The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-12-17
George L. Wright, the Safety
First Man, Appears Before
Body With Request
From Mondays Daily.


~ committee of the Omaha railroad,
today told the Mankato city counch
that he would take that matter up
with higher officials of the road. The
idea is to have this policeman given
his star and authority by the city, but
paid by the railroad.
The matter arose out of the dis
cuSsion OF q complaint presented by
Mr.. Wright TO the council, to the
effect that Mankato people are very
CareleGs in crossing the tracks I'll
Main street. MIR. Wright read TO the
council the following report by c.
Lundquist, local roa,Anaster, written
on November 20 last:
"Gateman Martin Peterson at Main
street crossing, Mankato, has just ad-
Vised me that there are some auto
mobile and team drivers crossing
tracks on Main street who are not
observing or paying any attention to
him ringing the bell. For instance.
this morning an automobile ap-
| %: Chcd 10 cross just as No. pulled
O. aId tn" EGt"man rang his bell
j 20 - -" automobile came up TO the
Milwaukee track. Tut on hearing the
bell the chauffeur started up the car
al high speed in an effort 10 get
across our Northwestern tracks. Gate
man. Martin Peterson observed this in
time. so that he did not let his gate
down in time 10 come in contact with
the auto.
Later on today another automobile
came across III about the same
manner. He also said that a couple
Of teams went across that did not
observe the bell signal from the gate
but went right ahead.
The automobiles were owned by
the Draper and Peterson grocery
company and the Bangerter & Zim-
norman hardware company, and were
driven by their respective delivery
men.
In order TO effect tie remedy so
that such occurrences may not be re-
peated. called up police head
quarters and gave them the facts AZ
hand and they promised 10 look into
the matter.
AT the present time the bell or
gong used at the gate tower may not
he quite as loud as il ought to be,
and | made the suggestion to MIR
Ruge some time ago that If he could
get hold Of a bell that could be heard
more Gistantly. il would be a great
Improvement. and he has had the
matter up. but as yet there is no
actioI taken. | spoke TO Mr.. Ruge
this afternoon and he said he would
write TO Mr.. Moen and see IL he could
get an old engine bell installed in
stead OF the gong now in use, so that
there would really bc no excuse for
drivers not hearing the bell"
Drive Into the Gates.
Mr.. Wright declared that many
people with automobiles and with
vehicles have even had way of
driving right into the gates and
breaking them OF. He said many paid
no attention whatever to the gong.
He said the company was doing every
thing in its power to prevent acct
dents and he pleaded for the CO.
and vicinity.
Mir Wright showed some large
signs in white letters and red back
ground. and said he was seeking per-
mission to Put those signs up 800 to
400 feet from every dangerous cross
ing. especially in the country. The
words on the sign are: Railroad
crossing! Danger, Stop, Look.
Listen"
Mr.. Wright spoke at some length
OF the safety first movement and SAID
that the first year following the COM
mencement OF the movement. which
started in March 1918, there were
eleven less civilians killed and Ala
less injured on the Omaha. In 1915 so
far no civilians had been killed.
II was Mr.. Wrights own opinion
that the bell at present i'm use at the
Main street crossing was not loud
enough. II that was the opinion OF
the cCuncilmen. he was ready to take
that matter up with the company.
COuncilmen Lamm and Eichstaedt
were both of the opinion that the bell
was not loud enough to be heard at
all times over The noise made by un
automobile. Acting City Clerk John
son said he believed Il would not be
well TO use locomotive gong. be-
cause that would sound too much like
the gongs on the engines themselves
Councilman Lack. who occupied
the chair in the absence of Mayor
Meyer. remarked that the railroad
company had been suggesting a night
policeman to be stationed at the
depot. He thought II might be well
to have the railroad company itself
employ such an officer armed with
authority by the city.
Mr.. Wright said he dill rot see
why there should not be such an
officer. He remarked he would take
the matter up with the company.
Gates Down Without Warming.
Henry Robel. Sr.. OF North Mankato
who happened TO be present at the
meeting. remarked that he was
obliged to cross the tracks as q rule
about three times a day. and he said
he had been locked in by the gates
coming down without any warning
bell ringing at all. He spoke of one
occasion when he had to back with
his buggy alongside the track TO
escape being struck by q locomotive.
If he had had heavy rig, instead OF
q light one, the only way he could
have saved himself would have been
TO crash right through the gate. He
believed that was the woy in which
the gates were often broken. the
heavy rigs being locked in ly the