The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-07-03
The Late Dreadful Dlsasssr on the Michigan
Southern RssirOaa.

Southern Re1lrOaus
In another column will he found soae sddi.
,losa, particulars concerning the recens appall
ing accident on the Micogfn southern Railroad,
'Hhe plumber of ki,ied ascei'aiucd up to tae
latest oates il ,h,rry.hve. nut IL is etsted thai
ibrrc vii, b. u considerably addition 10 this
Total MS msuy ~eEe known 70 bave been ia tn
main whose traces had not been discovered The
result of the final investigation will, we believe,
show that the frst estimate which was givea of
the number of victims has not much exceeded
the truth In all, it is now certain that over
hundred persons have either been killed or In
jured by this dreadful occurrence.
The structures passed on the company for sup
pressing information regarding the accident have
drawn forth card from the Chicago agents,
which wiA be found elsewhere. They indi gnaatly
contradict the statement SO far rs they are cou-
cerned and In reference to the charge of dilatori
ness in sending on special train to the scene Of
the calamity, they explain that they did
not do so because it would have been
unsafe to despatch one while all the western
bound trains were irregular and subject only to
regular trains. We publish, In addition, a state
ment from Mr.. George Bliss the President of
the road, who happened to be ON the cars when
the accident occurred. 1t contains but little be-
yond narrative OF the general facts, and does
not touch the point on which the public now feel
most interested in having information.
The directors seem to think that their defence
will be made good by establishing the fact Of u
vigihnt police supervision having been exer
cised over this and other portions of the road
where there was chance Of accidents from
heavy rains and floods. Admitting, for argu-
ment sake, that the necessary watchfalGess had
been observed by their subordinates- which is
far ffom being clear to us-the cupability,
wherever 1t attaches, rests on other ana more
serious grounds. If the statements that have
reached US be correct no provisional caution that
could have been exercised could have prevented
the accident. The blame of 1t rests entirely on
the defective construction Of the culvert, which
was not wide enough to carry off the accumula-
ton of water accruing from such heavy rains.
This fact seems to have been well known for
some time previous to the disaster, which, more
over. had been predicted exactly as 1t occurred.
If it be true, as reported that two other culvers
east Of the one in question had been carried
off by the same rains, then it is clear that there
was radical defect in the construction of this
portion of the road, due either to incompetent
engineering or to criminal parsimony on the part
of the company.
We believe that the inquiry which is about to
be Instituted will confirm the correctness of this
latter supposition. It is uAdeDiable that more
than three.fourths Of the accidents that occur
upon railroads in this country are owing to i'm
perfect construction, arising, not as is too often
alleged, from want Of skill on the part Of the SUI
pervising engineers, but from the reluctance
Of the companies to expend more than they are
actually driven to upon their lines. So much
money is extravagated In lobbying for personal
interests, in paying out dividends which have
never been earned, and in competing at ruinous
tariffs with rival lines that but little remains to
maintain the roads in such condition of eficien.
cy as will insure the safety of the public. So
long as the presidents of companies continue to
be salaried ct the same rate as the highest ex-
eoutive officer Of our government and fictitious
results are resorted to to create confidence
amongst shareholders, it is not to be ex-
pected that the details of these enter
Prises will be managed with q due regard
for the interests and security of psssen-
gers In fact, the railroads Of this country
have come to be so generally considered as mere
vehicles for speculation and swindling, that all
pride in their proper management has been lost.
Unless sweeping reform be effected in the sys-
tenn on which they are st present conducted, it
is certain that in ten years from this there will
not be one Of them on which it will be safe tc1
people to trust their persons
AS there is no misfortune without an attending
consolation, we are glad to find that the sufferers
from the recent disaster are receiving all the
attention and care which the company's officers
can bestow. Their friends scarcely needed the
assurance given by the latter to render their
minds easy on that score. 1t Is "a fixed system
with railroad companies after the occurrence of
such accidents to lavish all the tenderness that
they can bestow on their unfortunate victims
The effect Of this provident humanity is to
:oothe them into compliment state of mind,
md to dispose them towards suggestions of
To add to the irritation caused
~ their suferings by neglect, and to give them
ime to make themselves acquainted with the
'xtent Of their legal rights, would be blunder
# too obvious character for keen men of bust
lees to commit. "Why don't you send some one
IN to settle?" was the pressing inquiry which
concluded one Of the dispatches forwarded to
after the accident on the Erie Rail-
Dad last year. There was world Of Significance
n the question, and the company did not fail to
hat by this time the managing lawyer of the
Michigan Southern is busy on the scene Of the
disaster applying the balm of consolation tn the