Sheaths Due To Grade Crossings

DEATHS DUE TO GRADE CROSSINGS

During the year just closing Michigan railroads have broken all records in the matter of thier earnings. The business also continues to Increase and appears to be limited only by the capacity of the roads to take care of the business. According to Commissioner Osborn the total income for the year 1901 is $42,668,617.54, and the monthly earnings for 1902 shows an increase of about nine per cent and he thinks, therefore, that the total will reach $46,500,000.

What is not so satisfactor is his report of hte deaths during hte year due tothe deadly grade crossing. Duringthe year there were 40 persons killed at these crossings and the total is the greatest in Michigan for a single year. The total number killed in railroad accidents in the state during 1901, the last year for which complete returns are in, reaches the total of 162 persons as against 254 in 1900. In addition to the number killed there were 638 inured.

All this would seem to prove that the commissioner has been right in his fight for the separation of grades. Not only is grade separation necessary in the interest of human life, but the earnings of the railroads show plainly eough that they are abndantly able to pay the necessary expense for this separation. There is plenty of evidence which goes to prove that in Europe, with a much denser population than we have, there are many fewer deaths due to grade crossings. It is possible therfore to save life by expending money for the separation of grades. A matter of expense should no longer be permitted to prevent hte application of this life saver. The prosperity of the roads is such that they are abundantly able to stand the expense of grade separation and they should be required to separate their crossings from the highways.