Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-09-14


AecInssss on RIiLwAva--rAs sis.At.ess Of Rai.
ways arc beyond all question great Nothing In modern
times has contributed moro towards developing the re-
sources OF the country nothing at any time has done %
much to sgument aud perfect the facilities Of travel
fe. there still fearful drawback to these benefits
tho constant risk Of dreadful fatal accident To
lessop II not to this DANGER Is most important
object as well for the interests Of the Railway Companies
~ OF the public and II Is we'll worth while to notice from
time to tme tho efforts Of other countries than our own
to affect It, Look at Great Britain, for example.
The extent Of Railway travel In that deusey popua-
ted country aud the speed Of the trains might prepare US
to expect large amount o. fatal disasters Upwards Of
seven thousand miles Of Railways are now In operation
hers-tne trains travel sixty millions Of miles 10 tho
course OF the year-snd some ninety millions Of passen>
gers are conveyed by them during that period. We take
these calculations from the last published Railway
that We have at hand. Considering the limited area Of
Hreat Britain compared with the Of that Of
the United States, they certainly present an astonishing
that kingdom.
But vas, as is tho extent Of railway travelling in Br
TAM NO were scarcely prepared to find that many
Zio persons were killed In the last year. aud were
seriously wounded Compared with the number Of pas
sensers, 9Ie this is not large per centage. 1t is
only ABOUT one In forty one thousand No mode OF
veyance-cerainy not the old stage cosehes-erer per-
hsps had 30 few accidents in proportion the number
Oh passengers Then OF this number, not third were
NJ.
from causes beyond tho control OF the victims them
selves In tho account refer they thus classified
Passengers killed from beyond their contro
lo passengers owing to their misconduct want of
caution, es servants Of companies contractors from
causes beyond their CONTROL 5T servants Of conps-
MICS or contractors, owing their misconduct or
want Of caution 6S trespsssers and other persons neither
passengers or servants by crossing walking on the rail-
way, o. Thus for but 81 out of the Gle were the rail-
ways really responsible and that not one in hundred
aud twenty thousand
Still, this ia preat II wo,lI ho d.,,...,.
that all danger of fatal accident should be removed And
there is provision thoughtuly and wisely made by tho
British Legislature, not for that purpose, yet for
forcing the best precautions against accidents It de.
partmeut oil the Board of Trade. The Commissioners
are required not only close inspection OF every
ne" ne OF Railway, and to have its suciency certified
ny competent engineering authority, il can be opened
for traffic. but also TO supervise whole work Of all
the Rnl~ays throughout the kingdom-to examine into
every accdent-to had out II pos ,ibe where the fault
Iay-to aid IN securing redress-and devise means
make suggestions give directions aud enforce regulations
With the view OF lessenns the risk OF accidents If Of
getting rid Of il altogether.
10 pursuance Of this Important purpose th. Board has
just issued circular to the Secretaries Of the various
Railways throughout the kingdom calling their attention
to system OF working the trains which Is already ap-
pears, in use Railways to limited extent and
which promse It thought, to afford security from
cidents occasioned by collisions between trains following
each other upon the line Of rals-collsons which
have been more fatal in their results than amos, any
KIND OF accident on Railways The Board remarks that
this class Of accidents has been hitherto very numerous
as compared with other classes ~ and they instance as
many as thirty such accidents during the pa year
The system Of Signalling trains tina, are passing, in
order that no train shall follow another within given
time after, will, they assert occ t,ionaly fail in
cases. more particularly, where the spec, Of the respec
tive trains varies where accidents occur 10 the ma
chinery of trains; and they observe that when train
from any cause, becomes Stationary on a part OF
the line away from stations its safety from collision with
succeeding train dependant the ca,nc Of such
succeeding train being such distance allow time
for the guard to run back with signal" Now obvi-
ate the difficulty thus too oen arising, they recommend
recourse 10 be had TO an electric telegraph What IL
wanting is that an Interval of time shall under all cir
cumstances be secured between trains following each 9th
er upon the same rails and this may be supplied they
show by placing Electric Telegraph stations intervals
along the line, aud By allowing TO pass any one
OF these stations and upon the line between il and
the next station, until the proceeding has pass oil
that portion Of the ue. This would certainly seem to be
an efectual security sganst snch collisions those In
question The circular OF the Board goes Oh to show III It
1t Is already successful in pricce-hst on one of the
principal Railways, the South Western il has been some
short time in practical operation aud is left 10 he in
erred, that 1t found The obstacle in the
way OF its general Adoption they apprehend will be the
e1pense-especiay it is desirable, TO saw essen
a that teegraphc wire be exclusively appropriated
10 that purpose aud where in certain cases il is requi
site from The rapid succession of the trains that the sta
tons should be but short distance apart But they are
DESTROYS they state that he subject should receive the
careful consideration orthe directors the different com
pinias in the hope that at consideration may lead to
the more general adoption of plan which experience
seems TO have proved be well calculated to diminish
the risk OF danger"
There is no reason why the railway companies OF the
onited States should have the advantage of such sug
gestions, coming they do from another and distant
iandshould not at any rate give then those
Britain are recommended to do their careful consdera
hon. that they also be enabled lessen the risk of
fearful colsons-of which they have been too many
from the case is proposed 10 oove These are sub
lects IN which there may always be free Interchange
OF thought and invention. II is that fair
which proverbay" robbery" We have already re.
cipocated such advantages, and may do SO again and
again, without any jealousy and without any invasion OF
right Our common humanity is deeply concerned ia
them "emay give and take of ITEM only without loss
on either sde but with material benefit Great Britain
Is already indebted to for several important improve
ments in railway travelling, aud to her. Let us go on
reciprocAng such obligations, and thereby be mutually
progressing.