The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-20
The Recent Railroad Accidents.

The recent accidents on the Harlem and New
Haven railroads, and the verdict Of the CORNERS
;ury-wnich we give in another colunn Of this
mornings paper-have for ,ibly recalled our atteu
tion to some important suggestions on the general
subject, which il is now pepper occasion to make.
The greai impsr'ecti0n ana dsiec, Of the present
railroad system throughout the country, is keealy
felt 70 DC want Of unity il its design, aud Of free
and effective cooperation among the different com
panies Of which . is com posed. The u oSt natural
idea would be that the railroads throughout the en-.
sire Da lion should form one thorou shy ,tcd
dove-ta.l.d line Of communication, with a uniform
rate per mile offlre. and with npleto reciproci
~ OF interest between all the companies, which
would at once DO away with seyen-eighth of the
aaaoyances ana dangers at presea expert need in
railroad travelling. The Imagination of every
reader will at and infal!ibly supp the ds-
tails Of The advantages OF such an arrangement,
sad it is unnecessary for U.S. therefore, to go into
shem.
But this ideal perfection of the railroad system is
AZ present impractica5le, and will only be the re-
salt Of time. The Ike y-no.e Of to-day, railroads
as we'll as every thing else, is competition; and ali
We can do, is TO adapt things az they are,
so pocuTng the greatest possible proportion
of comfort to the public, and immunity from
Ssnger At this moment there are but very
few of our numerous railroads which pay
5hsir expenses-sti fewer that have reimbursed the
cos. OF their construction, and are paying a
dividend to the stockholders. So far "a The
financial aspects Of the question are conserved,
the stocks Of our railroads are, for the most part,
mere stakes for "a milling and speculation held at
Q nominal value, aud run up or rua down, o.
The other party Of the big gamblers in Wall street
gets The advantage OF it, antagonist. This ough,
not 20 be so, an viii not be. If there were fever
and less extensive and costly organizations Of OIL
GERS OF each company, to be supported il luxury
from the receipts, before they can be touched for
any other Turpose-if enlightened, economical
and cooperative system Of fueling, running repair
ing, &C.. SC, were adopted on al the roads-and
IT, espeeiasiy, the rates Of fare, like the prices Of
newspapers, po,:age, and every thing else, we're
reduced 10 the 10 vest paying poiat-more than half
ihefe staggering and fan,ing companies would at
once reg their stieugth, While new and health
fal enterprises would spiog Up neyery direction.
Tbs Is to What the railroad system throughout
:hc world is slowly tendiog and where it will ult-
Dateiy arrive. Meanwhile. common Humanity
calls loudly for some instant AMI vigorous measures
Il prevention against the numerous and serious
accidents TO which railroads give rise. lmpatent
iguuTarcc is ever prone 10 regard new blessings as
enres, and 10 rttard, rather than to assist their
harmonious deyeopement. This has been csps-
ei.ly the with railroad; aud, 10 cOa.eqle nee
Of these absurd pI JUDGES. their processes aad
gaEization are as mush bsh!ad he age a. their
syeec is ia advance Of il. Is il time 10 seek the
nuoly.