Norwich bulletin., 1922-11-10

The "black book of Connecticut rail- road crossings contains 72 dangerous crossings, from which the following list is taken, these being considered the most productive of accidents at present:
 In Washington, 2; Roxbury, |; Branchville, l; New Britain. 1; Columbia, 9; Baltic Attawaugan, l; Middlefield, l /; Sterling, 1.
 The following is the list of dangerous crossings, which the utilities commission believes, automobilists may study to ad- vantage:
 New Canaan-Richmond Hill Crossing Wilton crossing; Saybrook-Ferry road, River street, Middlesex crossing and the next Middlefield crossing; Cromwell Main street and Wall street; Westfield crossing; Plainville-East street Forest ville-Broad street; Bristol-Maple street, Farmington avenue; Thomastou Morris (2); Washington (5); Roxhury crossing Avon CD; East Hartford Burnhams and two others; Manchester Oakland street Vernon; Mansfield, South | Coventry; Attawaugan; MooSnl"hen Falls Road; Oneco-Conley's crossing lainfield-Canterbury road; Baltic Baltic road.
 At the present time some elimination work is under way. Two crossings in Wilton are being combined by a change of roadway so that only one will here after be used. This was authorized by the railroad officials on the same day the inspection was made. The elimina' tion of Devils Den crossing in Sterling has also been authorized,
 With this work already authorized the elimination of three extremely dang erous crossings in Newington, Berlir and Saybrook, and the probable early do 1 ing away with some of the 12 listed sep arately, it can truly be said that pro gress is being made.
 The public utilities commission work ing in conjunction with the state high way department for the elimination O crossings will probably go ahead more i quickly, and was this cooperation vii : find it possible to provide a greater de 1 gree of safety. At North Grosvenor dale an example of this is to be found By the construction of stretch o roadway then not only can traffic b. diverted from the crossing but the, neV road shortens the distance to the poin reached by the old. In Washington fiv crossings are encountered in run o about one half mile.
 ! Connecticut in the past, has made ap propriations to aid in the eliminates. o ! are regarded favorably by some. Is possible even now to use state fund through construction work of the stat highway department.
 No New CrossinEs Connecticut is the only statet in tn United States where new grade crossing cannot be created without a hearing anG since such hearings come under the direc tion of the public utilities commission whose business is to accomplish the elin ination of crossings, there is little pros pect of any new ones being allowed That has been the policy of the publ utilities commission since its creation. most states the authority of eliminatio and establishment of new crossings rest with different bodies and the grade cross ing situation becomes like performance of dog chasing its own tail
 There are 716 grade crossings on stea1 railroads in Connecticut, one for abou every one and three-quarters miles ( railroad. While this may seem a seriou situation, when considered in connectio with the county as a whole, Connecticu has fewer than most states. The gener; average for the United States is on crossing to every mile of railroad
 Throughout the country, according t the latest statistics, there were 237,36 grade crossings of which 12.4 per cen were protected by gates or other safe guards. In Connecticut today the protet tion established is intended to safeguar 31.5 per cent. of the whole number crossings The percentage of crossin protection is increased yearly by th orders of the public utilities commissio and the number of crossings is bein gradually reduced.
 Bad Spots at SaybrOok At the present time the machinery fc