Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-20

gates at a railroad crossing? 1t is apparent
that the people using the crossings have got to
assume much of the responsibility themselves.
The only solution is to use extreme caution
when approaching a railroad crossing whether
the crossing is supposed to be guarded with
safety gates or not.
But the city can also do Its part In helping
to avoid another such crossing horror. AS FAR
as the fire apparatus are concerned. there Is
really no necessity of rushing through the
streets at such a terrific rate of speed as some
attain in responding to an alarm. No such
speed was made when the apparatus were
draw n by horses and the need for speed now is
no greater than it was when horses were USED.
While it is admitted that in time of fire the IRE
annarattls must have the right Of way, there is
always danger at every crossing that some per-
n or vehicle. in spite of the warning gongs,
will become confused and get in the path. A
minute or two longer in getting to a fire VIII not
make much difference, but it would make the
streets much safer.
Especially upon approaching a railroad cross
ing should the driver of an apparatus or any
other vehicle, for that matter. have his machine
absolutely under control. Regardless OF wheth-
err the gates are up or down, the macnlne snouio
ne reduced to a very moderate rate until II Is
certain that the crossing is safe. Very little time
would be lost in taking this precaution ana II
would help solve the grade crossing problem as
long as grade crossings exist.
Rut the city might go still further than this
Perth Amboy has grown SO that the railroads
rov cuts the city nearly in half. 1t would seem
40 ~ the companies of the fire department couid
he 81 located as to make it unnecessary. except
IN the case of a second alarm, to cross inc
,r,ots o+ all. In other words, there should be
enough fire apparatus located west OF the ran
wood 70 cover anv first alarm that might be
sounded in that section. Likewise, there ought
.o he sufficient apparatus stationed east OIL II
railroad to take care of any first alarm that
might be sounded there. This would aVoio Az
necessity of crossing the tracks except on those
rare occasions when the fire has got peyono II
control of the companies that first Responded
and additional help Is needed from other COM
panies.
It is notorious that nine-tenths OF the alarms
sounded are for t~riffling affairs. 1t would haroly
seem necessary to have so many apparatus
rushing from all directions in response to every
call that is made. Incidentally, 1t seems q pity
that the whole city has to be aroused with a
uroo+ changing of the fire bell and the blowing
- nur,ero,,s factory whistles at any hour Of the
night or day, every time 1t is desired 10 so"i-
mon the fremen for one OF these petty hie'
Little children are needlessly frlshteheu' L
sick and nervous are made TO suHer he0e
sarily and there is much useless CONFUSION Win
the occasional sending in of two alarms at ii
same time for the same fire. each one coniihs
from n different box, and then with the 'unoer
control, taps and finally the "all OUT taps not
to mention the three taps at s O'CLOCK every
r,ybt and the two taps at 10 o'clock every
noorninr. there is what might be called too much
.do about what so often amounts to nothing.
T would seem as If the city had outgrown such
a primitive method.
d. that , q il NAV. the hremen respond with
the same alacrity regardless of the nature OF 'he
h,ouo .rd their excellent service is greatly ap-
nreciated. These men who SO willingly take
s,,cb great risks, often for such little cause arc
entitled TO every consideration and 1t wouio
seem as If some reforms ought 10 DC ~
about in the method of responding to nres
that would be decidedly beneficial to all lhe Ills.
consideration should be the salesuaroihe "
lives. and this means the lives OF the nrehei 70
we'll as the lives of any who may De ehoaheeieN
by fire. Property consideration Is secondary al
though it is not to be belittled In the least.
Perth Amboy has had a severe lesson. Ger
t,inlv such a catastrophe as has just occurred III
,his citv cannot be allowed to pass into history
without some steps being taken to make 1t I'M
likely that such a horror will occur again.
The "Great Divide Is Of more than pictur-
esoue interest to the man who carries his salary
home each Saturday night.
Looks like congress can't talk peace without
citing in a fight.