The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-11-19
Protection of Life on Railroads.

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Protection Of Life on Railroads
There are subjects connected with the man.
agement and working of railroads, looking to
the protection of the lives and the promotion
of the comfort lof passengers and employees
on railroads, which properly come within the
province of Legislative action Some of the
newspapers and their correspondents in the
Northern States, are discussing the propriety
Of requiring railroad companies to make a
board fence on each side of their roads at
least six feet high, to prevent cattle from get
ting on the track, with flag man constantly
stationed at each crossing. If this were done
and we presume no one would question the
right or the propriety Of requiring it-rairoad
travelling could be rendered comparatively Sc
cure, as it would almost entirely, if not quite,
prevent the numerous class OF accidents from
Instructions on the road.
Again The press are called upon frequently
10 announce the death or horrid manning of
some unfortunate passenger or employee on
some one of the railroads of the country,
NohoCN " AaiiAAS OCbhOCh lilC -, VI w DtlllR
drawn under the wheels in endeavoring to get
on or off whilst the trains are in motion
Public opinion seems to hold railroad compa-
MES guilless for such accidents for it is ole of
their regulations that no person shall pass from
car to Car while the train is in motion, nor at
tempt TO get on when starting. Notwithstand-
ing this is a regulation upon every railroad,
there is no fact susceptible of better attesta-
ton, than that passengers are often compelled
to pass from car TO car, when the train is in
motion, for the purpose of obtaining seats
And it often happens at the regular eating sta
tious particularly on lines where the trains
are run at a great speed, from being behind
time, passengers are scarcely allowed to COM
mence eating before the whistle is sounded for
starting; and then follows the rush to get on
board, and the train starts before it is possible
for all to get fairly on board, much less reach
their seats, without risk. Now, if railroad
companies can, at a small expense, prevent all
accidents from such causes, is it not clearly
their duty to do so, and can they be held
MuOily U!aiSlSoo IL IIlSg ldlL VI utSlSCJ " Nah0
the proper precaution to prevent such acct
dentsl We ask attention TO the following de-
scripton of an invention which has been in
troduced on the New York Central road, for
the comfort and safety of passengers and en-
ployees on that road. The New York Courier
and Enquirer gives the following description
of the invention alluded to:
The plan is one of great simplicity, and we have
the best authority from competent and wellknown
railroad officers, for pronouncing it efectusl for
Guiding the dust and so deatening the noise Of the
wheels as 20 render conversation easy and agreea.
bic, even to an invalid Whilst the doors aud win.
dows are left free to be opened closed at the
option OF the passengers the ventilation is perfect
without unnatural draught. BY the adoption of this
plan, no extra resistance or impedimert is opposed
TO the running or drawing of the train. The plan is
20 enclose the sides of each car from the sill to
within few inches of the track with wood ia very
neat and substantial manner, having i1ng doors
opposite the trucks, rendering any portion of the
train easy OF instant access for auy purpose. At
tached to the main platforms OF each car are false
platforms, which arranged as to allow of the
free work OF the cars around curves. These false
platforms are kept extended by means of springs,
aud made in a very substantial manner. The
passage ways being covered with boiler plate iron,
with chain guards at the sides, the passage from
TO car is rendered perfectly safe. The sides to
these platforms are enclosed in like manner, thus
forming complete trunk or tube beneath the cars
from front 10 of the train, whilst be speed Of
the train causing draft OF air the dust is forced in
"a cloud out at the rear end Of the train. In making
up the trains new invention is also used for coup
ling 10y which the cars readily connect on being
simply pushed together, thus doing away with the
necessity aud danger OF going between the cars to
connect them To disconnect the cars simply re-
quires the drawing Of the pin in the usual manner.
It wall thus be seen that by the use Of this very
simp means the dust and the noise excluded 10
the great comfort of the traveller; and is rendered
impossible for any TO get under the wheels, or
between the cars 10y the most reckless careless
ness The only way any one can, by possibility,
get under the wheels, is by going forward OF the
locomotive.
Now, we hold that there il no possible excuse for
any Railroad Company allowing their passengers or
employees 10 be killed or manned from the causes
named Tor in this method there is the means Of pos
itively preventing any such accident. At the same
time, the expense OF applying il is very trifng, and
as large stock holder in the Central Railroad very
Justly remarked, one mans ARA is worth more than
the entire cost OF fitting out any route II Railroad
Companies do not care 30 much Tor the comfort OF
passengers they are bound, in Common Law, TO
provide every means for their safety; aud oy ADOPT
ing this simple method, SO much can be secured Tor
the comfort and safety Of passengers, we think no
Railroad Company can hesitate 20 adopt il. Our
object in this article being to call public attention
TO a crying evil and TO point out sure and perfect
remedy-the one spoken Ol IS 40 experiment; Il has
been thoroughly tested and proved itself 10 answer
admirably the purposes intended.
~ Mr. Howell, Of Baltimore, has invented