Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-18

Several newspapers in commenting on the
accident that occurred in this city Wednesday
afternoon have expressed the universal demand
that grade crossings be abolished.
The Newark Evening News says:
SIX years and three months ago the Public
Utilities Commission decided that the smith
and Market street grade crossings at Perth
Amboy were dangerous to public safety" Inc
decision was reached after taking testimony
showing the heavy traffic over these crossings
OF some of the trains passing over these cross
ings was from tifty-ive to sixty miles an hour.
The New jersey Central Railroad Company
insisted that the crossings were not dangerous,
that Fey were amply protected and that they
couldntot be ordered abolished because, it was
hel1NRhe grade crossing law of the state was I'M
coy ADDITIONAL in that it deprived the company OF
pkxA4y "without due process of law" Court
ri fydings to test the law ended the case be-
2he commission.
IA sadly has the judgment of the Public
Pes Commission been sustained by the logic
Dents! Within one year and i've months
Gen lives have been sacrificed at these two
p.rossings-fve at one time and nine at an
by the same train operated by the same
Fneer. Every one of the three claims set up
tthe railroad company has been d1sproved.
crossings were and are dangerous, the pro,
ZION afforded was not ample. and the United
hs supreme court has sustained the constl-
Enality of the Fielder grade crossing law.
le railroad company can hardly escape re.
Etibility for these disasters, even though II
I'd be shown that there was careless 10 d
te on the part of some of the victims and
ehe gate tender did not 40 NIllS uuty. Inv
Inv depended upon fallible humans to
death traps. 1t did nothing to end the
haity of other disasters after five soldiers
lent to their death a year ago last jan
AWhat will 1t do now following the w1ping
the lives this week of nine f1remen re-
ig to the call of duty?
@ Jersey Central does not take lmmedlate
10 wipe out these danger spots, then the
ehould step in and compel action. New
Is grade crossing law, sustained by the
OF last resort, is ample to cope with the
<tion. The instrument provided by the lesis -
a to carry out the provisions of the act Is
Public I%Itilities Commission. That body has
,olemn duty to perform that 1t is not likely -
Tx, especially in the face OF such grueso som
dence that this latest grade crossing horror
; provided.
The New York World says:
The grade-crossins disaster at Perth Amhoy
(which cost the lives of nine volunteer hremen
while in the performance of their duty
excites a public condemnation proporttoH tios Of
it, kind in the metropolitan area 1t calls ior a a.
more than ordinary rigid investigator. WIN ~
prove sufficiently shocking TO- cause the rena1N a.
81 the death crossing and with it the removal OF
NJ of other disasters there!
Y lat 10 the question OF more imPor1ahoe '"""
~ coroner's jury and local and state boards OF
sn0ufry will fix the blame and no doubt recon.
srrnA that somebody be punished, II punislme.t
u a~ae.ihie. But all possible investigation will do
rs nofe than determine what Is ALREADY known;
%Eef fhe failure of some human FACTOR caused
{<H~Jtragedy, And human factors are Always
vi this disaster is taken with real seriousness
Eshe grade crossing which long invited 1t ana
eventually caused it must go. Safety there ~
not a matter OF gates up or down or OF tnt
meteorological moment for waving a red signal
TAG. The only way to make life safe wherever
trains cross city street at grade Is to aoohsh Tue
crossing
From the Newark Morning Ledger:
There are. conflicting stories as to whethei
the collision between a train and fre apparatuf
at Perth Amboy was caused primarily by a rus
not to lower safety gates at crossings IN the way
fire apparatus or by the gates being gu. :. or
der. II is known. though. that the gates were
not lowered and that the gateman, busy warhins
automobiles, did not flag the train, with Ihe re-
, [,,it0 that nine men are dead in their prime ant
others badly injured. o. III,
The tragedy will direct attention anew 10 TN
deadly menace of railroad grade CROSSINGS II
cities and thickly populated communities; Imes'
crossings cannot. OF course, be ae ar h eues a. eS e
once or for many years because OF the great eA
nsnso involved. Pending the raising or Lowering
Of tracks in cities and towns, there should o.
greater caution exercised in guarding 'hes'