Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-21
Accidents on ou- RstIroass-

EDTToRs LEADER 1T msy not be gener-
ally known that large proportion of the
accidents on our Railroads, which are now
almost daily occurrences, can be justly
attributable to the incompetency of loco
motive engineers and others who have di-
rect control Of the trains. Those who are
in position to know the exact truth in
the matter have been trying to procure the
enactment of laws by the State Legislatures,
similar to those now in force upon the lakes
and great rivers. The laws referred to re-
quire the applicant for the position of en-
gineer to pass a rigid examination before
Board of Examiners, and if he is found
competent he receives from them papers
recognizing the fact. That applicants for
the position Of railroad dtengineer should be
required to pass an examination equally
severe, If not still more rigorous, is evi1ent
from the fact that such engineers have in
definitely more responsibility resting on
them than have lake engineers, ,ss the bulk
of travel goes by land and not by water.
The writer of this article has for the last
twenty years been behind the scenes, and
he asserts with assurance that eight out
of every ten of the accidents on our rail-
roads are the result, not of unavoidable ac-
cidents, but of grost laundering, stupidity,
and incapacity on the part of those
in charge of trains, together with
the indifference of the employers of
such men. Is it, then, wonderful that
railroad casualties are almost of daily oc-
currence? They are called accidents, but
it is q misnomer, foul SANDER upon the
definition of the word, to call such; criminal
casualties accidents.
There is no remedy for this state of
things other than the enactment of
laws, by the Legislature. compelling the
managers Of railroads to put upon engines
none but good, responsible, practical men,
men whom an efficient Board of Examina-
tion declare fit persons for 50 responsible
positions. When this act of Justice is done
millennium of travel has begun.
The Brotherhood of the Foot Board is now
moving in this matter. This organization
has not until lately been understood by the
public, neither hes itreceived that attention
from railroad officials which it deserves. It
is Brotherhood Of good, sound, practical
engineers, having branches OF the order in
all our chief railroad centers. Its main
objects are to raise the vocation and sustain
and promote the interests of all good en-
gineers, and TO impress upon railroad COM
panies the necessity of employing as en-
gineers none but men Of capacity and pro-
fciency, 1t does not aim to be dictatorial,
but to urge in a reasonable way a most Just
demand. The public and especially the
managers of our roads should sustain them
in so prsiseworthy an object. The awful
loss of life during the past year, a loss and
slaughter which can in nearly every case
be traced to the serious defect spoken of
ah HarnanAo Will tha Tania alafu
give the order helping hand7
What good engineer on an express train,
for instance, rushing on through the dark
ness of midnight, over bridges, round sharp
curves, with his load of precious living
freight, held, as it were, in the hollow of his
hand his strong hand grasping the "throt-
tie valve" his head projecting from the
window of the cab, his eyes, which never
quailed at danger or death itself, trying to
penetrate the inky darkness ahead by the
aid of the lurid glare of the "head light"
every nerve stretched to its utmost tension,
the wind, sleet and snow driving and freez-
ing against his face, forgetful of sell, mind
ful of others-what engineer of this descrip-
ton wants to meet round the next curve
the glare of the "hesd light" of an ap-
preaching train, thirty minutes ahead of
time, driven by men of no experience or
capacity? The flash of that "hesd Light
to such an engineer is,
Ths lightnIngs red glare psiating hell on the sky,
A fearful crash is the result, and the groans
of the manned and dying cry to heaven
against such monstrous murder. The affair
is trumped abroad as an "accident." This
is no fancy sketch. The writer can refer to
to many accidents of that precise character
during the past year. A.