Spirit of the age., 1853-06-29
Temperance On the Rail ROada.

temperance on the 6a11 1hVaAs'
AT the present iupcture, the public mind is
greatly excited upon the subject of the IN
creasingly horrid casualties which have re-
Gently occurred upon the Rail Roads of the
country. It is matter in which the commu-
nifty has a stake of great magnitude-a nui-5
sance, which the travelling public have
right to demand shall be abated, and the
causes of which shall be discovered and cor
rected. Many of these occurrences are doubt
less, the result of what is generally termed
accident, or more properly, providence. BY
far the largest share, however, are clearly
| occasioned by recklessness and carelessness
on the partof the hands employed upon them.
Now, we know that some men are naturally
and habitually reckless or careless. 1t was
bred in the bone, and it is clear that such
men should never be employed in positions of
such responsibility. But does not the fact
stare US in the face, that in nine cases out of
ten, the recklessness complained of is indu-
ced by the free use of Intoxicating drinks !?
The very habits, temptations, privatiOns, and
mode of living of such men naturally incline
them to jolly, daredevil life. To keep up
the spirits, artificial aid must be rcsorted to.
: and hence many of our fellow-citizens thus
employed, are liquor drinkers. Fortunately
for US in this State, there are as few perhaps,
of such persons employed upon our roads, as
: will be found any where. There are doubt
? less some exceptions.
We are proud to believe that the officers o
the Raleigh and CASTOR Rail Road, observe
: rigid discipline upon this subject, but it i
y probable that some instances escape thei
= vigilance. But while we are talking upo
this matter, we desire in the kindest, mos
respectful terms, to call the attention of the O
c fcers rs we'll as all the hands upon the Road
% to some suggestions recently made to US
% reference to it, of the highest Importance
d We find there are good many people yet Ii,
A. ing in this world who are not very anxior
Sc to die,-at least, they feel mortal repuy
j. nance to being chopped inte mince-meat b
O. the gyrations Of q locomotive Indeed, th
It. recent horrid occurrences alluded to abov,
70 have excited intense concern in. the minds {
We our people; and hence, even the Gppeqran
IN Of irregularty, either in the locomotive or IL
r. hands employed about it, excitcs suspicion
ny A gentleman, who by the way is gre:
nd traveller, informs US, that on arecent occasic
,r- while travelling on the cars from CASTOR her
We he felt some inconvenience and uneasnes
IL at the 6 fits and starts" with which the ne
to powerful engine seemed to be affected-no
lat creeping along at slow rate, and then p,
,se fng and snorting and rushing on at the ra
he of 40 miles an hour, occasioning at freque
ac- intervals such a jerking and jarring, as G
Ter entirely to rob the passengers of any thin
- Ike snug snooze in one of the most plea
CO. ant coaches on the Road. He could not avoi
cir connecting these freaks of the engine, wit
res what he saw at depot on the lower part {
~ the Road. He was stranger to all parties
+o but he saw persons, both white and blac
nd drinking quite, freely and buying iqaor,
tbo such time aRa place as to lead him to fea
not that he knew, that some of them mig
be connected with 6sS11sjj1 6sS 1sjr1.nR Road.
Now, it does seem to US, that men wno
Or bituaIy drink Intoxicating liquors, are to
hey ly unfit to be trusted with the managcm
ielr of a steam-engine. There is too much +
Jed. under the best Of circumstances for hun
the beings to feel entirely secure. But VI
The the risks to life are increased hundred
rue, where they are entrusted to men Of inteml
1ce' ate habits, it is absolutely unbearable.