The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-11-02
or LIFE ON RAILROADS.

MIR. Cook, Of Williamson, has introduced
bill into the House Of Representatives, the
object Of which Is 10 "prevent rs far as prac.
ticabe the occurrence Of accidents on the
railroads Of this State, resulting in death, or
manning for life" &c. The bill has passed
its second reading, and we find a synopsis of
its lending provisions in the Nashville Wing,
Of the 26ths
"'rhe LIST section provides that il shall he
the duty of The engine driver, or other per-
son having charge Of the running Of loco.
motive or train upon any rniIroud in this
State, to sound OF ~ 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 10 give ample n q.
tice Of the approach Of the train 70 any per-
son who may be travelling or passing upon
such road or street.
The Sd 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 a mis-
demeanor, and upon conviction by Circuit
or Criminal Court, shall oe fined not less than
ESQ nor more than $1,000, and imprisoned
not less than one nor more than twelve
months.
The 3D. 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 tho Company
employing him, and upon convie ion the Com.
pany shall be fined not less than $50 nor
more than $500.
The 4th section declares that If any person
hall ha Etlni hp ..a;J.,t ...ll;.,r,, L..
pening in consequence of the neglect Of the
person having charge Of the train to perform
his duty, such person shull be deemed guilty
fined in The Penitentil II less than three
nor more than twenty.one years.
The 9th section declares that If any per-
son shall be wounded or crippled by an nc.
cident or collision carsed By the person hnv.
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 Peniieptiary not less than one nor
more 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 7th section provides that notice of the
in cities, shall be given by sounding the whis.
tie when within half mile, and continuing
to sound the whistle until they have passed
the crossing or arrived at the depot.
phe 9Th 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 manifesty 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
railroads. What man but one of the most
reckless character, would consent TO run n
locomotive when three years in the Peniten.
tiary is to be the result of an accident which
no wStchfulness or care on his part can pre-
vent, and which leaves him entirely at the
mercy of prcjudiced and il.disposcd 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 court Of justice. No
one more than oursclf will be pleased to see
necessary and wholesome restrictions thrown
around railroad companies, such rs are calcu.
lated to secure, as far as 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
carelessness or recklcssness; but we should
much regret to see an act Of injustice, like
the one we have quoted from above, placed
upon the statute book of Tennessee. There
is m undue, and we regret to say it, nm lib.
eral and unjust prejudice in the public mind
against railroad companies, notwithstanding
the immense benefits the same public derive
from these enterprises, and in all cases where
a controversy or difficulty occurs between
an individual and the corporation, popular
sympathy is with the former, and the latter,
consequently, has to suffer-the controlling
or disposing power forgetting the important
fact that the corporation has rights that ought
to be hello equally as sacred and be equally
protected with those of the individual. We
are afraid it is a spirit something akin to
this illberal one which dictated the very OBJ.
jectionable bill now pending in the lower
house. And we repeat thehope that, should
it reach the Senate, it will be shom of its
unjust proportions in its passage through
that conservative body.
"SoME 'TATERs."-The Knoxville Stand.
ard is Dragging about yam potato somebody
sent him that weighed st lbs. We "see
that" and go just 2 lbs. better, our young
friend, Thos. A. Cleage, having presented us
with several few days since, The largest
of which weighed IT lbs. They were from
the plantation of his father, Mouse Greek
Valley, a section where all sorts Of produc.
tons, including babies, are third larger
than in any other part of the world.
SLopED.-The postmaster at Huntsville,
Scott co., Tenn, advises us that we had best
stop c. &. Hurts paper, as that gentleman
''has gone to parts unknown" The people
of that popuous region included in the ter.
ritory of parts unknown" will do well to