps the
most efficient method Of protecting the
crossing is to install electrically OPP
Grated gates controlling from the in
terlocking tower, located south of the
crossing. The crossing car thus be
protected by gates operated "a hours
daily without any additional expendi-
ture by the railway company for la
Dor. The electrically operated gate is
considered to be more reliable than
the pneumatic, pipe connected or wire
connected gates.
During the summer when trees are
in leaf, it will be difficult for the man
in the interlocking tower to see traffic
approaching the crossing from the
west. For this reason it is considered
necessary to install an electric bell at
the crossing which is controlled by a
manual switch in the interlocking
tower. Furthermore, the current for
ringing the crossing bell should be
transmitted through wire circuit, in
preference to depending upon track
circuits
Now, therefore, it is ordered:
l. That the respondent, the Chicago.
and Milwaukee Electric Railway Com
pany, install and maintain at the
crossing on its line at Prairie avenue
in the city of Kenosha, Kenosha
county, Wisconsin, gates operated by
a man stationed at the crossing, or
operated electrically and controlled
from the interlocking tower. These
gates are to be equipped with aprons
to prevent persons lodging under the
gates, and wing fences are to be con-
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protecting the walks to prevent per
sons from walking around the gates
2. That, in case the gates are OPP
Grated from the tower house, the re-
spondent install and maintain at the
Prairie avenue crossing an electric
bell, connected with the interlocking
tower by an overhead wire circuit, and
controlled by "a manually operated
switch in the interlocking tower, for
the purpose of warning travellers that
the gates are about to be lowered.
3. That the respondent submit plans
for the installations ordered herein for
the approval of the commission.
July !, 1913, is considered reason
able date at which the installations
ordered herein shall be in operation.
Dated at Madison, Wisconsin this
Goth day of March, 1913.
Railroad Commission of Wisconsin. !"