New Britain herald., 1919-11-05
THE. GRADE CROSSING ORDERED
 ABOLISHED

Welcome word from the public
 utilities commission to the effect that
 the Clayton crossing must be
 abolished, comes to us today. The
 danger spot, with it's grim record of
 accidents and deaths, is to be
 eliminated by the New Haven Road,
 which is ordered to submit drawings
 and take the preliminary steps neces-
 sary by January 1 of next year.
 In it's report the commission makes
 13, 1917, when three persons were
 killed when a train hit an auto truck,
 the road was instructed to construct
 signal system for the safety of the
 highway user and the banjo and bell
 systems were placed in operation. A
 former accident took place six
 months or so before, but there had
 been none since, up to the time of
 the recent horror, October ,, when
 John Amisko, with his wife and child
 and Antonio Horvatt and Mrs. Hor-
 watt. with two children met a train
 upon the crossing with the result that
 four of the party were killed and
 three seriously injured. However. the report indicates that the lack of ac- cidents since the installation of the system is proof of the negligence of the driver in this particular instance who, at least, proceeded upon his way despite the fact that the 'banjo" bell ringing beyond the fact that it had been inspected and found to be in working order a short time before. The commission refuses to place all of it's trust in the signals, notwith- standing, and the crossing will be eliminated in some manner yet to be suggested, possibly by raising or lowering the roadbed
 While it will be some time before it is possible to accomplish this even though the intentions of the New Haven Road might be of the best we may be thankful that. the crossing is to go. We may proceed across the with the greatest care, may come to a complete stop before to go on our way, but there Is always the knowledge that which is often too careless, faces very great danger of instant death at the point. The driver of a car, in the majority of cases, is only too anxious to take a chance and this trait is more predominant in those who are uniformed upon the work ings of signal systems than among those who are. All must be pro- tected, even against themselves, and the proper way to do it is to make chance.
 The grade crossing was scheduled | for an early elimination even before l the past accident, it's position and 1 danger made this imperative. Had l t not been for the war it might | nave been disposed of before this | ,ime -, The expense of raising the highway or the railroad so that one nay pass over the other, will be by 10 means small but the outlay of funds is, warranted.
 Meanwhile we have other crossings about the city to which it might be we'll to attend before accidents occur. That at the foot of Stanley street, on South street should be at least pro- .ected by gates. There is not the traffic across this roadbed that there is at Clayton but it is 8 very dan serous spot nevertheless. There is no opportunity to observe north bound train from the west side of the tracks owing to the< buildings there, and there is little visibility up and down the tracks from any point upon the streets.
 At the farther end of Stanley street and upon the lower part of Allen street there are two points that de- serve further protection. Neither one If them has a view that is badly obstructed but they also are poten- .ial death traps.