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Show U. S. TO JOIN UTAH GRADE CROSSING CAMPAIGN NEEHIHJURB ROAD HAZARDS IS RECOGNIZED Government -Bureau Engineer Will Attend Meet Uncla Sam himself will taka an active hand in conference soon after the first of the year for an agreement between the stata government gov-ernment and the railway lines on the elimination of the state's molt dangerous grade crowing. Realising the acuta hazard rep resented by those intersections where highway cross rails oa up or down grades, the state road commission and rail executive here expect the attendance at the coming conversations of B. J, Finch of Ogden, district engineer of the United 8tates bureau of pubhe road. Cash Contributed The federal treasury, In genera road Improvement aid to the states, contributes the greater part of funds spent In the elimination of grade crossings and the construction of block arms and signals. In view of the fact that congressmen congress-men ars gathering recommendation recommenda-tion for use In considering President Presi-dent Roosevelt's proposal for drastic dras-tic reductions In federal road aid, Mr. Finch's probable participation In the approaching meetings Is considered con-sidered of unusual Importance. Although not required under recent re-cent legislation to install the actual ac-tual facl litis necessary to protect motorists at crossings, railroads op-' erating In Utah, through their engineering en-gineering department, have premised prem-ised fullest cooperation In stats, county and city efforts to eliminate elimi-nate the evlL Stats Helps The stata read commission haa been extremely ' cooperative In. agreeing to the suggestion of the railroads as to those crossings especially espe-cially needing grade separation work and signals,' said a Union , Pacific construction engineer. "We are gradually overcmotnf ene of the greatest of trafflo perils, but much remains to be done. "We shall appear before the road commission early In 18 with a proposed program giving the most dangerous crossings priority In work -to be undertaken aa funds become available, and we look for narked progress next year. "We shall be glad to have the advice and support Of the federal bureau of public roads." rower Fnnuahed An official of the Denver at Rio Grande Western railroad explained that, while the roads no longer construct con-struct their own underpasees and overpasses, it haa been a custom for several years for them to furnish electric power for crossing signals. "Construction of passes and signals sig-nals by governmental branches Is based on ths principle that ths roads wars here before the motor highways high-ways and have priority," he said. "But in many ways the railroads aid in ths work of crossing protection protec-tion and wc expect to continue to do that." The Salt Lake county government govern-ment has seen great grade crossing improvement in its territory la recent re-cent years and will work indefatiga-bry indefatiga-bry for even greater betterment in 1938, said J. E. Schelb, chief traffic deputy In the sheriffs office. Bad Spot a ted There's one bad crossing which should be protected by an underpass under-pass or overpass In county territory at Mldvale. where the DIR. O. W. and the Bingham highway Intersect," Inter-sect," he said. "I have been relieved since grade separation works have protected the crossing of the D. A R O. W. tracks and Thirty-third South street in county territory and the place where both the D. A R. O. W. and Union Pacific tracks cross Stat street. Formerly there were many motor-train motor-train crashes there." Mayor E. B. Erwln took aa Interest In-terest in the perilous grade crossing situation Thursday when his office issued a statement declaring that, as city commissioner of public safety, safe-ty, hs would do all In his power lo sdvance the safety movement and minimize grade crossing tragedies. |