New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-09-27

them must back TO the nearest switch and sat
fer the other to pass. OF course they are d.
rected to proceed with cda'ion; but the ideas OF
engineers in regard n ahat constitutes caution
may differ very essentially from the views of
other prudent men, their habits and education
beipg the reverse of those calculated to make
them very timid. Is it surprising that under
sucb a ,y.tem Of management, we are so FREE
oueDtly called to chronicle thu sad rec'tals OF
railroad accidents But the Camden aud Am.
boy Road is not the only one worked By
such sb.uri rules In proof o. this take the
following from the running regulations Of the
New.York Central Ros0, similar, we presume,
10 those Of fifty others:
Passenger trains going eastward until they arrive
az Syracuse will be entitled 10 the track TIL they are
fifteen minutes behind time after which they viii De
no more entitled the track than any passenger r n
which they NAV expect 10 meet In -uch 'a-e, OOtn
trsins will become ire ular and Wi proceed very are
fully bending man ahead arou'd curves 10 see their
ygay clear erecting TO met each OtAer In case OF
meetiag between branches, the train nearesi the
braLc5, will back out.
Could anything be more absurd, when the
whole matter can be 80 easily remedied BY the
use of the telegraph, which would not only
Lessen Danger, but gam time, aud, what is still
better. save the passengers from the dread OF
collision
But il is not alone in the movement Of trains
that the telegraph is 30 valuable an auxiliary Tor
railroad purposes Nine-tenths of the delays which
occur originate from the want OF proper exertons
on the part of employees on the trains. On the
Erie Road hourly dispatches are sent to the General
Superintendent giving the position Of sill passenger
trains and daily reports of all the freight trains
their position and number of cars, AMI whether
loaded or empty. Thus party interested in the
arrival of cattle, can be informed exactly where
thew are al the moment, and when they will prob
ably arrive. Every accident is also known at
headquarters as soon as it happens, and orders
seut at once to afford relief These are some OF
the uses Of the telegraph but they form only a
small part of the general advantages derived from
IT, Most of the difficulties which occur on rail.
roads may be prevented, removed, or modified, by
prompt action, and in majority of cases this
can only be secured by resort to the telegraph.
The danger Of collision from the meeting of
trains, would be removed by the construction
of a double track, bat not the danger Of rear
in Europe and in this country has proved to
be equally disastrous in their effects. In fact
the superintendents, and officers generally, Of
the Erie Road think it would be almost impOs.
sible for them TO do it's immense and constantly
increasing business, even with double track
oil the way, without telegraph, because both
tracks would be encountered with freight trains,
LII 49, ina
upes turnouts, waiting for passenger trains; in
their turn liable to be waiting at the next
station.
As germane to this interesting subject we
extract, in conclusion, the following from the
general instructions for running trains on this
road, uDder orders by telegraph:
Conductor must not leave Station when directed
10 run by spec al order, without having the same Ia
wriiirg III their possession, which must always be read
by the Engineer before starring.
- Trains when moved by special ORDER will always
approach stopping place on the suPpositlon that
auOtf or train Is 10 be met.
"When meeting place il to be made for trains
moving III contrary directions the right TO run shall be
made certain tOSuirc and defHed without regard 10
time. Should you from any cause be unable TO make
lOur running Hme you will, as soon as you discover
such 10 be the case leave your tagman 10 warn the
antroacLifg train ahead of which you nave Deeh
red TO rue and YOU will put your train upon the
fr.t switch You reach, and there remain until you
have received orders to proceed, or until you can go
ahead ,
The Conductor and Engineer Of fast train that
i, ruI hing behind slow train by special order, shall
be uoifed of the fact in WI ing OF the tune at winch
the flow train left the last telegraph station
With all the officers of the road under sort of
military discipline, and with such instructions
transmitted by telegraph, wonder ceases regarding
the ability of the Erie Road to transact such an
extensive business but it is surprising that the
managers of every road do not avail themselves Of
the same facilities In view therefore of the want
of spontaneity on their part in adopting such an
essential agent of mercy and economy, we entreat
our Legislatures, one and all, to render it obliga-
tory upon them.