The Savannah morning news., 1903-07-25
GRADE CROSSINGS.
Those in the Southeastern Section
should Be Attended to Mt Once.

Those in the Southeastern Section
should Be Attended to Mt Once.
Savannah. Ga, July 24.-Editor
Morning News. Kindly permit me to
use your columns to call attention to
the importance of the city authorities
taking some immediate action about
the grade crossings in the southeast
since l noticed by reference to local
report in your paper that there was a
movement on foot on the part of the
City Council and the Atlantic Coast
Line Railroad TO open certain streets
crossing the tracks of the Atlantic
Coast Line Railroad, and although sew
eral months have elapsed, nothing APP
pears to have been done.
These grade crossings are exceeding
ly dangerous and with the growth of
the population residing east of the
tracks of the Atlantic Coast Line Rail-
road Company, the dangers are in
creastng daily. Will the authorities
deal with this matter now, or permit
same to go unattended to until such
time as some of our citizens lose their
lives at tneSS crossings? Only to-day
it was by very narrow escape, and
l might say a miracle that two people
escaped death, although the switchman
had declared the way open and re-
quested the parties to drive across the
track; when crossing a train was back
ed upon the vehicle containing two
persons. 1t IS wonder that we have
not already had serious trouble and
loss of life at this crossing. and If
the city of Savannah is to grow be-
yong the crossing of the Atlantic Coast
Line Railroad Company, whether it be
III the southeastern section or else
where, the city authorities must take
actlon not only to have these streets
open, but to have every Safeguard nos
sible at the crossing. There annearv
TO be no protection whatever excent
AT Bolton and Gwinnett streets. and the
protection at these points amounts To
very little. 10
l am informed that the city autbor-
tues are anxious that something shorId
De done, but for some unknown rea-
son the officials of the Atlantic Coast
LIIie railroad Company have deferred
, aetloh from time to time until it has
now become matter of public intarest
10 large number of people who 1,isit
lhunderbolt, Golf Club, rifle range and
the cemeteries. 1t is important and
In fact, the duty of the citv aT+b CT
ties to see to it that their lives arc ~
endangered at these various crossinos
Inc present city administration have
neen enterprising and business-like and
nave made mum ber of valuable i'm
proVements and are, therefore ~ he
congratulated upon what has been
uohe' put there is no Improvement
more desired and more necessary for
the protection of the citizens who NAV
from time TO time use these grade
crossings, and there is no other civ
known to the writer where the same
conditions exist or that would he fol-
Grated. 1t should be borne in mind
however that in dealing with such
matters that every considera tior
should be shown to the Atlantic C,oast
Line Railroad Company, because thev
contribute largely to the sunnort ~
the community, and cities cannot pros
per without the assistance and coon
eratlon of railroads; but they shonId
De Kept within bounds. and should he
required TO do whatever is reasonahle
SO as not to retard the growth Of orr
city. ~ u our
have apprehended for years the
dangers that exist, and | trust tbat
the authorities will not longer nermit
this matter to go unattended to. and
earnestly solicit the co-operation of
your valuable journal in bringing
ABOUT better and safer condition
An Observer and Taxnavar