The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-04-23
For the Gate City.
Cause. .S RntnrSaA 4 Accidents.

For the Cato City.
Causes - Railrsaa Accidents.
"The scientific training Of civil engineers,
is indeed Of much more consequence than
that OF military engineers. This fact has
long since been fully recognised on the con-
tinent Of Europe in the erection OF Polytech.
mic colleges, on plan similar to that Of
L'Ecole Poiytechnique, Of Paris, or the West
Point Academy, with this difference only,
that the course Of instruction relates to ope'
rations in civil, instead of military engineer
| ing. The beneficial results OF these estab-
| lisbments are certainly disccrnib'e IN the
| relative statistics of railroad accidents in
| those countries and our own. Among the
former we believe there is not single in
stance of the tumbling down Of any import
ant structure. We are convinced that n
thorough scientific education Of civil engi-
neers, and the appointment Of personsso pre-
prepared by practice and recommended by
years Of experience, not alone for the build
ing Of railroads, but also for their meehani-
cal management, would prove one OF the
surest and most effectual means to diminish
the cause Of accidents. "--[ Phil. North Amer
lean.
The above, probably stimulated into exist
ence BY the late accident on the Grand Trunk
Railway, in Gambia, is having the usual
rounds of the papers. That the author has
but very slight idea Of the present manage
ment and construction Of American Rail
roads is apparent, or he would never have
proposed the remedy he suggests.
A thorough education, in his profession, is
Of the greatest Importance to the civil engi-
necr and to the work that may be placed in
his charge; but there are institutions in ex-
istence among us, and there have been for
the last half. century, where the theory OF the
science is taught equally as we'll as in those
Of France, or our own pet aifair-West Point.
Railroads in the United States, as general
thing, have been, and are still constructed
upon funds raised by the sale of their bonds,
or are built by the slower method Of individ-
ual subscriptions to stock. la either case,
nine times out OF ten the work lags for the
pant Of funds. Boards of directors are
extremely anxious to have portion OF the
road open to traffic at the quickest possible
moment, and ut the least possible expense,
so that it may afford source Of income and
basis Of credit whereby to raise means to
prosecute the balance of the work. Economy
(professedly SOY becomes leading feature
in all their business, and it il shown in none
more than in the engineering Department.
In many cases the locations of line, plans
and specifications of structures, and other
matters, which properly should be left to the
superior skill and judgment Of their Engineer,
are overhauled; and, constituting themselves
into board Of Engineers, the board of d.
rectors, or their committee of construction,
proceed to amend, alter and condemn, in or
der to effect the saving Of few dollars
This is many times done against the earnest
protest and rleadings of their Engineer. The
polishing touch Of the Polytechnique avails
but little in such case ; and his work, tor
turcd and distorted, ''scarce half made up
passes from their hands, perhaps to fall in
Judgment against the Engineer.
There is no scarcity Of truly able mcn
among American Civil Engineers, who have
adthe training Of no popular military school
and who, with the same adequate means TO,
construction-the same desire for permanent
works on the part Of directors--are as com
petent for any undertaking, rs members Of
the same profession in Europe. Instances Of
Civil Engineers acting in limited spheres are
abundant in our own midst, and the effect OF
it, though it may be postponed indefinitely,
will one day be plainly enough visible.
The Great Western Railway, in England,
cost on nm average $4,000 per mile; and
nearly all the Railroads in Great Britain
have averaged more than $500, 900 per mile
Mr.. Stevcnson's experiments, previous to his
erection of the Menai Bridge, involved an
outlay Of near $4,000. What directory in
America will warrant the erection OF such
structures and what one so liberal as to
sanction such an expenditure in experimental
There is medium between British perma-
q ency andYankee superfciality, that might
be adopted to the great saving Of human life
in the United States. The matter rests al
most entirely with railroad directors, aud let
them adopt liberal and substantial policy
in the construction Of their works, and there
viii be no difficulty in obtaining the services
of Civil Engineers who have the ability and
will to accomplish oil that can be desired.
G.