New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-07

l-U(I0H8I
saving the pteree. Of the Columbu-, Pqas and ioa'
ga bonds which they bad pledged themselves 70 40
vnh the FIJI, concurrence Of the stockhosders, ex-
presed at legally called meeting We must correct tne
vrxer of the communication however, en- TWO points.
We are not in error in anything we have stated ana
An old Contributor will read our paragraphs again
\. i ,ee that we have stated that the Cleve-
land. Columbus and Cincinnati Road had commenced
a sui, o, tina. any suit had been commenced % any
sne "Oh Contributor" says tina. the Company
have taken no action IN the matter We think the
utter Of President Hubby printed In THE TRIBUNE on
"wednesday establishes the fact tbs. they have taken
action and very disgracefu action, too. The senoent
al the street al which "Old Contributor sneers we
can inform him, comes from the largest stockholders
M his COMPANY. and not from "stock jobbers and
eon,e Of that class IL be desires TO ascertain this
Ne hos only to 20 among the stockholders.
In previous paper pnblished at length, the Re
port Of the President of the Erie Railroad Company
promising on future occasion TO notice the very
able report Of the General Superintendent whicn &c
sompanied il which promise we DOW proceed
The Report commences by remarking that IN con'e-
nepce Of the magnitude Of the business OF the road
hs numerous and important connections ana the large
.umber Of employees engaged In operating ~ many
rsoos have been led to suppose that it could not be
In opposon to this view, the position il taken that
faeore.eaAya long road should be operated at less
expense per passenger and per tun per mile, than
short one, and that it may be practically accomplished
by the introduction Of system Of operations prop
ery adapted TO the character and extent OF the bust
sess TO be DONE The general principles to be regarde1
m the formation of such system are then enumerated
and are stated as follows:
"Fsrst. proper division Of responsibilities.
"Sscond: Sufficient power conferred to enable The
same 10 be fully carried ont, that such responsibilities
nay be real IN their character.
Third The means Of knowing whether snch re-
sponsbiities are faithfully executed.
Fourth: Great promPtness in the report OF ai oe'
Injections Of duty that evils may be at once corrected
Fifth, Such information to be obtained through a
system Of daily reports and checks, that viii not en-
bansss principal oficers, nor lessen their influence
with their subOrdinates.
"Sizth. The adoption Of system, as q whole which
will no. only enable the General Superintendent to de-
tect errors Immediately, but will also point out the
delinquent"
Next follows description Of the organization OF the
road showing the powers and duties Of the principal
sfficerr, concluding as follows:
"The above will to show the division ofthe adj
minstrative duties upon the line and the general Or
gsnizaton Of this department. Each officer possesses
all the power necessary to render bis position ehcient
and has authority, with the approval of the President
and General Superintendent TO appoint all persons tor
whose acts he is held responsible, aud may dismiss any
subordinate when in his judgment the interests OF the
Company will be promoted thereby.
"fhe enforcement of ngid system OF discipline in
the government Of works OF great magnitude is ndis-
pepsabe to success. All subordoates should be ac-
eountable to- and be directed By TIER immediate Snp-
rors only as obedience cannot be enforced where the
foreman in immediate charge Is interfered w;h, by
superior officer giving orde directly TO his 'lbordlnates
alt is very important however that principal OH
eers should be in possession Of all the information ne
cessary TO enable them to ldge correctly TO the
industry and efficiency Of subord0ates Of every grade.
ITO scQuaint themselves in this particular and
remedy impenections without weakening the influence
Of subordinate officers should be the aim OF Officers OF
the higher grades
Mr. McCalum attributes the reduction Of expenses
the transaction Of the business of the past year to
the adoption Of system Of reports and checks, and
an organization which admits of the above principles.
II is certainly highly creditabls TO the Judgment Of
Me Directors that they have allowed the officers of
The Road TO mature and carry out the system without
interference. This example may, without doubt, be
yroftsbly followed by the Directors of many other
important works, the exhausted finances of which are
caused, perhaps, in great measure by 40 ofeious in
tsrmedSlng with details, the nature Of which they do
not understand instead Of securing the services Of e
sens officers fitted by education and experience to the
performance Of the task, holding them strictly re-
sponsble for results granting them sufficient suthor
" to direct and control the business and thus adopting
the only plan ofprOyng them competent or otherwise
The report in the next place treats of the elements
involved in effecting economy" In this connection it
D remarked:
In the transaction of passenger traffic great speed
forms an important item of cost the high rate Of which
b governed by what frequently proves to be ruinous
competition which the hazard Of passengers and the
liability Of railroad companies are increased in equal
ratio II has been stated authoTtatvely that the cost
Of running a train is increased nearly the square of
the speed for the correctness OF which experience viii
not permit me TO vouch but may be allowed to ven
ture the remark that the present rates OF fare do not
generally compensate for the large capital invested
and the enormous expense incurred, aud have no
doubt that the speed usually adopted has an important
influence in producing this result"
The effect Of hgh rates of speed in the cost of oper
stpg road is pointed out in the additional power in
volved and tear of roadway and machinery, the
delays caused by inability to make time" and the
risks Of collisions and other contingencies growing out
Of the attempt
The use Of the telegraph referred TO in the follow.
hg terms'
"A single track railroad may be rendered more safe
and efficient, by proper of the telegraph than
double track railroad without its aid; the double
track only obviate collisions which occur between
rsius m0Ving IN opsOsite directions, while the tele
graph may be used efectualy in preventing them,
etEe1 from trains moving in opposite or the same
dsrectsoas and IL il well established fact deduced
from the history Of railroads, both in Europe and in
this country, that collisions between trains moving in
the same direction have proved by far the most fatal
and disastrous and should be the most carefully
guarded against. have no hesitation in asserting,
bst angle track railroad, having udiciousy located
tsTnouu equal in the aggregate to quarter of it,
entire length, and a well conducted telegraph viii
prove TO be more sae and profitable investment than
q much larger expended In the construction of
eost'auess double track, operated without tel
sgraph."