The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-05-14
AIMS AT GARDEN
STREET CROSSING
Coroner and City Manager
Confer on Plans to ELM
mate Hazards.
TO STOP DEATH TOLL
Demand Remedy for Danger
GUS Crossings as Public
Safety Measure.

Alarmed at the increasing death toll
at railroad crossings in Kenosha, and
aiming particularly at the Garden
street crossing, which has claimed
four lives since the first of the year,
Coroner Joseph Friend today an
nounced that he was seeking to get
some sort of action by those agencies
which would be most effective in elm
mating or az least cutting down the
hazards and dangers which hover
about railroad crossings in Kenosha.
The recent death of John Launs-
bury at the Garden street crossing,
the blame for which was placed on the
North Western Railroad company be-
Cause of alleged improper protection
of the public, has prompted the cor
oner to see what can be done to re-
lieve the situation in Kenosha. In
a conference with City Manager c. M.
Osborn the two discussed means
whereby the action sought by the city
may be placed before the proper au-
thofities for consideration. 1t is
planned to call conference at which
representatives Of the railroad COM
pany, the Kenosha Safety council, the
city council, and the Kenosha county
coroner, would be invited to be pres
ent and discuss the problem here.
Coroner Demands Action.
Coroner Joseph Friend has declared
that he will demand every action that
he can in getting some remedial meas
ures taken for the protection of the
public on highways in the city and
county where railroad tracks cross.
"Weve been getting entirely too
many coroner's2 inquests in Kenesha
county coming as the result of deaths
as result of accidents in which
trains was figured. We have just
placed our suggestions and our pleas
before the Wisconsin Railroad COM
mission with reference to the Geneva
road crossing at Truesdell. While we
do not know at this time what the de-
cision of the railroad commission
might be in this case we are con-
WINGED that they realize the import
ance of some sort of action imam eff
fort to place the crossing in a much
safer condition for the public" de-
clares the coroner.
statistics / have compiled show
tha+ Kenosha county in proportion to
its population has three times as many
deaths from railroad accidents in the
last six months as Cook county, which
includes Chicago.
Some Unusually Dangerous.
81 don't want KenoSha to go on with
the name of Death Crossing attached
to every rSilroad crossing, and want
to be fair with the railroad comparl-
les. I do expect that they take the
proper precautionary measures to in
stall such safety measures as are COM
Nmensurate with public safety. And
/ don't want TO wait for another at-
cident and another inquest before
something definite is done"
out of the conference between the
coroner and the city manager has
come a plan which may lead to an
early step to lessen Kenoshs's danger
at railroad crossings, according to
word which came out of this confer
ence. The railroad company's repre-
sentatives are to be asked to sit in at
a meeting of the Kenosha Safety
council, and cooperate in Offering sug-
gestions which may help the situa-
ton. 1t is hoped that some agree
ment mag be reached as result of
these conferences and that from these
will arise certain recommendations
which will be agreeable to all.
ave don't feel that we ought to
take the matter to the railroad COM
mission at once" declared City Man
ager Osborn in discussing the situa-
ton. eve feel that there might be
something we can do here to remedy
the conditions among ourselves with
out appealing to the higher body. Of
course, if all means should be ex
hausted here and we are unable to
bring about any changes which we
seek, it will be necessary to take up
the matter at Madison and to demand
a hearing. We are aiming particu-
Iarly at the Garden street crossing at
this time, but there are other cross
ings in the city which ought to receive
immediate attention also"
Whether the agitation which is be-
ing renewed at this time will lead to
an extended discussion of track ele
walton through Kenosha is only mat
ter of speculation, it was pointed out,
and it was added that there were more
immediate factors that demanded at
tention and remedy before the greater
problem of track elevation could be
considered.