Evening journal., 1914-09-25
FRIDAY SEPT. 25. 1914
AS mo GRADE CROSSINGS.

r-ROM one of the most prominent automobilsts In
Wilmington we have received the following letter
10 the Editor of THE EVENING JOURNAL.
sr:ZI hope you will at to Ggtate with
che State Legislature the real necessity Of public
roads either going under or over the railroads For
the last several years have talked with Senator
Ewing about introducing bill in the Legislature re-
garding this Since the death Of Senator Barnard and
Air and Mrs Gooden, think ii is certainly time to
write good articles on this and get 1t before the
Legislature at the next session.
There seems 70 be few people who realize that
the noise of of automobile and the speed
they travel make 1t dangerous for the public and
Al Delaware should proposo such a bill IL would GER
fainy be a great thing for the State. If the railroad
IS already located the public road should go II
the public road is already located the railroad should
AS stated above hope you viii see At to agtate
fhis question In your paper.
There is no division of sentiment in Delaware rela-
tive to the wisdom of eliminating grade crossings
wherever they exist Even those who have control of
the financial affairs Of the railroads favor such olmin
alton Il is question Of money rather than one OF
desirabty feasibility To eliminate all the grade
crossings in Delaware would cost millions upon mill
lions of dollars In fact more money than the rail-
roads possibly could devote to such purpose. 1t is
because elimination work is expensive, particular
iy in nat country. that it is slow. In States
the expense Of elimination is divided among the rail-
road thc State or county and the community most
vitality affected boy tho work But with the ap-
pncaiion Of such plan TO Delaware the immediate
elimination Of all grade crossings Is impossble-no
lnlOhnINlts hHpu0oihlN
There is not a railroad, a county railroad town
IN the that could stand the expense. Even along
the lines Of the richest railroads and in the richest
OF States and cities, the elimination work has been
slow because OF the extraordinary burden of The
pense, when that expense is divided between
the railroads and the public.
We are in favor OF the elimination OF grade cross
ings We wish there none in the State. The
public and the railroad officials feel the way
about it, Reason must reign in the consideration o
such matters. however. and must strive for the
things that possible rather than for those that
impossible Our view of il is that comprehensive
elimination plan based upon the hnancial ability o.
the railroads and the public should be prepared
that in that plan those crossings which NOR
dangerous should be listed for earliest elimination
that those less dangerous should be left for late
treatment
Meanwhile It Is the manifest duty OF persons usin
grade crossings obey the injunction TO "stop, loo
and iisten.n and not 10 rush blindly upon the track
trusting 10 luck 10 get across safely.
The Barnard and the Gooden tragedies regret
table application Of the stop look and listen.
principle would have prevented both OF them an
spared 70 this State worthy persons whose death
regretted by all who knew them.