Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1913-03-28
Gates 0RDE RE D
RAILROAD COMMISSION kiODI-
FlES PREVIOUS ORDER
ALLOW REMOVAL OF z FLAGMEA
Commission Decides installation of
Gones insufficient Protection

The decision of the Wisconsin Rail
road Commission in regard to the
protection of crossings in this city
was rendered March 20, and was as
follows:
An order in this matter was issued
Oh January II, 1913 requiring the
Minneapolis, st. Paul and Sault Ste
Marie Railway Company to station
at each of the four grade crossings
of its tracks with Second Street
East, Second Street West, Miner
of Ladysmith a flagman, whose duty
it shall be to warn travellers on the
highway of the approach of trains
between the hours of $50 A NJ. and
$50 P. NJ. (City of Ladysmith V NJ.
St. P & S. S. NJ. Ry. Co. 1918, IL
w. r. c. R.) On February 6, 1913,
the respondent filed a petition ask
ing for a modification of this order
permitting it to substitute : certain
electrical devices in lieu of the pro-
lection ordered by the Commission.
A rehearing was granted, and the
matter heard on February %, 1913
at Ladysmith Wisconsin. Charles
Kirwan appeared for the City of La
dysmith, and Albert H. Lossow for
the respondent.
The proposal of the respondent, as
developed in the testimony is to
station flagmen at two of the cross
ings who shall not only guard the
crossings at which they are on duty,
but also guard the other two cross
ings by means of electrically con-
trolled gongs, or by both gOngs and
gates. 1t was pointed out that de-
vice of this nature is in successful
operation at Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
City officials in their testimony eX-
pressed the opinion that if the plan
proposed by the respondent is regard
ed as feasible by the Commission
both gongs and gates should be pro-
vided at the crossings not; guarded
in person by the flagmen.
We do not regard the substitution
of gOngs for flagmen at two of the
crossings as equivalent protection.
The sound of the bell may be
drowned by the noise of the traffic.
1t is not a sufficient warning for
deaf persons or for persons whose
ears are covered in winter weather.
Moreover, children may not heed the
warming of the bell. The installation
of electrically operated gates in con-
nectiOn with gongs at two of the
crossings, under the control of the
flagmen stationed on the other eros
ings, will we believe prove a salts
factory substitute for the flagmen.
Our engineer has examined simil-
ar device at Oshkosh; and, reports
that the proposed installation will af-
ford adequate protection at Lady
smith. 1t appears from the testimony
of the city officials and from our en-
gineer's report, that flagmen should
be retained at Second Street East,
and Lake Avenue
Now. Therefore, our former order
is Hereby Modified, and the respond
ent. the Minneapolis, st. Paul &
Sault Ste. Marie Railway Company,
is Ordered:
/. To station a flagman at Sec
ond Street East from $50 A. NJ to
$50 P. NJ. daily.
2. To install, maintain, and op-
crate at Second Street West, cleo
tricaIly operated gates with an cleo
trio gong, under the control of the
flagman stationed at Second Street
East.
3. To station flagman at Lake
Avenue from $50 A. NJ. to. 6:30 p.
NJ daily.
L. To install, maintain. and oper-
ate at Miner Avenue, electrically op-
Grated gates with an electric gong,
under the control of the flagman sta
toned at Lake Avenue.
d. lO uldllitdln a LiiS iI1Cti - Ctt1L
of the four crossings until The in
stallations ordered herein are placed
in operation.
6. To equip the gates ordered
herein with aprons to prevent per-
sons from crawling under them. and
to construct wing fences at the ends
of the gate arms protecting the side
walks. to prevent persons from walk
ing around the gates.
7. To submit plans for the install
lations ordered herein to the Com
mission for approval.
June /, 1913 is considered reas