Evening journal., 1913-03-15
ABOLITION OF
GRADE CROSSINGS
Pennsylvania R. R. Objects to
Jersey Law Putting Entire
Expense on Company

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, March 15.-
President Rea Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad has telegraphed to Governor
Fielder protesting against the ap
proval Of the bill as passed by bou
Houses Of the Legislature OF New Jer
sey, providing for the abolition o
grade crossings In that State at thl
sole expense OF the railroads.
Mr.. Rea also authorized the follow
ing statement
1t is important that the public
should understand that I'm the
passage Of this bill grave injus-
tice has been done the railroads.
"The Pennsylvania Railroad
Company has long been commit
ted to the policy OF eliminating
grade crossings as speedily as
possible, and is anxious that no
laws be passed which will tend to
deter, rather than encourage, the
rapid removal OF all grade cross
ings
"ln the last 20 years the Penn
sylyania Railroad has removed 40
crossings in the State OF New Jer-
sey alone, at an expense to the
company OF about SS,000,000, or
$4,000 per crossing
"It has elevated its tracks
through the large cities along its
lines in New Jersey. Much more
would have been accomplished n
the various lines in the system
had been able to carry the finan-
cial burden. But, as It is, there
are few crossings OF its railroad at
grade In any of the cities. The
company Is now engaged in the
work OF track elevation through
the city Of Railway. and eastward.
There remain, however, some
twelve hundred grade crossings
on the Pennsylvania system in
this State. the removal of which
at $4,000 per crossing would cost
$6O,O00,000, an expenditure which
would neither produce additional
revenue, nor decrease expenses.
THE removal of grade crossings
should unquestionaly continue. In
his recent annual message Governo
his recent annual message Gov
nor Woodrow Wilson, OF New Jer-
sey. said:--
The many, almost innum-
cradle. railway crossings at
grade which make travel on
most of our country roads so
hazardous and the movement
Of traffic In so many OF our
town and city streets so dan
gerous and difficult, ought, Of
course. to be done away with
as rapidly as possible.
with this sentiment / heartily
agree. I also agree with Govern
\ or Wilson's further statement
that.
"No invariable rule can be
laid down which will not lead
to all sorts OF impossible stu
ations and the eventual inter-
ference of the courts.
"The need is for some impartial
| tribunal which shall have author
ity to arbitrate between the mu-
nicipality and the railroad com
pany and to bring them into CO.
operation II they cannot agree.
Power should be vested in some
administrative board, acting Judi
cially. to take up, on the applica-
tion either of a municipality or a
railroad company. or on its own
initiative, the case Of any grade
crossing, and after a hearing, to
direct the elimination of the
crossing and the particular man
ner in which il shall be done and
how the expense shall be pro-
portioned.
Generally speaking. such Is the
arrangement In New York. Mass
achusetts. Vermont and Ohio
Such a plan protects the public
and provides for ascertaining the
proper burden which should sur
round the settlement of each
particular problem.
with so many crossings still
to be eliminated. IL seems unfair
and unwise to propose that the
railroad companies should be bur
dened with either the entire cost
or an undue proportion OF tie cost
OF eliminating grade crossings,
many of which have been opened
subsequently to the construction
OF the railroads, and against their
strong protests.
1T should also be borne in mind
that the fiat contour Of the State
OF New Jersey has made many
crossings at grade very natural
development.
1T is to be hoped that the Gov
ernor will appreciate the situation
and veto the bill in the hope that
one may be passed which will
bring the State, the municipalities
and the railroads, together In
sharing the cost in proportions
equitable to the interests Of all
| concerned