Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-08-10
MILWAUKEE TRAIN
HITS AUTO TRUCK
Truck Driven by +. L. Hines Hit by
Outgoing Morning Train Mon
day Morning at Nine
O'clock.
ACCIDENT ON THE
MAIN STREET CROSSING
Auto Was Going East And Ii Was
Impossible 10 See Train Un-
I'll it Got Onto Crossing.

Another bad accident has occurred
on the c. NJ. s st. p. Ry. within the
city limits of Decorah, and this last
accident seems to be warning enough
to the people that these crossings
should be protected
The accident Monday morning re-
suited most fortunately, in that no
one was killed, but it was a close
call. F. L. Hines, an employee Of
J. p. Burns in the Burns implement
warehouse on Washington street,
was driving an automobile truck east
on Main street, and was alone in the
truck. The Milwaukee pulls out at
nine o'clock, and both truck and train
reached the Main street crossing at
the same time. The truck was car
ried to the middle of the railroad
bridge over Dry Run, when the
train came to a stop. Mr.. Hines was
pinned up against the side of the
bridge, and it looked like he was
fatally injured. His home is on
Main street only block from where
the accident happened, and he was
taken there at once and DR.. M. ID.
jewell summoned. The doctor found
Mr.. Hines left arm broken in two
places, just above the wrist and be-
low the elbow. His chest was jam
med up also. 1t was indeed mighty
fortunate escape for him..
The auto truck was completely
wrecked, and the trainmen lowered
it into the creek bed; so the train
could pass over the bridge.
Mr.. Hines is a man about "A years
of age, and has been in the employ
of j. P. Burns here for a number
Of years, selling farm machinery
from the warehouse on Washington
street.
A good many accidents have oc-
Cured within the city limits of De-
corah on the Milwaukee during the
past years, and it seems about time
these crossings were guarded. The
last Iowa legislature passed new
law relative to the regulation of rail-
roads, which we print below. This
law was approved April 8, 1921.
Previously such a law did not apply
TO towns under 5000 population.
House file AT. An act to repeal
section 769 of the Code, &C. C. Sec.
3S17) and to enact a substitute
therefor, relating to regulation of
railroads within cities and towns.
Be it enacted by the General As
sembly of the state of Iowa:
Section /. Regulation of. railroads.
That the law as it appears in sec
ton seven hundred sixty-nine (769l
of the Code &C. c. Sec. 3817) be and
the same is hereby repealed and the
following enacted in lieu thereof:
Incorporated cities and towns
shall have power to compel railroad
companies to place fagmen, or to
erect, construct, maintain and operate
suitable mechanical signal devices or
gates, upon public streets at railroad
crossings under such regulations as
may from time to time be made by
the Council, provided that in cases
where a controversy arises between
the railroad company and the cOun-
Gil as to the necessity of such flag
men, signal devices or gates, the
matter shall be determined by board
of railroad commissioners; and cities
and towns, subject to the approval
of the railroad commission, shall
have power to regulate the speed of
trains over the street or through the
limits of the city or town."
Approved April 8, A. d. 1921.