Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1853-08-18

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po'a'ed by the laws 0fths Safe, TO maintain BY
their president or vice president or an exec1
tive committee # the directors. watchfal super.
vision over the management of their roads.
SEC 8. That if the life Of any per son, being
/, passenger or cruising upon public highway
an the exercise Of reasonable care, 81 all bC
lost by reason Of the Eegligence Of gpy railroad
tesmBanysn this State, or By the unftness OF
negligence. or carelessness Of their servants OF
agents such railroad company shall be liable 70
pay damages, not exceeding Eve Thousand dol
lars nor less than one thousand dollars 70 the
use Of the executor or administrator Of the de
ceased person. to be recovered by such execu
| tors or administrators in an action on the cas-
upon this starue, for the benefit of the husbans
| or widow and heirs of the deceased person, ON
mniety thereof to GO TO the husband or wide
ami the other to the children If the deceased hui
If there shall be no children, the whole 20 CHI
husband or widow. and it no husband or widow
to the heirs according 10 the law regulating tn
distribution Of intestaie parsonal estate. Every
action brought upon this section and every
action brought against any railroad corporation
for injuries hereafter received, and suits against
any railroad corporation fnr personal Injuries
now pending ia any court in this State, shall
shall take precedence Of ell other civil cases. in
ANY court in this State, provided, that no such
action shall be tried by the second terms Of the
court before which il may be pending, a I'd such
action may be further continued by such court
for cause.
SIC. 9 There shall be appointed, by the
GeneFal Assembly three persons to be styled
General Rs,lroad Commissioners, who shall
have the pnwers and perform the duties herein.
after specified, aud who shall hold Office for the
term Of three years. and until their successor
are appointed and qualified, provided, however
thar the fi,ai named of the three commission.
era frat appoinied under this act, shall go out
of lice Al the end Of one scar. and the next
named at the end of two years, AVID the last
named al the end Of three years, and 40 IN 70.
iaiiOn aflerward each commissioner at the end
Of three years. hu, any person going out Of
office may be reappoIhlsd and provided fur
Their. that the Governor may Gil all vacancies
hat may occur during the r. cess &c The Gen.
ernl Assembly and the commissioner o, c"sn.
miasi0ners appointed By him shall bald flee
until the next session Of the General Assem.
bly,.
Sec. 10. That The snid commissioners. or
any ~ o Of them may, a. often as they may
deem rxpesirn', ana al their discretion, or
upOn comp aims. IN writing, under oath, Of any
person alleging any particular in which the
conduct Of any rallr.ad corporation, ar iss
agents, 10 inconsistent with the public sai.iy,
and shall, upon complaint made by any com.
missioner upon any railroad, 10 wiring or by
any number no, less than Ave Stockholders or
creditors. under oath, assigning 10 COED faith,
sufficient reason therefor. visn and lnsprc any
railroad in this State, its rails, switches, road
crossings, buildings, siations. works, btiH9es
and the engines AMI cars belonging thereto,
End shall investigate the condnlon Of such
railroad. and rxami' e Its by laws and regula-
4 A. r.
and make any aud oil other inquiries nredful
% determine whether % fairs at such cor-
p0raiinp are manag ed cnninrmsbly TO law and
wmh public safe'y and convenience. a,d they
-hall annually call f"r accurate and full re-
turns and statistics from each rairnad c0rpor.
alton undrr the oath &c The president thereof.
10 acco. dance with the accn'tpa nying blank
or fo,ns, marked A " ,ich blanks shali be
furnished IN duplicate. TO each ra,lroad cum.
uany IN this State and they shall have pow.
,.r ~ eunnm' n and examine, under oath, oil
dirs c'ors. ficerS or agents Oi SAID corpora.
tlans. aud such other witnesses a. they mty
think proper, in relation 10 the affairs hans.
acilrn, and condriOn Of said corporations
and said directors, ficers. agents Or other
p.rso ns WIN shall r. fuse, without jnstifiahlo
eau Q. to appear and .s'ify when thereto re-
CURED o. aforesaid, or who shall 10 any way
ohsirWci any c. nIinissionrr iE the discharge Ut
his duty as pr, scribcd in this act, sha'l, on
conviction, hs subject to a fire a. exceeding
one thousand dollhre. 81 imprisonment for
term mn, exceeding one year.
Sec. ~ II shall als0 he tie duty OF said
commissioners 10 advise and recommend the
making Of such repairs upon any ralIrosd. ra'l
road bridge Or other properly i.ls.rging 10 The
same rs they shnll Gte.n necessary 10 fI's
a a.
i,ves on sa,d roads. Also TO recommend The
adoption OF addItional signals, and other pre-
causWna 10 prevent accidef 10, Than those IN
use, and the employ meni Of ciheTs and add'-
'ional switch,neD or . gnai men. the sPplica-
ZION Of safeiy beams 10 the cars, stated exam
,nailOas Of their wheels, axlet, brakes. NC,
having due regard TO 'hs ehsFaGier snd IN
cs;s.e Of the road. also, the nHnsbeT Of bTsk0
men that stall be ;lsced and Kept upon the
trains oi any road, and in what proportion 10
the number OF cars cOnnec ed with tie tIains.
Aleo, lf they shall deem, Eeessssry t0 the pub.
lie safety, that .xpTess and ether trains Sun
~ high speed AID On dang. sons roads. shall
have q look Oul u: on ihe engine distinct from
she engine man, sDd ihe collector, whoso du.
" il shall be, a the spPT"ach Of dagger. To
somnd the hisile. which stall be sf6xcd TO
the ngine iE close proximity 10 hss seat. and
whicn shall De % CONSTRUCTED .uas sne o'u"U
cannni be msIsken Cor that & the eng:"ssI's;
"n the aisrm &c hich, every brakeman shall
Immediately down brakes ami stop the iIai7.
Also. "a advise ~ 10 the rate Of sped Of the
'rsins upon any one az the .. vsrsl SOadss or
upDn 6rscrnGirg grades. % ang.Tous cross
lngs ~ npOn other poui"Ds OF the same. d u
their Judgment, the rate ad"pir6 BY :he di'rc.
tore Of aby road. or run upOn the san,r. shat:
hs greater than 10 cnnsisfrai with ti,e putIc
safety. Also 70 direct shsi suiislIr MsSni"G
baasds afs rui up ~ sueh esasssngs % are
daDgef.ns. and ssgnal m. sss i"nsd o. Eairs
erected n snci. ~ are rx,rs hazardous; o..
'hsy shall deem proper, fhas ihs anginsess
whss'ls DO hlown cssiinusily. is0m Pes'it
eighty rods ffo.a any csnssing. uniil shs ssas"
has Passsd ihe sans~ |; and allen. such wasn'ag
hasEds aver she ssstk. ~ the sMTesns an1
near the sssiiyas, o. in ether places. warning
Des,t.ia- nnasOna sral hina asaan the track UlB