Middletown transcript., 1910-08-06
nlDDEEToVE. DBL, AUG .. 1910
nRsTpIIcrINll THR HIaHWAYS

inQ peblic-a and our own citizens
and others seeking to
enter our town are delayed by
these cars which daily and often
several times a day, block all
passage east and west on Main
Street for periods of time from
10 to 80 minutes. Fifteen car
riages we're counted the other
day patiently awaiting the pleas
ure Of our railroad autocrat; and
not long since some ladies who
drove ia from the West, were
unable to get to the station for
this cause and so missed their
train.
This long delay of teams OF
farmers and others is an annoy
ance and loss to many persons
and q detFiment to the business
interests of the town. If this
daily interference with the ordi.
nary use Of the public highway
were q necessity it might be
more patiently endured by the
long suffering people; but it is
not in any sense whatever a rail-
road necessity, that they should
thus shut of all traffic and travel
npon the common highways
every time they stop their trains,
since at q trifing costOf time and
trouble the company could
ssbreak" these trains and let the
public pass. And that the com
pany knowing the annoyance and
damage resulting from this inde-
fencible practice refuse to order
such trains thus "broken", is but
an illustration of the unfair and
arbitrary manner in which the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company
treats the public. tits this spirit
of sheer wantonness and disre'
gard of the rights Of the public
that arouses much of the popular
antagonism against these corpor'
ations.
There are many laws upon our
statute books for the protection
of the railroad, its property, right
of way, ETC., but not one defining
or regulating the manner ir
which it may obstruct the various
public highways Of the state
that is left wholly to the interest
or caprice Of the company so far
as any regulative statute is con
cerned. Although this stoppage
of the traffic and travel upon the
public highways by the railroad
Is q public nuisance for which an
indictment would lie, yet the pri.
vate citizen is without remedy OF
protection save that afforded by
the rather nebulous aegis of the
Common Law or the yet more
dilatory process of a Court of Eq.
uity. Heis even denied any right
of private action for his injury OF
loss unless it be Of a different
character from that which he
shares with the general public.
But we fear cur town and farm
ers, so long "held up" by the
railroad, will have "to grin and
and bear it" for no statute rem
edying this great abuse and lnva
sion Of the public right, can b
passed BY any Legislature withouf
the company IS own consent there
to expressed by the 0. K. o.
their agent who sits at every
session as the omnipotent "Thirt
House" in all matters anywise re
lsting to their interests. Fol
should some new member, un'
aware Of this mighty Legislative
prerogative of the Company, il
his innocency introduce somt
remedial railroad legislation, hi
well meant bill would die in Com
mittee Of stroke Of the railroad
Blue Pencil.
Evidently both in theory ant
practice, as evidenced by q gril
half century, the State was mad
for the railroad-not the railroat
for the state. Then these high
way usuraptions and the grinding
exactions of high freight an'
passenger rates all these year
pastand.other like encroachment
upon common rights, have beel
so long in vogue they have ac
uuired q sort OF sanctity-or di
vine right. Probably, too, th'
popular neck has grown used t
the chafe Of the Delaware Rail
road collar. and its wearing be
come a sort Of second nature.
But suppose this nuisance q
blocking The public roads we're |
new injury being attempted fol
the first time By some private
citizen, what whirlwind q.
wrath and protest would go up
And vet tlse injury and wrong II