The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-11-02
PROTECTION OF LIFE on RAILROADS.


bill into the House Of Representatives, the
object of which is TO "preyent as far as prae-
ticable the occurrence Of accidents on tile
railroads of this State, resulting in death, or
manning for lifr," &c. The bill has passed
its second reading, and we find synopsis Of
IFS leading provisions in the Nashville Wing,
Of the Goth:
"The Isl section provides that it shall be
the duty of the engine driver, or other per-
son having charge of the running OF loco
motive or train upon any railroad in this
State, to sound or bl,w the whistle and put
down the breaks when approaching any turn
pike or other public road, or any street cross.
ed by such railroad, in time to give ample no.
tice of the approach of the train to any per-
son who may be travelling or passing upon
such road or street.
The 81 section declares that if the person
having charge ola train shall fail to discharge
his duty as prescribed in the LIST section of
the act, he shall be deemed guilty of mis-
demeanor, and upon convciicn by Circuit
or Criminal Court, shall DE fined not less than
$50 nor more than $1,000, and imprisoned
not less than one nor more than twelve
months.
The 81 section declares that the failure or
omission of the person having charge of the
train to discharge his duty, shall constitute
misdemeanor on the part of the Company
employing him, and upon convic ion the Com.
pany shall be fined not less than $50 nor
more than $500.
The 4th section declares that if any person
shall be killed by accident or collision hap
penng in consequence of the neglect of the
person having. charge of the train to perform
his duty, such person shall be deemed guilty
Of felony, and upon conviction, shall be con
fined in the Penitentiary not less than three
nor more than twenty.one years.
The 9th section declares that il any per-
son shall be wounded or crippled by an nc
cident or collision caused by the person hav-
ing charge of the train failing TO perform his
duty, such person shall be deemed guilty of
felony, and upon conviction shall be confined
in the Penitentiary not less than one nor
moro than three years.
The 9th declares that Railroad Companies
shall be responsible for all damages to per-
sons or property resulting from accidents on
their respective roads.
The 18th section provides that notice of the
approach of trains to crossings or to depots
in cities, shall be given by sounding the wills
tie when within half n mile, and continuing
to sound the whistle until they have passed
the crossing or arrived at the depot.
The Sth section provides that when train
is leaving or entering city or town, it shall
do so at a speed not exceeding seven miles
per hour"
Every one must see at the first glance that
this bill ought not to pass in its present shape,
and we trust if it gets through the lower
house, it will receive its quietus in the Sen.
ate. 1t is manifestly unjust in almost every
feature, prescribing penalties which, instead
of preventing the evils sought to be guarded
against, must result in driving every compe
tent and trustworthy engine driver from our
What man but one of the most
reckless character, would consent to run
locomotive when three years in the Peni!en-
tiary is to be the result of m accident which |
no watchfulness or care on his part can pre- |
vent, and which leaves him entirely at the |
mercy Of prcjudiced and ill.disposed persons
An engineer may exercise all the care and |
watchfulness in the world, yet from his posi-.
ton on the machine, it may be impossible to |
establish the fact in n court Of justice. No
one more than ourself will be pleased to see
necessary and wholesome restrictions thrown
around railroad companies, such rs are calcu
atcd to secure, as far rs possible, the safe |
transit of passengers and property, and to
make them responsible for injury to either
where such injury is the palpable result of
,arelessncss or recklcssness; but we should |
much regret to see an act Of injustice, like
he one we have quoted from ABOVE, placed
lpon the statute book of Tennessee. There
$ an undue, and we regret to say it, an lib.
,ral and unjust prejudice in the public mind
against railroad companies, Notwithstanding
he immense benefits the same public derive
rom these enterprises, and in all cases where
! controversy or difficulty occurs between
IN individual and the corporation, popular
sympathy is with the former, and the latter,
consequently, has to suifer-the controlling
,r disposing power forgetting the important
act that the corporation has rights that ought
% be hello equally as sacred and be equally
protected with those of the individual. We
IRE afraid it is spirit something akin to
his iliberal one which dictated the very oh.
ectionable bill now pending in the lower
rouse. And we repeat the hope that, should
t reach the Senate, il will be shorn of its
Unjust proportions in its passage through
hat conservative body.
"SoME 'TATERs."eThc Knoxville Stand.
rd is Dragging about yam potato somebody
ent him that weighed st lbs. We 'sec
hat" and 90 just 2 lbs. better, our young
rend, Thos. A. Ceage having presented us
With several few days since, the largest
# which weighed IT lbs, They were from
he plantation of his father, Mouse Creek
Valley, section where all sorts of produc-
IONS including babies, are third larger
han in any other part Of the world.
SLoPED.-The postmaster at Huntsville,
Scott co., Tenn, advises us that VIZ had best
top c. &. Hurts paper, rs that gentleman
Inns Oonp In norts unknownn The people