The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-04-12

WAY within ons hundlsd and afsy ffsstt
thereof measured along said highway
or way 4 traveller on the way carry.
ing such crossing can have = fair
view OF an approaching train. engine
hundred feet from such crossing yptil
II has passed over the same. either
under existing conditions or by bushes
trees, fences, signboards or enoroach-
moved moved I as sereinafter provided.
Section 8. At every crossing deslg-
mated under the provisions OF the pre-
ceding section and at every crossing
Of highway or other way anu an
officers of the towns In Wh1ch the
crossing is located are given authority
and are hereby required. when oy or
der directed SO to do by the pubic
notice to ali persons Interested, to re-
move mbankments and other obstruc-
tions within highway limits and to
enter upon private property and prop
erly trim. cut down or remove oushes'
trees. fences. signboards and encroach-
ments which obstruct the view of an
engine. train or car by traveller at
or near any such crossing. me au-
thority of tho commission In any Or
der and of the municipal officers act
ing thereunder shall not extend beyond
a point one hundred and nifty feet on
either side Of any such crossing meas
ured along the highway or other way
or beyond point three hun n1nd redss feet
measured along tho railroad right OF
way, the purpose herein being to en-
able traveller on any such way, when
such traveller Is one hundred ana nfty
crossing. to have fair view Of an
approaching train, engine or car con-
tinuously from t4e tin 9 such train.
engine or CIR Is three hundred feet
FROM such crossing until 1t has passed
commission w orler directs. such
municipal officers shall cause such
bushes, trees. fences, signboards or
encroachments to be trimmed I'M I,.D 0s ss
thereof shall In the frsi instance DO
paid by the city, town or plantation
wherein tho labor is performed, but
upon the fling with the governor and
ment, one-half OF any suoh amount
shall be repaid by the state to such
city, town or plantation. the same to
be paid out OF any funds not other
wise appropriated.
Section 8, II any person claims
damages on account OF any act done
under the two preceding sections, he
may within two years after the doing
Of any such act, petition the public
utilities eom ns sSs sa,6 eognission
after reasonable notice to the petit
toner and to the Interested city, town
or plantation, and after hearing, snail
award such sum as seems proper as
damages to be paid by the city. town
or plantation whorein tho property Is
located. Upon proper proof OF any
such payment. the governor ana coun-
ell shall cause one-half thereon to be
paid by the state to such city. town
or plantation.
section 6. Nothing in the four pre-
ceding sections contained shall author
lie the removal OF any building with
out the consent of the owner thereof.
Section T. So much of section one
hundred eleven Of chapter twenty four
Of the revised statutes as authorizes
the state highway department to en-
ter upon private property at railroad
crossings for purposes named therein
Section s. Obstruction or interfer-
ence with the performance of any act
authorized or required hereunder IL
hereby declared to be a misdemeanor,
and any person convicted OF the same
shall be fined not more than twenty
dollars or Imprisonment not more
than thirty days. Jurisdiction over
each such offense is hereby conferred
on each municipal court and trial JUS
Section o. Within sixty days after
the passage Of this act tho public
commission shall serve upon each
steam railroad company operating IN
this state list OF It's grade crossings
AZ which in the opinion OF the COM
mission automatic signals should be
Installed, operated and maintained or
some other form OF protection given
10 travellers on the highway or other
way. and shall order date for pubiic
respective railroad companies shall
show cause why such protection as
suggested by said commission should
not be given. Within thirty days ar.
or eaid hearing tho commission shall
determine and, by order served on the
respective railroad companies, sinai
state the character of protection. "
any. TO he installed at each snch cross
ing and shall set a date or dates on
shall require each railroad company 70
protect one quarter of said grade
crossings during the calendar year
nineteen hundred and seventeen, and
succeeding calendar years, giving pref
crcnce In point OF time to the more
dangerous crossings but for good
cause shown the commission may sus-
pend any such order or may extend
The time within which any railroad
company shall comply herewith. II
at any such crossing the railroad
company passing over the same shal
under existing law. under the proVls-
ions OF this act or at It's own ex
ncnee. remove distractions so as to
permit a fair view al described In sec
tIon two hereof. such crossing snail
not thereafter, so long as sueh falr
view is maintained. be held to be sub
ject to the PROVISIONS OF tnis sec.Io,.
mission made under this act may be
enforced in the manner provided IN
chapter ffty-hve Of the revised stat
utes The supreme judicial court ,s
hereby given Jurisdiction at law and
order issued by tho public utilities
comm ssion under this act. 1T shall
be the duty of said commission to see
that the right, OF ths pa bio under
Section II. Except where Otherwise
herein expressly specified this act
shall apply only TO railroads operated
in whole or principally by steam pow
Section 70. For the purpose of Gre
atinr and maintaining the fair view
mentioned In this act, any steam rail-
road company subject to the provls-
ions hereof may enter upon private
property and remove any embanltment
or other obstruction except a dwell
Ing house The owner OF such prop
erty Is entitled to damages. and may
have the same estimated and PAID In
the manner provided In chapter f1tty-
six. revised statutes, and there shall
be the same right Of appeal as there
Section IS The provisions Of this
act shall not apply to railroads or
less than STANDARD gauge, nor to the
Georges Valley Railroad Company.
Section IA In view OF the emer--
gency cited In the preamble this act
shall take effect when approved;
[Approved March 81. 1911
CHAPTER 146.
AN ACT to Amend Section Twenty