The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-03-10
AUTOISTS
COMBAT
FULLSTOP
Do Not Like Idea of Stop
ping Cars at Grade Cross
ings Of Railroads
SEEKING UNIFORM LAWS
Standard Crossing Sign
boards for Whole Country
Favored at Meet

Washington, Mar. 1O.-When shaM
an operator OF o. motor venice De cOI-
PEELED to come 20 full stop at raAi-
road crossing at grade, was the ques-
ton which occupied the most consio-
GRAFTON in the recent conference at
Washington, participated IN py TO-
resentatives of the National Associa-
ton of Railway Commissioners, the
American Automobile association, ana
the American Railway association.
The meeting held as its purpose the
countrywide adoption OF UNIFORM
system OF signals and other precan-
tionary measures, 1t being SET Iortn
that "one sign should signify the same
thing everywhere, Installed so as 10
he in Main View OF the driver OF a
vehicle and so that 1t could be PLAINLY
read at night by motor car head
lights"
Unanimity existed as to the type or
first warning sign to be erected oy
city. town, or county, ana also tnat
it should be located not less than goo
feet from a crossing, but the run seop
proposition came in for much discus
sion.
Osborne l. Yellott, chairman of the
A. A. A. legislative board, thus pre-
sents tbs contention of the motorists;
st was realized by the A. A. A.
representatives, who include President
H. M. Rowe that some steps should
be taken to minimize accidents to the
smallest possible degree. Two propo-
sitions were suggested by the spokes-
men of the railroads; the first provld-
ing that within 100 feet of the crossing
the motor vehicles should not proceed
at a rate of speed greater than 10
miles per hours and the second that
the motor vehicle should be brought TO
a full stop not less than 10 feet from
the nearest rail Of the crossing.
Speed Traps Feared.
''The first suggestion was objected 90
on the ground that 1t was unreasonable
and would tend to give rise to the
maintenance OF obnoxious speed traps
at such crossings, with resulting incon-
venience and injustice to many motor
lists who were, in fact, exercising all
proper caution in approaching the
crossings in question. The second We
it was unreasonable to require motor
lists to stop at all crossings, since IN
many instances the tracks in either
direction are visible for such distances
sary. 1t was finally agreed that motor.
lists should be required to reduce speed
and proceed cautiously at all crossings,
and that the public service oommiss ~.
several states should have the power
to determine the crossings at which ~
was reasonably necessary that stops
be made; such full stop crossings TO os
designated by appropriate signs ana
the failure of motortst to stop At sucn
to be prima facie evidence that he had
not proceeded cautiously in making
"in making this latter concession the
OF the motorists reallE-
ed that there are some grade crossings
at which ordinary prudence requires q
full stop, and that inasmuch as condi.
tiOns vary so much at this class OF
crossing IL would be better to leave
the determination of such to response
BILE bodies such as public service COM
While. the complete proposed bill
agreed upon by the partici-
pants in the three-cornered conference
was not adopted by the National Asso-
citation OF Railway Commissioners IN
their subsequent general gathering, APP
prevail was given to the seven PROPOSE
lions pat forward in resolutions ADOPT.
ed at Chicago last June BY tne. speciaa
American Railway association, ana
similar committee from the railway
Legislation Planned.
These proposals set forth the. need OF
uniformity and, also describe the kin0
of sign and its location. In approving
the report OF it's committee on grace
crossings and trespassing on railroads.
the railway commissioners recommends
"a to the several state commissions the
to legislatures of whatever
hills may be necessary "to put said
recommendation into ef-
feet, to the end that pending the sep
aration of grades, which we regard as
the final objective, uniform and effect
I've protection may be provided at
grade crossings in the several states"
Speaking for the motorists organiza-
ion. Chairman Yellott infers that the
proposal will be combated,
except under the plan which he sets
forth.