Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1865-09-06
For the Newsdealer.
RAILROAD ACCIDENTS.


paper to say few words in relation to
accidentson the RAILROADS. Within the
pastfew months the papers have brought
to us many accounts of frightful and ap-
palling accidents on our railroads Now
whether these are owing to the bad man.
agement of officials, or to carelessness on
the part of the employees | know, not, but
one thing is certain, unless there are less
accidents occur, the public will net feel
safe to travel much. The accident that
occurred on Long Island few day since
was the worst, and indeed nothing could
surpass the brutal recklessness that occa-
stoned it. | hope that the agitation it
has caused will not be suffered to die out
without accomplishing at least begin
ming in the way of reform.
Travelling by railroad is an important
item with the business community at the
present time. Especially is it so with
the people of this section. Living as we
do twenty miles from the railroad, we feel
as though our task Yves nearly ended when
we reach Waterbury, and leave the dusty
coach, even if Boston or Washington is
our destination. If the Legislature sue
coed in granting charter for a railroad
into this County, the people will not feel
like investing their money to build it, I'M
less they can have some surety that it
will have proper care and management in
running it. | trust, however, that what
has already happened will prove lesson
to railroad men to be more careful in the
future. The New York Tribune publishes
an appalling list of railroad accidents that
have occurred within year. 1t says:
"Our list is not complete. but We can
enumerate sixty seven, more or less. fatal
accidents since September |, 1864. in
which three hundred persons have been
killed outright or MORALLY wounded, and
six hundred more have been seriously in
jured and of the passengers killed about
thirty five were burned to death Forty
five of these accidents at least were direct
ly due to the culpability of railroad com
panies or their employees, and the total
value of the property destroyed or injured
must be counted by millions. In locality,
New York leads off with the largest num-
Der of accidents while of railroad compa-
MES the Hudson River has the unenviable
notoriety of being the most fatal, no less
tnan seven accidents having occurred on
that road. while the five accidents on the
Erie road render that line equally infa
NOUS" .
The Springfield Republican speaking Of
the comparative safety of the railroads in
New England says:
"lf we leave out the southern part of
Connecticut, with its two or three rail
TO1uc, UOtuIlouo IoT Dau management anu
numbering facilities, New England fur
nishes but three of sixty.seven accidents,
and only two fatal casualties The fact
is to the credit of New England and New
England railroad management, and should
be duly noted. We don't feel at all bad
at this state of things, and hope New
England will keep up the reputation of
being the place where they do not have
railroad accidents. The fact that our
railroads are run with safety to the pub
lie, is sufficient evidence that the thing
can be done, and it will be if the public
insist upon it,"
This speaks well for our Vermont rail-
roads, and | hope the managers will so
manage them that they will retain the
reputation they have SO nobly earned.
SAFETY.
Hyde Park, Sept. 4, 1865.