The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-04 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4. 184 f.

The accidents on railroads have latterly become so
frequent, and excited so much alarm, that the Direc-
tora of Companies, for their own interest, as well as the
intercst of those whom they represent, ought to adopt
some measures,
.without delay for calming the
:tut apprehensions of the public. It would be
better that this were done spontaneously than
that new laws should be passed on the subject, or that
the proprietors should be frightened into the measure by
the verdicts of juries. Unless some feasible steps are
taken, this must be the ultimate result. It is true indi-
viduals have nut a fair chance with wealthy and
powerful railway companies. Money, it is well
known, can pervert justice in various ways—
witnesses may be kept out of the way, new trials may
be moved for and obtained, and the unfortunate sufferers,
after all their labour and anxiety, may only obtain a
verdict sufficient to cover the expenses. This has been
occasionally the case already, but such a system
cannot be pursued with impunity. Jury men
have an interest in securing the safety of the public, of
which they form a part ; it may be the fate of some of
them to have their limbs broken or be dashed to pieces,
or buried alive under a heap of carriages ; it may
be the fate too of their nearest relations to be
subjected to the same awful calamities, and they
bare, therefore, the most powerful of all motives—self-
preservation—to give heavy damages against any Com-
pany that, from neglect or wilful mismanagement, en-
dangers human life. Some thirty years ago fatal acei-
d.mts from coaches and mails were much more frequent
than at a later period. And why? Because public opinion
was roused. A drunken, reckless, and incapable coach-
man was to be met with at every other stage ; accidents
were happening daily ; and when these accidents unfor-
tunately were fatal, no redress at all equal to the loss
could be obtained by the verdict of a coroner's jury.
:orn mon juries, therefore, took up the question in the right
spirit, and when either negligence or drunkenness, or
wilful misconduct of any kind could be proved, they
gave proportionate damages. What was the result ?
The system was found too expensive for the
proprietors of coaches, they saw that good
suanagement alone could save them from ruin,
and they soon found it necessary to appoint
driversi who had lan interest in the concern,
and who, therefore, could not be guilty of care-
less driving without being punished in purse and
sometimes also in person for their folly. Let the same
negligent system prevail on railroads for a few months
longer, and the result will be the same. Ordinary
daina,;es against powerful companies will be of little
value, and the Directors may, therefore, reckon to a
certainty that verdicts which shall have the desired
iffect will become as common as they were in the worst
day,: of coach travelling. It is better, therefore, to reform
in time, and the more so as reform would in a very
brief space attract passengers to an extent which would
s ertainly pay any additional expense. If the Govern-
ment take the question up, and pass laws for the better
management of railways, the Companies would be put
to great expense by minute and probably, at first, im-
prac 'cable regulations. Let reform, therefore, com-
mence at home, and let the Directors render legislation
• arid punishment unnecessary, by adopting the most
ikely measures for the prevention of accidents. Might
they not try, in the first place, a very simple and cheap
.experiment, by appointing one, two, or three inspectors, if
rucessary----well-paid inspectors too, and well acquainted
with rnechinery and railways, who should not only have
the superintendence of the lines, but of the working
ryan.s of the Company, so that they could at once
dif.inks, or bring before a magistrate, every offender
..against their regulations. Five thousand pounds
a year, even on the longest lines, would pay
Jre inspectors fully adequate for the purpose--
a sum so small for such lines as the Birming.
Lain and the Great Western, and indeed twenty
other 4. that it hardly de erves to be taken into account.
Were any one of two rival companies to make the ex-
periment, the public would not be slow in giving that
company the preference, and amply repaying the Di-
tractors for their judicious and humane improvements.

It appears from one of the Paris papers that the
Comivibsion appointed to inquire into the state of the
Trench navy, and more especially the steam navy, had
brought their labours to a close, after agreeing to a re.
port touching all the main points submitted for investi-
gation. The report has not yet boen published, but it
cannot fail to b© looked forward to with great interest if