New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-24

20 to Eternity instead Of Chicago; b." ap''
from that. you have to take your own pcnA 7'Va
baggage, and not unfrequently some womsas. 1nN ~
latter case, tn, cares Of life may be said to have
fairly begun Given a railroad smash, and you
and your feminine companion not killed the ques-
ton occurs, Where, and o where, has your valued
baggage gone Most musc,l and most melan
cboly We now speak by the card, that under
the frequent uueJ pected conventions not of rail-
roaf men, but Of railroad trains-thatis,t their COM
irg together at the rate Of fifty miles an hour
there IS frightful loss Of property. To be sure
il is true that compensation can be had but from
documents before us, it appears that the laws de-
lsy. snd the whole miasma Of the dismal swamp Of
litigation are too strong for weak stomachs, and
SO trsyee lose their baggage But apart from this
locomotive quake and trsgical view of trunks, car
pet bags and bsndboxes there ia the melo drama or
comedy of losing them in q safe, retail way-thas
is, through ones own forgetfulDess or that oil the
AGENT And these segregated losses are especially
the affair of our railroad baggage conventions.
Each aQeIt takes thithsr with him two lists, one
containing description Of all unclaimed baggage
remaining on his road the ether es,nQtion OF all
the lost baggage for which applications have been
made. By thus comparing notes the agent re-
turns home with both lists materially shortened,
and many fat, precious aud lamented trunk, lost
Thousands of miles from home, lie, through the
blessed agency of this Convention, restored to Its
lamentpg and Departing owner.
But notwithstanding this arrangement, 1t may
be said that further reform is needed in the bag
gage department Of railroads. It is fact that
every year the accumulation of baggage unclaimed
and the business of our Convention both increase
side by side with the growth Of census figures.
Notwithstanding the law is binding on the common
carrier, and holds him to accountability az insurer,
vet the evil exists as we have stated. There Is,
however, an exception which We mention as
bright example with the hope of inducing reform.
On the Michigan Outhern and Northern Indiana
Railroad there has not been lost single piece of
baggage during the last six months, though the
passepger.list for this period has touched higher
point than ever before. Each station baggage
master not only checks every piece OF
bagg,ge which be puts in the cars, but
makes a record of it as we'll as OF every
piece received from the cars. The train
Baggage master carries duplicate record OF all
the baggage received, upon which he notes the
place where each piece is delivered. This system
of checks and balances closes the door, hitherto so
wide agape, to dishonesty or irresponsible care
lessnesq. The discipline of Messrs. Wilkinson,
Litcbield, Moore, Brown, and Jervis, on that par
ticular road, has worked this wholesome change.
May it not be initiated We hope, however, that
il may never be carried far as altogether to dis
pense with our Convention. We hold tina. every
thing this eide of the divinus satus Of genius, is
bettered for a yearly overhauing BY such an
assemblsee. May Conventions live forever