The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-02 00:00:00

The Board of Trade and the Railways,

The Board of Trade has issued the following

circular:

"Whitehall, July 30,

" Sir,—l am directed by the Lords of the Com.
mittee of Privy Council for Trade to request you to
state to the directors of the railway
company that my Lords have had under their con.
sideration the complaints, frequently urged on their
attention, of the danger existing or apprehended
from the want of means of communication between
the different portions of a railway train while in
motion. Several instances have occurred of car-
riages having taken fire, or having been thrown off
the rails, the passengers in which had no means of
making their perilous situation known to the ser-
vants of the company in charge of the train. Recent
occurrences also of a criminal nature in passenger
railway trains have excited among the public a
very general feeling of alarm. Under these cir-
cumstances, my Lords are desirous of calling the
attention of railway companies to this subject,
with a view to the consideration by them of
the question how far, by means of increased facili-
ties for communication between different portions
of a railway train while in motion, or rather im-
proved regulations, it may be practicable to obviate
the evils complained of and to allay the sense of
insecurity at present prevailing among railway
passengers.

‘‘ My Lords are very sensible that without the
cordial co-operation of the railway companies any
attempt to introduce improvements in the system of
railway management would be attended with
doubtful success.

" Several expedients have been suggested as cal-
culated in some degree to further the desired
object. •

" One expedient for guarding against offences in
railway carriages which has been proposed is that
of placing windows between the compartments of
each carriage. As these windows might be pro-
vided with curtains, the privacy of the carriages
need not ordinarily be interfered with.
"As an expedient for providing means of com-
munication between the guard and the passengers,
it has been suggested that every vehicle forming
part of a passenger train should be furnished with
footboards and handrails, which would admit of the
guard (or, in case of emergency-, other persons)
passing along the train.

"It appears to my Lords deserving of considera-
tion whether this expedient, guarded, of course, by
carefully framed regulations to prevent abuseonight
not be generally adopted with beneficial effects,
" The use of a cord running along the train, by
means of which the guard can attract the attention
of the engine-driver, has now existed on some lines
so long as to prove that there is no difficulty in its
application.
" I am to request that my Lords may be favoured
with the opinion of the directors as to the practical
value of the arrangements of the nature specified,
and a!so with any suggestions which the directors
may think adapted to accomplish the ends which
my Lords have in view.

" I am also to request that my Lords may be in-
formed what means are in practice on your line for
effecting communication between different portions
of a train while in mop ion, and whether, with a view
to the application of such means to the carriages of
one company ps.ssing on the lino of another com-
pany, any regulation© of a general and compulsory
character are deemed expAient.—l am, sir, your
obedient servant, " JAMES BOOTH.
" The Secretary of the . Railway Company."