Middletown transcript., 1910-06-18
BROKEN CROssINCs
And Needed Railroad Repairs
at the eDot

A venerable landmark ie gone from our
midst! Our Town Board has removed
that we'll worn slab which for al least q
full 100 years-possibly longer-had done
duty as part Of the sidewalk just West of
Mr.. Letherbury's store. II had been so
long tramped by my riads of feet that
it was followed out till it held nice
little pool after every rain, and with the
adjoining mud-pnddle, gave the enter
prising bootblack stand near, many a job.
The owners of that big steam roller,
with pointed spuds four and one-hali
inches high and four inches square on
it's huge wheels, and which broke some
half-dozen or so of our crossings, should
be make to fix them. The TRANSCRIPT
has before called attention to this matter,
and confesses it is quite unable to see Why
our citizeus should be made to wade over
crossings broken by some foreign machine
whose owner can be made to repair the
damage. Very likely on simple demand,
Mrs. Harsch would have them fixed with
ont any necessity Of resorting to Euit.
This claim is the more reasonable from
the fact that those big tpuds were remov-
able, and it was, therefore, piece OF
gross carelessness to lave needlegsly thus
damaged our crossings.
Again The TRANSCRIPT asks: Why do
our Town Board refuse to attend to this
matter? The TRANSCRIPT called their
notice to it at the time the thing took
place, Our crossings are badly enough
out OF repair without giving them a
smashing like that.
While we are on the subject why is it
that the crossing from the railroad walk
to the brick pavement is allowed year
after year to be a mud and water sink
hole through which every one who goes
to the depot must wade IN wet weather.
Lie on the railroad right of way, and that
the company should all these years have
let such q nuisance annoy and damage
the people, is only one more proof of the
contemptuous disregard which that cold
blooded corporation has ever had for the
comfort or rights of the people who earn
their fat dividends for them.
THE TRANSCRIPT desires to call attention
once more to the dangerous condition OF
the rotten wood facing to the railroad
concrete platform. 1t was partially re-
paired after previous criticism Of ours
The greater part OF that wooden work
needs replacing. One entire plank is
cfumbling down; and worse than that in
at least six places there are long loose
strips OF the wood projecting upwards in
such way as easily to trip one unlucky
enough to strike it with the toe; several
of these traps three feet long and five or
six inches wide, are at the points where
the travel is greatest, and should one
stub the toe against one of these uplifted
edges coincidently with train in motto,
the result might likely enough be the
loss of a life. OF course the railroad CON-
pany would be liable in that event for
gross negligence. and a jury would no
doubt express their opinion OF the com
pany's disregards of their patrons, lives
and limbs in punitive damages, but that
would not restore to some bereaved house.
hold dear one sacrificed to corporation
neglect. Why should the company let
things 90 30 unkempt, and rack-rent at
our station? Do they think our citizens
lacking in spirit enough to protest?
Again, for over one week the travelling
public in this whole town and neighbor-
hood of towns and country for four to
ten miles around in all directions, have
been unable to know the time of the
passage of the trains under the new sched.
ule in effect since IL Oh A. M. May 29th,
save by personal inquiry of the company's
polite agent, Mr.. Plummer. Not printed
timetable in large posters stuck up as
formerly in the waiting rooms so con-
venient for the hurried traveller, and |
those with poor eyesight; no folders
and to save the measly sum Of $40 year |
which it would cost to print their time. |
table in both the local papers-no printed |
notices of the trains. All this diversified |
outrageous neglect may not be done with |
''malice aforethought," but it Is done, and |
the result is the same, and the cause of
it but little more creditable to the com.
psny.
Well, the remedy is in sight. thank |
God! and not through national legislation |
either. The automobile as future freight |
and passenger carrier will ere long make
railroad boss Ssit up-bolt up
right-and take notice." mt to speak Of
the jolt the trolley will also probably
administer.