The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-14
The Capacity OF Engineers.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERAL
Nrw vApu N.u


By the morning papers I sec that various statements
the business Of propenr the locomotive il done on the
New York and New Haven Railroad The recent calamity
has sent thrill throughout the whole Unon that must
undoubtedly make people, at sacrifice Of time prefer
the steamboat travel to the wholesale of rail-
road travel One Of the statements says that the SUPER
nendent of the road various occasions tried the
engineer by removing the signals at the various draws
and thus convinced himself Of the capacity of the eng
the train on regardless Of the signals and needless Of tho
lives Of many human beings who were in their charge;
and that on these had the draw been opened
Ing equally not more terrible than that which society
now mourns. Mr. Editor. the duty Of the railroad eng
horse should been trusted to those who competent and
Trustworthy But do we ind this the cases Too often
nes sutru.tua the Of TAIN to the tender
merces of reckless thick headed and stupid engineer
who instead OF being wide awake and sober is perhaps
half asleep or reading . newspaper at his post. The
steamboat engineer has regular license. he is first
examined by scientific men rs to his knowledge OF
machinery and his capacity for running engine.
He then produces his certificates Recommendation
to his Individual character and then the oath is ad
mnstered to him that he guide and protect the safety Of
steam engine. Mr. Editor this law has worked out ad
mrabe reform among the class Of steamboat engineers
1t hss ted oat the experienced and qualified engineer
from the Inexperienced and unqualified person who
has acted fireman for few years board steamboat
gineer r. Mr.. Editor the railroad engineers were placed
on the same footing as their brethren the steamboat
engineers, nave 10 doubt n would WORK out most
pleasing eformhe safety Of travel would be increased
epfodthe reckless of the class would have to look
employment elsewhere The universal demand of the
public should be for law to be that would take
much head out of the pockets OF the railroad compa
ny for every person that either killed wounded
and that Hne SHOULD be imposed on them of $500 fol
every trip that eh0ud be by unlicensed engineer
and that the engineers should 10 licensed. This Mr.
Editor would put end to the sheer careossness that
frequently results In railroad accidents
Another question remains to be solved and that ID
whether the steamboat Pacific had right to pass
through tho draw The Nor walk river is navi-
gable river for two miles above this
briege The village of Norwak Is a place Of no
small Importance Soops PASS through this draw
at all times /; the Pacific also passes through it as
need requires. The right of passage navgabe river
has long been tettled principle Of VI and the
right Of the company is not to usurp well settled and
fixed principle As well might railro al company bridge
the Hudson and forever close all navigation with
Albany. Does the reader think that this bridge would
be permitted to stand closed? No. the usurpation OF the
railroad company would have to give way to the long
established custom Of navigabe rivers
The Pacific made direct passage through the draw;
there detention her part She gives notice to
the Waterman on the bridge, either by toing the bell
blowing the whistle She gave this notice on the
ngn question some ten or fifteen minutes before her ai
val at the draw, and directly through The culpa.
bty Of this most terrible accident rests alone on the
officers Of the company, and until stringent mea-
ues are made BY Congress, the State Legislatures the
travelling public had better take to steamboat than to
railroad lccomotion ! am sir, yours truly, JAR.