Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-10

L.
Property along Railroads.
Concerning subject which Is now exciting special at
tention from sundry influential Journals in yarous
tions Of the Union-namey, the SAFETY OF RAILROAD
PAssESGERs-a few observations, in reply to questions
frequently asked, may be deemed intrusive from
former member of the press whose pursuits for several
years have incidentally f necessarily turned his at
tention to the question under considerations question
which has equal interest for every human being among
the millions annually traversiHg the vast lines of rail-
roads throughout the United States.
l. The necessity for increased safely in conjunction With
increased speed in railroaa ir eing as well the
general convenience Of transacting business among
oye along railroad routes should turn public attention
promptly and strongly upon the vast Importance of T
graphic facilities in cennexion with Railroad operations
Precautions for protecting life and property should
tany keep pace with the increased ratio of railroad veo
city universally required by the travelling world
Lightning may be rendered invaluable auxiliary for
steam in this important connexion
Though "raaTay telegraphmg' is attempted yet only
to very limited extent the partial experiment
of the profitable railroads in America Though
that experiment employed little Of the organized system
here proposed will probably fully sustain the assertion
which hazarded when commencing the establishment of
the telegraph system by individual ssterprse years
ago, that ueqrGnsed telegraph for railroad purposes
would each and every year. render to railroad campany
sufficient benefits to counterbaance the whole Of
struction'
ness Of even the longest railroad by conferrng its
managers almost ubiqnitoneP facility for txaps
10 % promote & Ass~s.as s,s atsilgsass aelo.ls:e
ton along the route and thus measurabv e nrsvt "a
merely deays but occfdenss, ysx<S ~
disastrous property, and dangerous to life and
which facility Of communication might be exercised by
any conductor engineer Of Railroad train while stop
ping two three minutes and connecting with the
wires al any point along the routethis vastly important
power cannot be adequately estimated in view OF the
severe penalties which overwhelming PUBLIC sExTr-
is enforcing and strongly against rail-
road companies in the shape Of damages to persons
injured by accidents which accidents though often SEEM
ingy beyond their present means Of prevention, sdl
act those companies in the crash Of shattered
trains and injured reputation, with consequent dimnu-
ton of dividends and depreciation Of stock
in full operation there is not @ for the responsible
duties Of engineer conductor-not clerk, ovcrseer,
station man" worthy of employment any railroad-
O qualified for such railroad duties, land upon
whose faithful discharge of duty depends Of life
and property well the character and value Of the
railway tse who could not be instructed quickly to
make telegraphic signals from point and at any hour
Of night day. which would alarm and inform any all
stations along the whee extent Of the ne about any de-
lays accidents other matters essential the safety Of
passengers and property Indeed not only every sta
ton Office, but every while actually under swift
est headway, may long be /" alarmed" and "cauton
ed" whenever necessary by ringing bells displaying
signals along some Of the posts between the stations
engineers and conductors about any difficulty
track.
s. Though the system has not yet been carried out to
ns extent any railroad, N and when it
becomes generally known that it be done, and done
promptly, efficiently, and economically PUBLIC SENTIMENT
will powerfully combine with sELF-DTEREsT
require that il shall done; and
done too in most afectuai for protecting life
limb and property against the increased dangers
quent the increased and still increasing average velo
city in railroad travelling. rre
g. review Of circumstances connected with delays and
accidents upon railroads generally, warrants in
pressing belief that by the adoption of this system,
large portion, very large portion of those difficulties
might have been avoided much time, expense and repu-
taton saved many lives and much property rescued
destruction As these various objects be measuraby
accomplished 1t remains 70 be how far and how fast
the railroad companies win avail themselves the advan
tage and also how far the public and the will hold
any company blameess that fails 10 adopt
preventing the Of calamies which occasionally
happen for want Of such telegraph facilities
along even the best-conducted railroads
T. Without dwelling other advantages that may sug
gest themselves TO persons who fully reflect the sub
ject will only add the remark that any railroad which %
employs such ccorganzed auxaries for promoting the
comfort and safety passengers (which before stated
can be done economically well efciently,) will
speedily find its advantage, not merely in the diminished
liability to accidents but in the increased confidence and
patronage Of the whole community do not dwell upon
the probability that the several State Legislatures will
long compel railroad companies adopt such precau
tonary for the principle Of seinrest alone
II no other principle influences corporations land railroad
companies have certainly manifested strong desires for
adopting all practicable improvements suggested by
spirit Of humanity win the speedy adoption of the
" racay Telegraph ysfen being calculated essentially
to protect life and property amid the increasing dangers
TO which they exposed by the increasing velocity Of
railway travelling in these days Of steam and lightning
NEw York, JuLs, 1852.
Mrs. HuLpAH sraEIIso, who was born in walpack, IN