New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-04-30
RAILROAD ACCIDENTS,

There have been not less than half dozen Railroad
casualties within the last week, resulting in forty
deaths and in serious injury to about hundred per
sOns These disasters occurring simultaneously with
the tdngs of the caruy destructive loss of the hide
pcndence the Pacific suggest the necessity of greater
foresight and pIecautiOn than has hitherto been
cised To this end prOcr the following suggestions
The causes of Railroad Accidents may be casSed
der three heads: |. Those in which is in fault;
g Those wherein the victims suffer through their own
Rprudence and folly g. Those wherein the fault is in
the management and running OF the Road Carefully
scrunzed it will be found that very few disasters belong
the first class and the great majority to the third
Once in year, tree or rock may be suddenly thrown
upon Ratrack just ahead of train cattle get upon
it in some manner which implies lack of vigilance in
the management but nine-tenhs of the cases Of 0cc.
dent from the breaking of wheels, axles &c, the
result of gross carelessness criminal negligence
The wheels and axles that give way either made of
inferior iron at secondrate shop and adopted without
adequate security and testing they kept in use
without that frequent and rigid inspection which they
ought to have received.
AS to those accidents which result from the cupabe
seexposure of the Victims especially by walking the
track the Press has been entirely lenien toward
the unfortunate offenders 1t should be constantly kept
before the public that Railway track is not thorough
fare but private property which cantraverse
cept at highway crossing without committing culpabe
trespass You may be acing to risk your own life, but
YOU have no rgM to hazard d much less those OF
others whom you put in jeopardy without their consent
and in violation of every principle of justice. Walking
or standing Railroad, even lettering and skyark-
ing about it, ought to be misdemeanor at law, and VS.
tied with rigid punishment Such provision would save
many lives and prevent some of the frequent collisions
and other casualties which have their origin in trains
getting behind time through delays occasionally persons
on the track and then hurryng out of time to reach
place of meeting As to the large class of casualties
which result from bad management the bad conduct of
Railway subordnates We would urge that
|. No man should be trusted with switch, a
brake much less draw-brdge, who is not intelligent
capable. and every way reliable. II is criminal pars
mony ompose snch responsibility topper, bockhead
or ianoramus merely because he will work cheaper than
a man fit for the post Hundreds Of lives have been
sacrificed through disregard of this plain dictate of COM
mon sense.
3 No man should be expected to guide his conduct
by verbal directions in any tOrcscen contingency The
bridgetcnder switchman, brakeman, should commence
his duties by carefully coming and committing to mem
ory written orpnted directions for the proper discharge
Of his duties which directions he should be required
keep ever at hand and read at least per day
3. The utmost foresight and energy should be EN-
plo ed to guard against that fruitful of disaster
trains behind time. In almost every case of accident,
train behind time is involved in it. Take more time
run fewer trains have extra engines in readiness, re-
double exerion-in short GnNhng-rather than allow
trains to get behind their regular time.
A. In every case Of accident, report by the
ductor in charge of the train, in of his death
the engineer or if both be killed. the division supern-
tendeDt should be required by aS TO be made forthwith
10 the Secretary of State, sworn 10 by the author
cont aiming true account of the disaster, and of all
its causes so far he knows suspects them. Let
such report be communicated the newspaper
that will issue it forthwith and correct copy mailed
in duplicate to the State Department
s. Let the law prescribe moderate penalty for any
misconduct or cupable careessness resulting in Rail-
way casualty, and let this penalty be iuexbly exacted
We believe the adoption and enforcement of these
plain rules would very greatly diminish the frequency
of Railroad disasters and render travelling by Railroad
comparatively safe. If any suggest better, let
them be forthcoming