Railroad Crossings Protected

A meeting was held m the council chamber, Wednesday afternoon, be tween Railroad Oommissioner Whitman, the city council, and General Manager Ashley, of the T., A. A. & N. M. E'y, at which the commissioner heard the arguments pro and con on the resolution of the council asking him to order gates on the streets crossed by the T. & A. A. in the city. The request ot the council was for gates and keepers at the crossings on Miller avenue, S. Main, Jeöerson, Washington, Williams, Liberty, Madison, Traver and Pontiac streets. Alderman Ilerz complained that on Washington street the flaginan neglected his duty, to which Mr. Ashley responded that the flagman would be compelled to his duty at this as well as the other crossings where they are now standing. Miller avenue crossing was then discussed. Me. Ashley contended that the great cause of complaint in Aun Arbor at all the crossings was the fact that trainmen left trains and cars standing on the streets. This he considered just cause for complaint and he advised the officers to arrest the trainman who do this. Any such man arrested, Mr. Ashley agreed to discharge l'rom the service of the company. The company spent $10,000 to fit u'p a yard which is twice as large as is necessary, and no engineer had any business to pull his train out of this yard or cut in two across any street, and he is willing to have the conncil pass an ordinance forbidding a train to be cut or stand near a erossing in the city limita. Mr. Ashley asked to speak to the couucil about the sidewalk ordered built in front of their vacant property on First street. Mr. Ashley said that this property was held by his company not for private bat for public benefit. This property the company was willing o giveto anygoodmanufactory or inil that would lócate on it. To put a sidewalk on that side would prevent teams 'rom loading and unloading. He offered to pay doublé the cost of the sidewalk into the city treasury if the council would rplease him from buildng it. 11e then scomi a point against he eouncil which they all acknowled?ed. Although the company liad railt a long stretch of walk, according o orders, in front of their depot property, nothing had yet been done by the )wners of adjacent property and people wanting to reach the depot still had to 'go in boats or on sleds as they have lone for twelve years past.'1 The party then went to inspect the various crossings where protection is asked. The dangerous places were pointed out, and Mr. Ashley agreed to all the suggestions made by the commissioner and the eouncil, and nearly every street wil] be protected. Numerous cars were found standing partly on the streets, giving the couneil a chance to point out to Mr. Ashley one of the greatest causes for complaint here. Mr. Ashley agreed that if the mimber of each car found encroaching on the street hereafter was reported to him, he would discharge the trainman who placed it. The f olio win g appliances were decided upoii to protect the various crossings: S. Main street, an electric alarm bell. which gives warning whcn a train gets within 500 feet of the crossing; Liberty street, a flagman; Washington street, a war ui Dg signal; Miller avenue, gates and gate-keeper; Pontiac street, an electric bell. Tliis gives protection at every traveled crossing in the city, and the city is to be congratulated apon the prompt action of Commissioner Whitman.