The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-08-08
THE WAY TO ABATE TEE NUS
ANCE
II. y. SOILACE
LOVELAND MUNSON
J. II. IlAzELTON,
JAMES 5. PECK,


The use and abuse of the railroad whistle.
and the proper remedy therefor, is sub
ject full of trouble and difficulty. That
it can be dispensed with at places where
the railroad track crosses a street III vii
lagc is obvious because by placing gates,
and statiOnng gate keepers on each side OF
the track, to open or close the gate as a
rain may or may not bespassing, obyiates
all danger. But here comes in the question
of expense. Take, for instance, the cross
ings at Freight and West streets To guard
the crossings properly there must be four
gate keepers, for their services would be
required both night and day. As Governor
Smith very complacently remarked to our
village trustees. Thursday, that the use of
the whistle at these crossings would be dis
pensed with if the village would erect
gates and pay the gate keepers. Before
speaking of this proposition, we may re-
mark that it is not the use of the whistle
at or near these crossings Of which our
business men, hotel keepers and their
guests complain. 1t is the unearthly blasts
CINE between its passage from the station
to Reyes Il Co. S store, that causes the dis
turbance. There is no street crossing at or
near this point, and the track is so pro-
tected and fenced in that no person, eX-
cept he is connected with one of the rail
road companies, can without great inconve-
nience place himself in position of posi-
BILE danger The Freight street crossing is
several rods distant and proper compli-
ance with the law would require still
another screech nearer that point, where,
in fact, the annoyance would be felt by
only two or three, if any, of our business
men. Their rights and comfort, to be
sure, are as sacred as those of the rest OF
the community, but in country where the
people rule and majorities govern, the rule
of ",the greatest good to the greatest num-
Der" must prevail. The same is true of the
West street crossing. Any whistle sounded
at proper distance on either side of the
street would be unheard by only few OF
our citizens In fact, with an exception OF
two, the business transacted in that neigh
horhood is of that kind that any whistle
that could he sounded by passing loco
motive could not even attract attention.
There is another trouble in the way, il
we mistake not, although we have not the
statute at hand to refer to. Our impress
sion is, although we may be mistaken,
that the law requires not only that the bel
shall be rung but the whistle sounded be.
fore crossing any highway or street. This
however, could be easily remedied at tho
next session of our legislature by SO alter
ing the law as to provide that the use Of
both should be dispensed with where pro
per gates are erected and gate keepers o.
llagmen stationed. If gates, keepers, o
ilagmen were provided, there, probably
would not be much complaint made il
reference to the engineers or railroad com
panes violating the law; but SO long a
such is the law it should be obeycd. 1t i
not very safe, as has been often demon
strated, to wink at violations of law anC
especially, as it would be in this case
make an open argument for that purpose
But the question of expense is anothe
matter. We think Governor Smith mus
have smiled in his sleeve when he gravel.
informed the village trustees that he woul
stop the whstlng if the village ol Rullan
would pay for the employment of gate
keepers or ilagmen. We presume h
would. But is it the duty of the village t
make any such expenditure? Is it right o
proper for.it so to do? In order to pass owe
the lands of individuals, such corporation
have to pay not only the value of the Ian
taken. but, also, for the damage that til
farm, on other property, may have suflere
from having a railroad pass through il
They pay nothing for the right Of crossn
highways or streets Why should the
not be compelled to pay for the use @
streets in village, by stationing, at the
own expense, gates and gate keepers o
either side of such crossings, SO that til
travelling public may not be endangered b
passing trains, or the inhabitants OF Vi
lage suffer from an intolerable nuisance
The matter is all in nutshell, and it neeo
no argument to show that railroad comps