Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-13
VIGOROUS PROTEST
AGAINST EDGE MOOR
GRADE CROSSING
Filed With the Levy Court To-
day by Delegation of
Citizens.
TO CONFER WITH P. R. R.

The Levy Court today received
a communication signed by 500 resi-
dents of Brandywine hundred and AZ
corporations of Wilmington, who pro-
tested against tho continued existence
of the grade crossing OF the T., b. q
w. railroad at Edge Moor and urged
the court to require the immediate
construction OF an adequate bridge
over the tracks. A contract for the
awarded five years ago. but war ac-
tivities required its cancellation.
Philip Marquand, Henry r. Brad
ford, lssac &. Elliott and Thomas
White appeared before the cotrt and
presented the petition and an accom-
panying statement by Mr.. Marquand,
a copy OF which follows:
ITO the Levy Court of New Castle
County. Delaware.
"We the undersigned do hereby
make the following petition:
AT the railroad station of Edge
Moor. Delaware. a heavily travelled
highway crosses the Philadelphia.
Baltimore & Washington railroad. and
connects the Edge Moor Iron Co..
The American Bridge Co. the Edge
Moor village. the l.. S. Government
pier, the farms and other homes of
this neighborhood with the Edge Moor
railroad station, the postoflCe. tho
Philadelphia pike and the city of Will
mington. The above mentioned road
is the only means OF highway COM
munication for the workers and dwell
ers in the places named.
Where this thoroughfare crosses
the +. Is. w. II. II. there are eight
tracks-four for the through traffic
of tho line. and four which connect
with and form part of the Edge
Moor freight yard. The crossing. being
recognized by the railroad officials
and the public as extremely danger
Gus, an attempt is made to avoid
accidents by keeping # closed by gates,
which are only raised II some one is
waiting To cross, and II the gatemen
consider It cafe.
AS the traffic at this point Is becom-
ing increasingly heavy, and as freight
trains are being cut here and made
up at all periods of tho day and night.
this crossing is now closed TO ne
destrians and vehicular travel for
long periods OF time. It being often
impossible 10 obtain passage for inter
walls OF ten and at times as much as
thirty minutes, Thus all persons using
the highway are subjected 20 seri-
Gus and annoying delays.
Not only are individuals subjected
TO increasing delays for the purpose
OF SAFETY, but the safeguards furnished
by the railroad have become uncertain
and insufficient. The safety OF those
crossing is left 10 the Judgment of
two employees OF the L. h. & w. r. r
otten new and inexperienced at the
gates. The warning whistles OF pass
Ing engines are difficult 10 distinguish
from whistles constantly blowing in
the yards. so that TO all appearances
trains come by at full speed with no
warning. In many instances in the
experience OF vehicular travellers and
pedestrians the crossing gates have
been raised. admitting them 10 the
tracks, only to be closed again be-
fore they have crossed, fencing them
IN between the safety gates and the
passing train. Under these circum-
stances ii is natural that such a cross
Ing should be the cause OF loss Of life
On May -. al about o'clock
standard time, Edward Donohoe. a
farmer and old resident of the Edge
Moor Iron Co.'S properties, through no
fault OF his own met his death here
while returning from Wilmington in
his light Dodge truck AS customary
the gates were down. and he waited
until they We're raised at the gate
mems signal after the passage OF a.
train. He was permitted to enter the
tracks where he was run into and
Instantly killed by an engine which
was backing on Track No. !. We here
quote the verdict Of the Coroner's s
Jury:
"Inquest-Thursday evening. May
IS. 1922. 7.90.
''Verdict-That Edward Donohoe
came 10 his death at Edge Moor cross
ing, Edge Moor. Delaware. May IL
1922, at about sos p. m. from a frac-
tured skull. caused by being struck
by locomotive number 1906 Of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company. We
the coroner's Jury. hereby censure the
Pennsylvania Railroad Co. for criminal
negligence In the death of the said
Edward Donohoe. Signed, Isaac S.
Bullock. coroner. Attest. o. w. Stieg-
Ter. secretary"
AT about II O'Clock p. M. May "a.
Mr.. Carl Snyder, who lives at tbs gov
ernment dock. was returning home in
his automobile. The gates were