Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-01-06
OFFICE Va. Central RAILROAD Co :,
lS1S


TO ths Editors Of The Richmond IFk!g:
GgSTLEMES-In my letter 10 You yesterday on the
jet o: the collision, find tina, omitted 70 notice
one point, on which il seems the public are excited
oy me many Misrepresentation snoHt. "rote III
the midst OF mauy Interruptions, aud IN great hur-
ryi but it was omitted partly because the OBJECTION
as you will see when considered Scarcely ha- 'iigntv
enough to deserve an answer. Nevertheless, as
tasteful MS II /, 10 me- ~ have 10 discuss any OF the
little private troubles of company in the pewspa'
pers, as have discovered that the public are snIIos
10 understand every thing, however remotely connect
ed with the collision, have no disposition 70 Keep
any part of this affair from ihorou yh scrutiny.
understand il Is said these accidents, though at.
triouted To defective schedules would not happen II
Gnrdonsvllle was tho place of meeting.
showed yesterday that the clamor about the
schedule was all gotten ~ for the purpose OF luvolv
ing me in dithCul'y-:ha ii there WAS any defect in
IL the Superintendent had Ell opportunity 10 correct
H. and wa, requested by 10 do so before be Gisir!
husd II, US II WAS his duty to have duue. bur thar,
il fact, The rule applicable to this case sufficient.
y plain. II only required tho Conductor siartr.
from G'rdonsviie TO determine how long il wou:
take ~ run three and half miles and not TO leave
unless he could r-sch Me!ious before 30 Ut which
Tine he tram gong west wes rnS ORDERED 10 "go on.
These cases have been left 10 be provided for gene
ray by the former rules Of this Company in thai way
rhus, who are familiar with railroad afairs, know
full Well that Is perfectly absurl TO say that conrn-
un- The MEETING at Gordunsvllie would have pre-
/, liable ~ Tail 10 reach GurdnnsyiiIe in time; Yea,
more liable it the meeting had bssn there, simply be
cause OF gre!ier distance. showed yesterday That
the liability detention in s'arring from hore until
~ a. NJ. recently 6sc0ns daily, must necessarily
make the arrival at GJTdnnsv,I.e almost inlpractbt'
under the former arrangement, the restoration OF
VIII h Is earnestly sought by some-tbat time be-
ing lO.l0A. VI.
The up train falling to arrive the down train can I
wait all d"y-it must star expecting to meet the up
train somewhere. There would be precisely the same
Inability 10 collision in one case "a the other, with
this difference: that il the train attempted 10 20 IN
Gordonsville by 1910 4. NJ as formerly or any ohcr
hour, 1t more difficult than 10 reach Melton aB
thus more frequent occasions would occur for provI
ding against anticipated cu!ll-ion.
Ii appear, ths; meeting at iordonsvllle secures nc
Exemption from the down train having 10 meet the
delayed up train. What would the objections, then
dol Simply rely on rule 10 direct whnt TO do
where there 10 not punc;usty in meeting at the up
pointed place II seems 10 be almost insulting TO
common intelligence, after reflection, TO combat the
absurd position that there Is any more difficulty ~
providing for trains tn pass at place than another
and yet designing undertake to cOnfound and cou
fuse others not familiar With the subjec, by attempt
iug 10 make them believe that it is 80.
This explanation is due not only 10 myself but 10
the Board OF Directors, who approved the arrange.
msut.
will not trespass any further on your space, bui
merely remark that the only reliance TO prevent col
lei m when trains f, TO run up to their time. Oh any
railroad Is the observance Of the printed rues-tha'
if they had been strictly observed in this case the
accident would not have heppeod, though the stop
pEg Of the train by the unauthorized ringing Of the
bell, mentioned in my letter OF yesterday seemed to
have been the iinmediste cause.
!stgned,l f. FOSrAINE. Pres't.