Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1910-09-03
RAILROAD OBSTRUCTION
OF The Highway and Needless
Whistle BIOWinu

The communication Of 'Medicus,"
drawn ont by THE TRANsoRIPT's editorial
Of August 9th on Constructing the High
way, which ID elsewhere printed, presents
in o forcible manner, other evils OF .
most serious nature which may result
from this totally indefensible and sense
less practice, viz: Delays of physicians
hurrying to the bedside Of patients dan.
gerously i'll, which delays are always an.
noying TO both the doctor and bis patients
and in some cases not only dangerous but
even fatal.
THE TRANSCRIPT has interviewed quite
q number Of our farmers and they all
speak uniform language on the subject,
viz: That it is great nuisance, and causes
them much delay and trouble. Their
statements as to the length Of time prove
that THE TRANSCRIPT was speaking within
bounds when il stated that these deten.
tions were from Is to 80 minutes. A
business man who keeps a store in the
town was kept waiting he says just 26
minutes by the watch; a farmer told The
TRANSCRIPT scribe that he was delayed
by the cars, and had to race his horses
to reach Odessa in time to ship bis stuff
by the boat. Another farmer said he bad
been delayed in that way as high as six
times q week and yet another stated that
he was once kept a full hour before he
could get across the track:
Now 90 we stated in our editorial the
remedy for this abuse and the needlessly
loud whistle blowing also, lies with our
Town Bosrd--they can stop it IT they
choose. Some towns in our state do not
permit themselves to be imposed upon in
this manner, but by ordinance compel
the railroad to break it's train and let the
travelling public use their own highways.
A MiddIetown lady was approaching
Newark In o carriage recently and ex-
pressing to her friend her fears that they
might be detained by the cars in the fash
ion she had seen 90 often here, her friend
exclaimed 20 no they don't allow the
railroad to stop the highway with their
trains here"
An incident which happened few
weeks ago ct the depot, is q striking
commentary upon another railroad nui.
sance viz: The furious whistle blowing
which to needless amount and degree,i
practiced by the engineers on the freight
trains at this station both day and night.
The Cecilton stage with two horses at
tached and with lady and child for
passengers had just gotten partly over the
track directly in front OF the engine, when
as usual the engineer suddenly blew one
Of those fearfuIly loud, shrieking whistle
blasts which are calculated to scare any
horse in Chrietendom, no matter how
well broke. Frightened by the unsarthly
noise the two horses turned squarely
around 10 the left and shot up the track,
striking the end post OF the partition
fence such strong blow as TO knock q
chip out of that hard wood. The horses
gaIloped up the rough road bed, bouncing
he stage in q fearful manner over the
ties, and had gone so far in their perilous
journey as opposite the depot before they
could be stopped by persons who hap
pened to be present. All who cav the
affair declared~it was little short of a
miracle that the lady and her child were
not thrown from the vehicle in it's mad
tumbling flight over the ties.
THE TRANSCRIPT reporter once asked an
experienced civil engineer, high official
in railroad in the South West, if it was
necessary to blow such loud and long
signals to the brakemen and others, and
be said "No, and in many cities and
towns, they don't allow anything Of the
sort to be done. Il is great annoyance
to invalids and the sick generally, and to
Eight sleepers, especially the aged. Il is
an extraordinary case If q brakeman goes
even 50 far as halfmile away, and these
extremely loud whistles can be heard
easily for two miles around"
Once more we repeat it, ''It ia up to
you, gentlemen Of the Town Board Of
Middletown, 20 stop these outrageous
nuisances Do you mean to do it?"