New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-13
SAFETY ON RAILROADS.

We trust that railroad directors, well o. all those
of our readers who are sometimes obliged to travel
railroads have given careful perusa to the statement
of the Hudson River Company which appeared in our
columns yesterday. From that document may Do
learned the details of admirable system for the pre-
yention of disasters. complete corps OF signaimen
maintain perpetual watch at all necessary points
from one end of the road to the other AT every BRIDGE
every crossing every cutting and every place where
there is not clear view of the track where IL is liza
he TO be obsructed these sentnes have their stations,
and the signal Of danger is passed along almost with
the speed Of the telegraph In this way any sudden peril
on the rails ia Immediately announced at sufficient
distance to insure the safety of approaching train AT
each draw bridge two tenders constantly posted.
No draw is allowed to be opened when train 10 due.
III til twenty minutes have passed afer the time for it
to arrive and then the signal must be shown at least
mile from the bridge, and torpedo laid on the rails to
explode under the advancing engine to warn its driver,
il he should fail to the signal. Every ssisch
has it's tender, who is required TO be stationed
on his post at the passage Of each TRAIN and to
8. that all ia in order both before and after II any
obstruction arises, it promptly sgnazed at least
mile off, After the passage of train IL is the duty OF
the signal men Immediately TO examine the entire track
and see that it is safe In case OF any trl1ng diSar
raneement such as TIE loss Of spike or the want of
few shoveus of gravel they have the utensils to re-
pair the deficiency BY this means, and BY great care
in running within the appointed time. avery high de-
gree of speed is gained with safety IL is true the ex-
pepdture is very heavy, but it must be profitable in
the long run People will presently learn that it is
better 10 travel on roads guarded than on
those whc expose them TO be dashed to pieces against
an opposing train, flung amid ruins and death into
river Had there been any such 81 stem OF signals at
NoIwalb had there been men with flags, and torpe-
does along the track mile from the fatal bridge, how
many deaths and how much suffering would have been
avoided Had there been such look outs on the curve
beyond Bergen on Monday evening, the collision there
and the consequent loss of life would not have taken
mace Let us hear no more of the caution and regard
for the lives of passengers exhibited by Companies
which do not adept these simple and effective precau-
tons because il would diminish something Of their
rroGts-a piece Of economy whose earnings are
more than consumed blythe occasional loss Of ocomO
tive OF twowiih the damages to be paid ore lost limbs
broken, and baggage destroyed. Every Board OF Di-
rectors which shall counenaDce the old system Of neg
igence and trusting halfway preventiyes of disas-
ter viii deserve public condemnation and exposure.
For our part, We inexpressbly shocked at these
repeated scenes of railroad slaughter and at the easy
Indifference with which considerable number of those
who have never been thrown down precipice them
selves or called to the mangled bodies of
wtllOyed friends, excuse and forget the accident
till new catastrophe to stir up their emotions
for moment Common sense and humanity command
that such occurrences should be prevented not merely
shuddered At they pass and straghtwsy forgotten
There must be reform in the management of our
railroads