Litchfield enquirer., 1853-06-16

cause OF the railroad disaster at NOTWalk'
After abiding TO the general incidents OF
the cell nifty, as published in the papers
and brought out in the verdict of the
co'One's jury, the committee say that
they are of opinion that the immediate
cause Of the disaster was the negligence
Of the engineer IN not observing the all
sence Of the signal. and his recklessness
in running his tain at a dangerous rate
Of speed in approaching the bridge
around tile curve. But the committee
al" Of opinion that the responsibility fo'
the disaster does not rest entiIely with
The engineer. and acqui, him Of any w'lGul
act. They say the danger was created in
entire confo nifty to the express orders "I
the Company, and it was therefore thei'
duty 10 use such means of safety AS would
prevent the possibility of an accident
The committee Il ink the signal used in
sufficient. and say that n man with ii flag
should have been stationed to wan the
engineer Of danger. They also say that
the tain was run. on such grade as
Exists at Norwalk, at a rate of speed en-
'i,ely unsafe.
Another Glossy connected cause Of the
accident they say is the rate of speed
made by the express trains. The public
demand Il rate Of speed which on the
road as originally built can scarcely be
'un with safety. The load was conStluc
ted TOO cheap y to warrant the highest
rate Of speed-lhe grades are too heavy
the curves OF too small radius, ard the
bridges a'e not Of as permanent chars
ac,er Ms they should be. A large outlay
has been made for double track. and
still more is needed to remedy many
defects in the original construction of the
road, which the committee are informed
by the President, the com pany now have
under consideration.
Another cause tending to produce this
and other disasters. is the want Of IL
thorough supervision of the road by its
officers.
In conclusion. the committee express
the opinion that the weight of .esponsi>
Li!ily for the calamity must les. upon the
company, for no. guarding mole securely
against the da. ge's which we've known
10 exist. and which we've crested by THEN
own oGders-againsl the negligence even
of theiI own employees in such n place
Of danger. They say that consideration S
Of ~ prcuniary nature should not operate
to prevent such care, and repeat that the
precautions taken we've not sufficient.
Tie Committee on Railroad accidents
have reported II bill for - public act 1T"
prevent Injuries and The Destruction OF
Life upon Railroads ard by l.airoat
Trains" This bill demands that all pas
senger trains as they approach d'aw
bridge OF crossing of another rail- DAD
shall come to full stop Of not less than
FIVE hundred nor mole than one thousand
fee, from such draw or crossing, and II
plain sigh, Of the same. The engineeI
"f train offending against this law is t.
be punished by f'.e and imprisonment.
and the President and Directors, wh
III ii knowingly permit. shall be fined
one thousand dollars each.
No train is TO be ,un over switch un
less there be. near the switch, man
standing with white flag in the da,
lime, and white lamp at night; punish.
uen, by fine and Imprisonment is the
penalty here.
Every train which intends moving at a
= eater speed than Thirty miles an hour.
must have b'enkman ut every break
IA breach Of this law subjects ne co,po.
,a'ion to Gne Of one thousand dollars.
All persons ave 70. hidden to walk, 'taad,
sit o, lie upon the track Of any railway.
under penalty Of a fine. The engineer
who shall come in 81 GIN Of any person on
The ,rack is 'equi.td to check the speed
of the tain. 80 that he shall be able to
stop it before it reaches such person.
under a penalty Of mansaughter. if the
person is killed.
Persons who arc presidents or vice
presidents Of railways out of the State
cannot be eligible to such an office in ths
Stale the same provision applies also to
olher executive Ece,s If ii railway cor.
lorai,.n. Penalty one thousand dollars.
Tie executive ffice's Of The railroads
in this State are required TO exercise a
supervision over the manage
ment Of their road, and il life is lost by
reason Of the negligence or cartlsssnesS
Of any railway company. it shall be liable
10 pay damages not exceeding ten thou
sand, nor less than one thousand dollars.
Thee Railroad Commissioners are to
be appointed by the General Assembly.
who a,e required. upon the complaint. in
writing, under oath. Of any person. that
the acts of any railroad corpo alton or its
agents are inconsistent with the public
safety, to visit such road and INSPECT I'LL
its equipments. arrangements and regu-
Ia'iurs, and determine whether its affairs
arc managed conf" mably to law. They
have power to summon any Of the off.
GERS. agents or employees Of the road. TO
answer any questions, and refusal thus
TO answer is punished with fine Of one
n