Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-07-12
Guard the Railroad Crossings.

The shocking death ut a railroad cross
ing invites anew the attention of the
authorities of this city and the county to
the perils of our citizens in travelling our
high roads. They are absolutely With
out protection from the railroad trains
that cross them at high speed, and which
compels every man to take his life i'll his
hand who uses the roads that were built
long before the railroad usurped them,
and on which travel ought to he made as
absolutely secure as possible. Who can
drive along Il road that a railroad crosses
without apprehension And ought this
to be SO : Ought we not to be able to use
our hi ighways not only without danger,
but without fear Every reasonable
man will say so. Why then can we not ?
1t is certainly not because this safety is
impossible. 1t only requires that watch
men shall he placed at the railroad cross
ings to give warning of approaching
trains. This could he well done ut every
road, but it should never he omitted at
those crossings where 10y reason of ma
tural obstacles the coming of Il train cam
not be readily observed for 4 safe dis
tance on each side.
Will not our county commissioners and
our street committee take measures to
determine their rights and powers under
the law, SO that we may traverse the
roads in peace. If the railroads cannot
be made to guard dangerous crossings,
then we must do it ourselves.
We observe that the railroads consider
that they have plenary authority to do to
a country road just what they will. at
Lime valley, for instance, where the
Quarryville road crosses the Beaver
Valley turnpike, siding is laid
across the pike, and it is Oc-
cupied often for twenty minutes at
a time by the shifting trains barring
travel on the turnpike all that time.
This is Il great outrage and is unlawful.
Why do the township supervisors and
the turnpike officers allow it The same
thing has just been done at the cross
ing of the Buck road. Have those who
travel 10y the county roads no rights that
a railroad can not he made to respect.
THE gathering OF prominent Demo-
Gratis in New York during the past few
days has double interest for the party
and the country. An organization of the
national committee and the selection of
chairman to direct the campaign is
looked for to-day, and tomorrow has
been set down for the formal notification
of the candidates 10y the committee ap-
pointed for the purpose by the Cincin-
natl convention. Mr.. English, the
candidate for vice president, reached
New York yesterday, and will call on
General Hancock today. The feeling
among all the prominent gentlemen from
every section of the country points to a
decisive victory. Reports from states
that before the nomination might fairly
have been regarded doubtful are now
most encouraging, and the drift of opin.
iOn is all one way. Mr.. Eaton vouches
for Connecticut, and says New York and
New Jersey are certainly Democratic
that Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois are
i'm the doubtful column. Senator Eaton
is not boaster, but man of hard sense.
Gen. Joe Johnston and Major Daniel say
the Virginia family fight will come out
right in the end. Senator Farley says
California is safe for the Democratic
nominees, while the old reliable states
are in perfect blaze of enthusiasm. Mr..
Handy, of the Times, says he never saw
politicians in state of greater exhilara-
alton.