The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-08-12
THE DAILY GAZkTTE.

| AhC CVAlpAl 0tivC ScCuIlty 1kVIu Ac-
cidents, which English railroadslsnioy,
is the result, not only Of the greater
plenty ofmoney there, but also the
more prudent disposition ofthe people,
Never was truer remark than that
OF an English ostler, when he shuts
the coach door, and cries sail right
represents a trait of national character
Just as the American, who under the
same circumstances, calls ont ego
ahead" typifies the restless haste Of
our countrymen.
A train in England never stops,
even for a minute or two, without one
set Of employees carefully oiling every
part Of the machinery and running
gear, while another set, with ham
mers, goes from wheel to wheel,
knocking to see if there is any flaw or
weakness in the iron. 1t is still fresh
in the memory ofall, that the British
prime minister, when going to the
great naval review, and about to step
upon train just as it was starting,
was Immediately jerked back BY
policeman. In every way, indeed,
and without any distinction as to per-
sons, the English railroad companies
enforce canton and foresight.
But it is in the more liberal outlay
OF means, both constructing and rum
ming their roads, that the British com
panies exceed our own in ensuring
safety. An English railroad is fenced
in on either side, and has gateway
at every crossing. with stationary
watchman at each gate, who shuts it
when a train is due, and would net
open it even for the queen herself
There are also double tracks, tele-
graphs and lights along the roads Tor
might trains. Accidents from defects
in the construction of roads, or even
from laches in their management, at
least so far as the directors are con-
cerned, are almost unknown in Eng.
land The conductors are carefully
selected, and are generally perfectly
reliable men; instructions carefully
prepared for every emergency, are
issued to them: and az all adhere
strictly to these instructions, miscon-
|ceptions are rendered practically i'm
possible. Analogous cases to con-
,dnctor having it left to his option
when behind time to wait at a station,
or to Iun on at the risk Of collision,
are unknown in England; for in Eng
land human life is to sacredly respect
ed, and to large an amount Of capital
employed in working railroads, to
admit either of such an option on the
part Of conductor, or Of a conductor
sufficiently incapable as to create a
risk. ~ 49,
The English public, moreover, sns.
taiins English companies in the free
use Of mS,ney.. The fare, in O Inst
CHS car, in England, is neariy three
times Whit the fare is here; aild itAis
,paid without a rnu.asn1t,;; becarrp +Ws.
salefs there know that safety md speed
are costly. "A man may go1kcm I'M
adelphia to Pittsburgh for about nine
dollars. To 60 from London to Glas.
Igow, which is but little further, in
wolves an expense Of twenty Tive dol
flafs. 1t is true that first class car
in England 10 somewhat more luxu-
roius than car in America, but the
difference is not greater than the diff
ference between the interest of ofmoney,
so that what is saved here in me car
and its appointments, is saved in the
capital invested on the road.-
Moreover, England, as compared with
the United States, is both a small and
a densely populated country, 80 that
fewer railroads supply the demands OF
alarger number Of people. aase
VS. When Americans become ss
thorough and careful as the English,
and are as able to build good roads
regardless Of expense, railroad casual
ties will become as rare here as they
are there.-PAilaaelpAia Ledger.