New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-09-27
THE TELL GRAPH ON RAILROADS.


For the purposes Of ordinary business the
convenience AID utility of the Electric Tele
graph are now as universally understood and
appreciated az its wonderful achievements are
commonplace everyday affairs. But there is
another use Of this admirable agent which is by
no means so well known either to those immedl-
stely interested to the public at large, and to
which we desire to call attention. We refer to
the employment of the telegraph in the work
ing of railroads, as a means Of securing unity,
promptness, and above all safety in the running
OF trains.
So far as We are aware, the only railroad in this
country which habtually and constantly employs
the telegraph is the New York and Erie which at its
own expense has erected wires along its entire line
The expense ofputting up this telegraph was some
$4,000, and the cost of operating 1t Is ABOUT
$4,000 year; yet the Superintendent, Mr. Me
Column states that the value of the services rem
dered by it is more than 100000 year. BY its
means each Division Superintendent maintains q
constant control over all the trains in his division,
and il frequently happens that every train is run
ming under special orders transmitted by the tee-
graph Indeed, whenever any train is more than
ten minutes out of time, the fact and the cause of
the delay are at once reported to the General
Superintendent for his action. Thus every EN-
ployee on the road is held to instant accountability
for any delay occasioned by his fault.
The road has its own signals and forms Of
dispatches, combining accuracy with breyity.
The utmost caution is employed in acting upon
dispatches, and no conductor is allowed TO start
his train frsm station in obedience to spe-
cial order till he has given the signal which
means that he understands he is 10 go on and
has rect ived reply telling him that he is right.
All the rules for telegraph operations are
printed and bound in small volume, which
also contains all the abrevistions and signals in
use, except the cipher employed between the
General Superintendent and the Division Su-
perntene ents, in csses where secret messages
are expedient.
On the Erie Road, where for most of the dis
lance there is but single track, the failure of
one train TO meet another at the regular pass
ing place not only involves delay TO the two
trsins, but to all others of an inferior class
Such arrangement in the time of the numerous
trains formerly occurred very frequently, and
proved serious source oil annoyance ana NEON
yenence to passengers as well as Of great loss
and embarrassment to the Company. But BY
the use of the telegraph, and judi,ious ys-
TEN connected with il, these delays are in a
great measure prevented, and the trains KEEP.
moving with entire safety.
1.-THE Camden and Amboy Railroad Com pany
had had telegraph connected with their road,
and under their control, the conductors of the
trains that met st Burlington could have been
directed to pass at the switch near the place
where the accident occurred. The risk of col.
li.ion would have thus been avoided and the
backing of the train rendered unnecessary.
All those live. might have been saved by the
small expense of telegraph line along the
rails.
The Camden and Amboy Company, we per-
ceive, have recently published report exon
Grating the conductor and engineer from all
blame for that terrible accident, because they
followed instructions. The rules of this road
provide that when train fails to arrive at the
passing place at the proper time the other train
arriving, rhttksr time not, s not required to
wait for the delayed train but both are slow wed
to proceed until they meet, and Il they should be