New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-10
Drov.Bridse Railroad Accidents.

To The Editor u The y. Y Tribune
SIR: The accident which has cast gloom over the
country resulted from nattenon or inability the part Of
the engineer to see the signal in time 10 stop the train The
same thing was said few days ago when the Philadelphia
train lust escaped similar fate That accident nobody
cared for because nobody was killed
Inst such 2 plunge was made few weeks since on the
IIudson River road but that only gravel train with
some common laborers-who cared for that
Now the public are aroused Lives, and lives of impor
lance have been sacrificed by wholesale and they begin
noure is there no remedy Railroads must nav
cable streams and drawbrdges must and will stand gaping
o,enmoubed structon to passengers. Can better sig
als he adopted go that say he did not in
final Yes they can. trhing expense would connect
;eras half mile on each side Of the bridge with the
draw so that could not be opened without setting broad
tered canvas directly the track that every
- in the car could read: THE Dra1 bridge is open"
these signal stations should be placed as add
.iona security and should be- felony for tire brdgeman
80 oren the draw until the flag informed him by an
agreed signal that they were in their places
- the punishment Of engineers and conductors be, for
nasno these signal stations when the draw IS OPEN i'm
cnmeut al hard labor 10 the pententary, and depend
mon il lew accidents will ever occur alter the adoption Of
such law.
Drawbridges Railroads may be- SO constructed and
connected with machinery in the road At sufficient dis
lance from the bridge that train could not approach with
ont closing the draw or with switch that would turn off
The rain upon curved detrack which would run OF
into the field instead Of the river the engineer should BE-
drunk or asleep
Compel Railroad Companies by law TO make drawbrdges
safs ard nv word for theyw be made The expense
yond not be an onerous The pecunry loss OF this
last accident would be sufficient put all the bridges
IN H. road in such condition that accident could
erbaruen Let il be recOlected that this is not the hrst
Ian 10 an open drawbndge the New Haven road if
reeoect night plunge was made into the HOusatonic
few months ago
one f which should be 20 compel every train TO have
CoT9yrf0r-not ticket collector or money changer
tb rroufr term for which would be ticket man. clerk
esther who should have command Of the train
ian does the clerk OF steamboat Of the vessel whose
coupts he keeps the engineer whose office now IN
dor the nc keman but whose duty IS to look out for all
difficulties and stop the engine without consulting hs suPe
ror while al the time he should Dc looking after his
machinery instead OF out OF the window.
The Conductor should be 50 in fact well as name and
nothing else He should have station something like that
Of the steamboat pilot which he should never leave, and
, which he should absolutely command every movement
~ the train IL should be his duty and his only duty when
the train in motion watch the track ahead for Obstruc
ops or signals and in Of need 10 blow the alarm
whistle rr the bell give any other signal 20 the opera
lives In short he should be the Conductor Of the train
the captain pilot chief engineer and first officer OF the snip
all cCmbined-the man responsible with ms own Inc TOR
those Of his passengers Upon train so conducted an
with bridges 50 arranged could travel in safety upon
railroads.
Until that good time coming has shall continue
10 see others ghtered ii not murdered unless nap
pen 20 be victims ourselves.
Let the press unanimously demand safety for raroLd
passengers, and assure you they VIII have It.
Respectfully yours, Al OLD IRAFELEH.