Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-06-16

The GranKers TO Agftate the cues.
ton Of Protection A atnst Railroad
Accidents

me Grankers to AEftate the 4ucS.
ton Of Protection A x atnst Railroad
| Accidents.
The following is an extract from the
minutes Of the meeting of Pomona Grange
| Of New Castle county, held at Bracken-
| vile, June Sd, 1881, and which was
unanimously adopted both by the Grange
and by an open meeting OF farmers held
the same day:
WHEREAs, The increased amount Of travel
| upon our railroads, and the high rate of
| speed at which the trains nov run. have made
travel dangerous to that part of our people
who are Obliged to travel upon our public
| roads and
WHEREAS. This meeting, representing
| large portion of the farming commandments
| OF whom are in the regular course oi their
| business Obliged to travel on the public roads
| IN Their own cunveyahces, are under exl7ting
circumstances in danger of being run down
| by sutIe one of the many trains now running
| upon the railroads of nur State and
WHEREAS, The decision of our courts is
| such that Whenever any of our people are
lnaimed Or killed by railroad train, it il de
ciared to lie OWING to couiflbntUry negligence
| upon our part, and the railroad companies
| are entirely exoneruted from blame III every
aMdall cases and
WHEREAS, Our public roads were in exis-
| tence long before railroads were thought of
| and they therefore certainly have the prior
| right of way for public travel therefore,
Resotoed, That the time has come when we
| farmers should take some action in regard To
| Il matter which 30 endangers our lives, and
affects 10 disastrously tue general welfare.
heSotred hat We Will aBitate this matter
| IN our communities. i'll our subordinate and
| Pomona and state oranges and that we will
| petition our next Legislature when in session,
| TO pass such laws AS shull make railroad COM
| citizens ; AZ shall require all railroads to be
constructed III our state to cross ,ur public
roads above or below grade whenever pract
| cable and where not practicable and the
! crossing Id at ull dangerous to our citizens
then to compel the companies owning such
roads to protect such crossings by gates with
proper attendants at all times to close such
gates on the approach OF all trains and to
require that all railroads now i'll existence in
our state shall, IN the same manner, protect
all their crossings AT which the lives of our
citizens may be put ut all Ill jeopardy, and
thereby prevent iii future such dangerous
| accidents and loss of life rs have lately trans
| PRED in our county, whereby the lives Of
| some OF our valuable citizens have been
destroyed.
ResOlueG, That it is the sense OF this meet
ing OF the Pomona Grange of New Castle
county. assembled, that committee of two
| be appointed to meet the District Grange OF
Kent and of Sii5seX equities, and lay before
them this preamble resolutions and ask their
| cooperation: and that all subordinate
oranges Instruct their representatives, to the
| state Grange to act i'll concert also, that We
| cordially invite all good citizens TO join with
| lis i'll this work which 30 much affects the
welfare OF our whole people, in order to
| secure the object sought.
ReSolced, 1 hat tie foregoing preamble and
resolutions be- published in all papers
throughout the State. Adopted.