The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-09-21
SAFETY GATES AGAIN

The newspapers of this city have
called attention, time and again, to
the absolute necessity OF city and par
ssh authorities taking some action IN
forcing the railroad companies 20
place some sort of safety appliances
at dangerous grade crossings. The
cmplaints Of the newspapers, how.
ever, have been given little heed and
there has not been a step taken in
that direction.
~
Just a short while ago an awful &C
cident occurred at the grade crossing
Of the Gulf Coast lines track west
of town, in which one man was killed
and an automobile smashed beyond
repair. Last Friday another man was
killed by the Texas and Picific train
in the city limits, at the Main street
crossing of that road. Other similar,
fatalities have happned in this city
and others may happen in the future,
unless some steps are taken to force
the railroad companies to guard the
crossing better than they are guarded
now.
Trains are supposed to stop at each
crossing and send flagman ahead
to warn approaching people Of the
danger. Two roads at least are fol-
lowing this practice, yet here we have
another fatality right on the heels of
the awful one of few Sundays ago. If
the railroads refuse to construct au-
tomato gates at their dangerous
crossings, then the authorities should
. take steps to force them to station
fagmen at these crossings.
Verify, the railroads, especially one
or two, are becoming human butchers
and people have no other recourse
but to enter suit for damages against
the companies. Monetary damages,
however, is poor salve for the loss of
a loved one, and many people have be-
gun to believe that the railroads are
supreme in the land and can do any
thing with impunity, even down to
crushing out lives of such unfortunate
las the Italian citizen slaughtered last
Friday.
Damage suits in large amounts won
by plaintiffs do not seem to prove an
object lesson to the rail companies
They fight the case in the courts and
il judgment is rendered against them
they finally pay, and follow the old
custom Of running over people every
now and then.
Two have been filed gainst the
Gulf Coast lines for the catastrophe
of few weeks ago. That fact does
not deter the railroad company from
operating its trains in the same old
manner and failing to place the re-
quired safeguards at the street and
road crossings. The probable damages
which may be against the corporation
is paid lite heed to and any time we
may hear of other accidents.
The Southern Pacific long ago inau
gurated the custom of stopping its
trains at dangerous crossings in this
city and so far no accident has hap
pened on that inc. But we recall that
the Southern Pacific prides itslef on
its foresight in the matter of warding
off any probable or possible accident.
1t, too, has several dangerous cross
ings in this city and should the muni-
cipal authorities take the matter in
hand of ordering the railroads to
erect safety appliances, the Southern
Pacific should not be treated as an
exception.
Further dilly-dallying with this vital
subject Is simply to invite further
serious and fatal accidents-it is
flirting with death, and no other
characterization can be placed on it.