New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-05
THE RAILROAD CALAMITY AT CHICAGO.
statement of the Northern Indiana COmDanl

statement OF the Northern Indiana Company.
To ne Editor Of The ~ Y tribune
SIR The recent railroad collision at Chicago has given
rise to many comments in the newspapemsone Of whisf
have been founded upon evident mistakes in ra 20 the
facs-and nearly ALL probably, haze been made without
anv knowledge of the efforts which have constantly been
made by the Northern Indiana Railroad Company to pre-
vent the crossing of ITS track by the Central Company
cent by bridge This crossing finally made rhtOm
their coussht and against heir protest and il has led
10 disastrous collision involving the loss Of many lives
is due to the truth and to the public that the facts in the
case should be known and therefore request you to pub
lsh the accompanying statement from The Democratic
Press of Chicago This statsment embraces the
pondence between this Company and the Central Company
upon this subject in 1859 and from my position as Chief
Engineer Of this Company have the Of knowing
and therefore say that it is true statement Of the positions
taken by this Company prevent the crossing and Of the
course pursued by the Central Company in forcing the
construction of the crossing the track Of this Com
papy Is not my purpose 70 argue this matter par
fzsn but upon these undentable facts, the public will
Judge where to award the for the construction Of
an unsafe crossing which has led to this depIoabe clan
itv In your paper Of Monday last you published
muncaton from Detroit giving what dorm most unfair
version OF this matter and assume that you had
intention Of doing injustice to this Company lido not doubt
your readiness publish this statement and thus set The
matter right before your readers Yours, respectfully
JoHS B. JEEyIs Chief Engineer
r, u, FSi,oys If TIE Democratic Pyess.
The censure contained in the speeches made and reso
tors adopted al the meeting at the City Hall last evening"
make il necessary for Of the officers connected
with the construction Of the Northern Indiana Railroad to
place the responsibility Of the present of crossing
AZ the place where the late dreadful collision occurred upon
the proper persons
| had charge Of the construction of much Of the
Northern Indiana Railroad is within this State under
John b. Jerys Chief Engineer Of the Michigan southern
and Northern Indiana roads. Before Gng grazing had
been done on the Illinois Central line near the crossing
called on Col Mason and requested him TO arrange his
grades track, and stated that the
company represented eredfngg GIrt0ast0 hare the
cyOssiRS made NTH Independent track 10 aroid the
extreme hazard 10 oh tie res Of passengers both roads
,rOd otertise be ezD0sed On the 18th Of April 1852
delivered TO Col Mason letter from the Chief Engineer
John b. Jerys Of which the following is a copy;
ADRIAN, April ~ 1852.
RIB MAsos EsQ-Dear Sir Yours Of the 18th inst has
been received sorry not TO have seen you at Chi
cago The subject Of crossing track by the Illinois
Central Road has occupied my attention for some time
and had determined to embrace the first opportunity to
have conversation with you in relation toit Yoa win
readily that crossing lines far from station by
of crossing frogs would be very Objectionable II
has nothing TO recommend except the expense The OBJ
econs are, hrst trains approaching at the time
der the excitement that o1d urge them to pass first Nay
be brought into collision GAd great damage done 10 @
iEb AID pTePer'g Second would render i necessary