GRADE-CROSSINGS.

SUGGESTIONS.

The principal suggestions which I would now submit is the same old story to which I have so many times before referred, and that is to Too many lives have already been lost by them, and the accidents from them are so constantly increasing that it does seem to me time that a decided change in regard to them should at once be made. They are now created by two sources- -one by commissioners appointed to award land damages in the lay-out of a new railroad, and for which there is not, and never was, to my knowledge, the first particle of legal authority, and the other source is by town councils. I recommend that prompt legislation be had on this important subject, and a new law made confering this power solely to some of the courts of our State. The reasons that I would offer are these: To cut off the first source, because it has no law to rest upon. It is a practice gained by precedents. To cut off the other, because members of the Town Council are so constantly changing that they do not fully appreciate the importance of the matter; because a Town Council will probably grant any reasonable petition, signed either by the leading citizens of the town or else by a large proportion of the voters of the town; because, it often happens, that the railroad company carry weekly through the towns more passengers than there are citizens of the town, thereby leaving the Council to legislate for a minority; because the matter may eventually get into the control of a clique in the town, or may affect the whole business of the town. During the present year, an example of the latter case was found. Members of the Town Council were openly threatened that unless they voted to grant the petition they would be removed from office at the next elec

Efforts will, therefore, be made to elect men pledged to this one idea, without special reference to qualifications for the position. Because in granting a new highway, or changing an old one, interests outside of their own town may be affected and several town councils called upon to act; because in having this authority vested solely in the court all interests are more carefully scanned, all objections become known, and every person interested would be notified and the necessities of the case be fully understood.

I should not dwell so at length upon this matter were I not so frequently called upon to investigate accidents at these crossings.

I now present an account, in detail, of the various accidents of the year, and in investigating them I have taken nearly seventy pages of

testimony. My uniform course is to first administer the oath to the witness, then take the testimony, then read it to the witness and then have the witness sign it.

The following is an account of the

ACCIDENTS:

In my last report I mentioned that an accident had occurred on the Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad, whereby THOMAS BARRY was injured, but that the nature of the injuries were such that he was unable to be present at an investigation at that time. I subsequently investigated as to the cause of the accident on February 20th. This man attempted to drive across the track on India street, coming up a gangway next east of the office of the Union Oil Company, while the regular passenger train was backing up India street going to the depot. The conductor of the train was on the front platform of the first car; the bell on the engine was ringing; some buildings obstructed the view, and when the conductor first saw the horses' heads they were some thirty feet from the crossing, and he immediately shouted, to attract the attention of the driver, who was hid from his view by the buildings, and at the same time pulled the bell-line. The man says he did not hear the shouting until it was too late to avoid being hit. It seems to me that a good proportion of the responsibility of this accident rests upon the man himself for not exercising due vigilance and care, while the balance of the responsibility rests upon the corporation for backing trains over this street.

An accident occurred February 13th, near Smith-street bridge, Providence, whereby material damage was done to an engine and cars, and one car-load of passengers somewhat shaken up. The investigation showed that the direct cause of the accident was chargeable to an engineer in the employ of the Boston and Providence Railroad Company, who did not pay sufficient attention to the signal fixed for him, and he was promptly discharged.

THOMAS HAGGARTY, fatally injured February 16th, at Pawtucket, by a train of the Providence and Worcester Railroad Company. He was in their employ as brakeman on the switching engine, and his duties called him frequently off of engine to couple cars. He caught his left foot between the wheel of the freight car and jaw-strap of the car, the train being in motion, and before it could be stopped he was so jammed as to lose his life. The train was moving very slow, and the two brakemen were at the brakes putting them up at the time of the accident.

JESSE A. ROGERS was fatally injured February 22d by jumping through the window of a car of the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad Company. He was a passenger, and when near Auburn, and when the train was moving nearly fifty miles per hour, he made the fatal jump. He was promptly carried to the Rhode Island Hospital, where I visited him on the 24th of February, and found him in an unconscious state, and died there on the 2d day of March. He was undoubtedly deranged.

JAMES CROWELL was injured near the station in Providence, January 1st, in attempting to get upon the hourly train of the Providence and Worcester Railroad Company, and was by them sent to this Hospital. I found him at this same visit, and although I had previously intended to wait until he came from the hospital before I gave the case a formal investigation, still upon finding him so far recovered, I took his testimony at this time. He admitted that the train was in motion, and he attempted to jump upon the rear platform of the first car, and assumed all liability and responsibility of the accident.

CHARLES G. BURROUGHS was killed March 7th by coming in contact with the High-street bridge, Providence, he being on the top of a passenger car belonging to the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad Company. The train had left the station but a very few moments, it being the regular boat-train leaving Providence 7:35 P. M. It is supposed that he took this position to evade his fare, as he was found without either ticket or money.

PASCAL ORMSBEE, a man deaf and dumb, and about seventy-five years of age, was killed March 9th, at Warren-avenue crossing, East Providence, by a train of the Boston and Providence Railroad Company. This train was broken up previous to reaching the crossing. The engine and one portion had crossed, when Mr. Ormsbee attempted to cross, and was run over by the rear portion of the train and instantly killed. I did not have any formal investigation of the case, for the reason that I noticed among the testimony taken by the coroner was the testimony of an employé on the train, who stated that he pulled the pin at the usual place, north of the crossing, and that the train. went over the highway in detached parts. I immediately wrote the Superintendent that Section 4, Chapter 145 of the Revised Statutes of this State was "no car or carriage for the transportion of passengers, or freight, over any railroad in this State shall be propelled across any highway after the locomotive has been detached therefrom, without a stationary bell or whistle being rung at said crossing during the whole

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mssing such highway," and that, in my judgment, w direct violation of the laws of this State, the i responsibility of the accident rests upon the corpo" race of running trains was immediately discontiny examined the crossing and recommended to the 1 a gate be erected on the west side of the crossing, then on the east side. This was promptly built, and

so guarded that it would be almost an impossible Asar accident occur there.

November, DR. L. A. PALMER, of Westerly, was in- River Junction, by attempting to get on to a car of Ys. Providence and Boston Railroad Company. This ac1st regarded so very slight that the corporation did not

consequently it did not come to my knowledge. It known, and I held a formal investigation March 23d, were present an unusual large number of witnesses for each : the testimony of Dr. Palmer, who admitted that the ven when he attempted to take hold of the rail, wherem mod ately dismissed all the other witnesses, and decided that

ent he attempted to get upon the train, knowing that it be assumed all liability and responsibility.

WEN was slightly injured April 7th by a car of the Union ad Company, in Providence. Upon making inquiries, I found

so slight that I did not deem a formal investigation nec

NAND SHMINKE was injured the previous summer, near Ce age, by cars of the Providence, Warren and Bristol RailCay, and was by them sent to the Rhode Island Hospital, e remained nearly seven months. I made frequent inquiries gard to him, still he left before I expected. However at last im, and held a formal investigation in regard to the accident

h of April. He, with a friend, were talking while standing the rails. The friend testified that he not only heard the g of the coming train, but that he said to Mr. Shminke that was coming. He himself moved clear of the train by jumpown the bank, while Mr. Shminke remaining, or hesitating, was

seriously hurt. The signal of danger was given by the engisee and the train stopped as soon as possible, and I informed Mr. Shake that as he was where he ought not to be and had no right to band as everything was done by the employés on the train to prevent the accident, he must assume the responsibility of it.

JOHN M. HONEYWELL was injured April 25th while attempting to get off a car of the Union Railroad Company, near Durfee street, Providence. I visited him at his residence, and he stated that he supposed the car was going to stop, and finding that it did not even slack the speed, he jumped, and added, "I do not blame anybody but myself."

PETER TALBOT, a boy about eight years of age, was killed May 5th, at Woonsocket, by a train of the Providence and Worcester Railroad Company, known as the Worcester express. It was about noon, and when the engineer first saw the boy he was only some forty feet off, a curve in the road, and other cars standing there, prevented him from seeing him before. He had whistled twice within the previous minute. This boy was playing with another one, which one had just crossed the track, while this one attempted to follow. The train was slacking up at this time, and stopped as soon as possible, so soon, that the boy was found less than the length of the train in the rear.

ANNIE MCNIFF, a girl about nine years of age, was injured May 19th, on the Grove-street crossing, by a train of the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad Company. The engineer saw her when he was about two hundred feet off, and immediately blew the whistle, she kept moving on until she came on to that track, then he blowed for brakes. There was another train coming from the opposite direction, and she appeared to be noticing it. The bell on this engine was ringing for this crossing, and a portion of the trains passed each other on this crossing. I visited her at her residence, and her injuries were not very severe, although how she escaped being killed is not easily explained.

ANN WINSOR was killed July 17th by a train of the Providence and Springfield Railroad Company while walking on the track between Plainfield street and Hartford-street crossings, near Providence. When first seen by the engineer she was about sixty yards off walking between the rails. The whistle had scarcely stopped for a crossing just passed, and a curve in the road obstructed his view. Immediately upon seeing her he blew four or five short whistles, and almost at the same moment he shut off the steam, reversed the engine, and blew for brakes, but she was struck by the pilot and instantly killed. When she crossed the first crossing the flagman in charge motioned to her to get out of the way, and although she was looking at him at the time, she did not pay attention to his warning. It was afterwards proved that she was partially insane, and required constant watching. She was stopping with