New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-16
HUDSON RIVER RAILROAD.

To ire Editor Of TAe N Y Tribsne.
SIR In view of the losses sustained by this com any
vel the escape Of many lives by the several
switches left open within the last few months take the
liberty Of giving 10 extent, the causes OF the acc
dents ard trust you will be so kind give them room
nyOur truth telling independent. Journal In no instance
has the rWitchmen been much to blame o heete. the
switchman Yonkers when accident occurred there
was compelled TO aid in opening the drawbridge Wnen
called upOi and also to assist in taking OUT or ipalll5
freight, and If he refused be discharged S1anJ. the
switCbman at COzzenss Landing not only swtchnan
there but also station agent AMI bagyageman. aad a.
tended 20 all these duties during the fall AMI WINTER "he
the gravel trains have been az work there Extremes
meet After the Yonkers affair, all swch1en, AMI wnere
there were no swchmen the station were ordered 70
stand by the switches their respective stations until the
trains Iassed, day or night Many Of the station an1
swicLInen compelled 10 be up not only al DAY OAK
nearly ali night and this in all seasons and weather
Few If any Of the swtchmen receive more hsn twenty
dollars per month. 10 support themseves ana iaHues
The duties Of swiichmen the most important OF any
on the railroad to the preservation OF the lives OF tne aV
cling public and property Of the COMPANY Ihey snOaI1
be ne Of an ordinary amount Of intelligence, and all OF
them fhould know how to read and understand the time
tables. When George Stark Esq was olpenntsn1eato oil
this road be had appointed Officer expressly, to Look
after the swchmen and sig nal holders an officer very
cesgarv on this road But With change Of rulers there
was genera! turn out quite number of good ani
efficient who had been appointed by Mr. Stark were
discharged Others who felt n, mseves overslaughed
lef ard sought employment where their services ap
preciGted and properly pad Tor There Is not so danger
section from New YORK to Albany as the one from
Peekski to Codspring The far seeing eye Of Oliver H.
Lee Esq perceived tits and gave tn At division into the
charge Of Mr Thomas Little, who had raised from being
q common ab0rer the road to the rank Of division
master Mr. Little employed none but sober, steady men
upon bis division and although repeatedly i'm poruned by
Stanley the late swchman at COzzens employ on the
railroad he often refused. Mr. Little knew the
habits Of that and would not have him on the road
After Mr. Little to Illinois, another division m lster
took that division and made many changes none for the
better These changes resulted in the loss the company
sustained there if Little had yet been there Stanley
never would have been employed switch slgnal man
When Mr. Stark Superintendent OF the Hudson RIVER
Railroad bis whole time devoted to the interests of
the road he would not take charge Of the construction OF
other railroads or water works he was always TO be
found in his Office and the most humble aborer on the
road could approach him When not in his office the track
and stations regularly inspected by him. Mr. stark
did not depute his duties to his subordnaes They had
their duties and he that they attended to them IN
proper Many AMI sad accidents might and proba
bly, would have occurred upon this road ere nos" were
not for The vigilance of the gentleman in charge OF the
construction, who has frequently taken his meu, and put
them upon the repairs which not in his charge And
ifhe Board OfDectOrs knew the condiono many parts
Of the road well many Of the employees do they
would ask the who has laid the ira * 20
take charge of the old with ali its appurtenances
Many OF the employees on this road cheered when stark
left they would be ready to do il he Wa TO
return yes they wish from their hearts that instead OF
western wind to blow him off, eastern wind would
blow him again. The writer not there, and has
reason, present, to feel any sympathy WITH Mr.
Beach the gentleman in charge of the construction on this
road he felt like Others that canal men would not make
good railroad In this he much mistaken. Hay-
ing travelled and seen the principal railroads in the
United States be is compel ID to say be has not
any track equal that portion othe track laid down
by Mr. Beach, the Hudson River Railroad and If any
folr0ad bridge builder desires model pe bridge
he would refer them TO the portion of 3vey bridge
ask have that contrased with the old part built by
railroad engineer regard for the lives OF others
well as my own has induced to write this letter
! will end by remarng that where there switch il
only hLey 10 be used day there should be asSch
man, and he should not under any circumstance be allied
upon do any other duty and should receive sufficient
compensation to insure the service Of at least nte
gent laboIing man An OLD SwiTcHaAE.