Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-01-31
Cincinnati, Hamilton 4 Dayton Railroad.

We are under obligations 10 one Of the
principal officers of the Cincinnati, Hamilton
& Dayton Railroad for a communication
written in compliance with a request of the
Cincinnati GazeHe of the 9th inst, stating the
circumstances under which that road is ena-
bled to run its trains so safely and At so high
a rate Of speed. 1t is as follows:
CNcINNATI, Jan. IA, 1886.
GENTLEMEN.-l thank you for the iavOra-
bic notice taken Of our Road il your paper
of the 9th inst, under the head Of "Ohio
Railway SYSTEM" and cheerfally comply
with your request to furnish 4 statement Of
our arrangements for preventing accidents on
the road. In connection, permit me tlrst 10
say that The road is well constructed in all
its parts-no expense having been spared to
render it Safe-especially the bridges. IL is
fenced from Cincinnati to Dayton, and has the
requisite cattle guards for protection against
animals.
The best feeling toward the Company pre-
walls among the owners Of land on the line
of the road, and they are always ready to
guard its interests and safety. The road is
run with safety at a higher speed than ordi-
nary, owing to its substantial construction aud
its freedom from short curves and high
grades. For threc-fourths of its length it Is
straight, and either level or under ten feet
grade to the mile. For the remainder of the
distance the maximum grade is twenty feet.
With a view to guard against accidents, no
care or expense is spared in obtaining the best
machinery, the wheels and axels Of which
are thoroughly examined by competent men
before making each trip over the road. Eve
ry morning before a train is in motion the en-
tire road is passed over by men either on foot
or in hand cars.
The number Of men stationed on the road
to repair track and guard against distinctions
avesages,one toeach mlie, AtaiEths prin-
cipal public road crossings a man is Stationed
to give notice Of approaching trains. The
bridges, which are numerous, have men sta.
toned at them, whose duty it is, before 4;
train passes, to test every iron rod, and t
frequently examine the nuts also to pas.
through them Immediately after each loco
motive, to watch for FIRE. The foundation
are carefully examined after every Sigh
freshet. The bridges over the Great MAN
river at Hamilton and Dayton, have a nigh
as well a. day watch. Printed rules for run
= ming trains and the management on the lin
of the road, are in The hands Of every EN-
ployee, and are rigidly enforced. Anon
these rules especial attention is directed t
hat which provides that "where there
room for doubt always take the safe course
Acting on the principle that " an ounce o
preventative is worth a pound Of cure, W
have always considered it better to incur tn
expense Of all that is requisite fJr safety, I
paying large sums for destruction of humar
life, and for broken limbs. In only one in
stance has there been an accident on thi
road attended with any serious consequence
By this accident occurred the only death il
our Cars, and the only broker limb anon
passengers. The death was that Of a yer
young child, which lost its life by grown PEI
sons falling uponit. No human skill or fore
sight could have done more than vas don
to guard against this accident. The travele
may rest assured that 40 care or expenge wi
be wanting that viii in any way tend to hi
safety.
The experience of the past four years sine
the road was first opened, during which tim
a million and a half Of passengers have bee
safely conveyed, demonstrates fully the al
yantages of that principle.