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Show o I J GRADE CHANGES MEAN RATE CHANGES It is easy to solve the problem of accidents at grade crossings by change of grades if that were the only thing to be considered. But that creates another problem of great economic importance. Capital invested in grade crossings produces no revenue. It isn't as if invested in equipment or track. It would require around 18,000,-000,000 18,000,-000,000 to effect the elimination of present grade crossing's. Assuming half of this amount payable by railroads rail-roads and half by the public, it would mean a permanent increase in capital investment by the roads of $9,000,000,000, or approaching one-half one-half their total cost. With the railroads earning less than five per cent of their present value, is it not clear that such an increase in-crease in their capital investment would necessitate an increase in rates? Is it not also clear that such a situation is permanent and that i rate increases so induced would be : an added burden on traffic for all time ? There are two sides to the problem prob-lem of accident prevention humane and economic and while the former j must' not be neglected for economic reasons, neither should permanent i economic burdens be imposed on the public nor on railroads unless un-j un-j avoidable. These burdens can be avoided and accidents at grade crossings prevented, prevent-ed, without burdening the people with increased rates and taxes, by requiring requir-ing automobile drivers to stop, look in both directions and listen before crossing the tracks, j Grade changes are . costly and should be the last resort. It will cost i the public nothing to require safe ' practices' in issuance of licenses and in operation of cars. There will be j few if any grade crossing accidents i if such policy be followed. |