§ MR. O'BEIRNEsaid, he would beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been called to the danger to the horse traffic of the Metropolis which arises from the exposed state 1197 of the Railway bridges crossing many of the leading streets; and whether it is his intention to take such steps as will insure the erection of screens upon each of such bridges?
§ MR. MILNER GIBSONsaid, in reply, that the attention of the Board of Trade had recently been called by an individual to the danger referred to in the question of the hon. Member. If road authorities represented to the Board of Trade that danger to persons travelling on any road under their jurisdiction was to be apprehended from horses being frightened by the sight of engines on a railway, the Board of Trade had power, under the Railway Clauses Act, 1845, to order the erection of a screen, if it appeared that the danger could be so obviated; but the Board of Trade could not, under the law, act on the representation of private persons.