The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-30


The Latest Rslsresa Rorriblss-fu.ish-
msnt Of AAaIreaa Mansgsss.
Our catalogue Of tho railroad horFibles that
have shocked the community during the past
few weeks was augmented yesterday by the
addition Of four other accidents Of similar
nature, occurring In different parts Of the coun-
ry. The FIRST and most terrible was that which
happened ct the very threshold Of the metropo-
Lis, ON the Long Island Railroad, near Jamaica.
One Of the others was upon the Hudson River
road, the intelligence Of which, with charse-
tsristic levity, was sent to New York over tho
wires, and although Eve or six oars were thrown
from the track, only one poor fellow who was
f" catching ride" II is stated, was injured
merely having one of his legs and an arm
crushed. The other accidents occurred on
Virginia road. and on the Tennessee ana Ala
bama road. By the latter some thirty or forty
persons lost their lives. In short, all over tno
country, il seems az if these railroad accidenS
had become epidemioal, and, like the ohoiers
or yellow fever, they must have their course.
But, unlike those calamities, which may DC the
soourges Of Providence, we believe remedy
for railroad accidents rests in mortal hands.
In the first place, lot us examine the quea-
ton whether several of the principal railroads
Of the country are pecuniarily able to keep
their tracks in proper repair, and to employ
suitable and responsible persons in every ca
pacity, upon the trains and upon the lines OF
the roads, to prevent, by all possible human
agencies, the danger Of accidents occurring.
We find that while the earnings Of the Hudson
River road for the month Of June, 1860, were
but $129,996, for the same month in 1865 they
were $31O,O49. The New York Central, in the
month of May, 1860, earned 551,7O0; in the
same month in 1865 it earned $l,204,435. The
Erie road, in the month of June, 1860. earned
$685. in 1865, $1,22552S. The Increase In
the earnings of the Harlem for eleven months
in one year was upwards Of . quarter of
million over those of the previous year. The
Illinois Central, in the month of June, 1860,
earned Sl88,O6O; same month 1865, $59O,O61.
The Chicago and Alton, in June, 1860, earned
$76426; same month 1865, $s43,9S5. The
Michigan Central, In June, 1860, earned Sl2S,-
OS5; 1865, $365,663. The Pitsburg, Fort
Wayne and Chicago, in June, 1860, earned
$16h795; same month 1865, $650,3ll. The To-
ledo and Wabash, in June, 1860, earned $67,-
42s; same month 1855, $l94,525. The increase
on nearly all the Western roads has been in
nearly the same proportion. The Housatonic
road in December, 1860, earned SIT SIT; same
month 1864, $36,84O. 1t is useless, however,, to
continue the list; and, finally, we find that while
the earnings of ohe Long Island road In 1855
we're 1901 1893, for the year ending March,
1866, they were S666,850.
Thus we see that The ratio Of railroad earn
ings has increased all over the country within
The past five years, and the iamentable I'M
crease In the number Of accidents with
in the same period is sufficiently nOto-
riOus and fresh within the memory of the
public to render repetition here unnecessary.
It is plain, then, that while these roads have
been peouniarily able to keep their roads in
repair and employ careful and competent men
to carry on the business with an eye to tho safe
ty Of passengers, the managers Of the compa-
MES have failed to do this, and, In order to de-
clare some miserable dividend or other, have
wantonly triAed with human life and limb.
Now, we hold It to be simply fair for the pub
lie to adopt measures to punish those who ex-
hibit such cruel disregard for their safety. Il
they cannot be reached one way they should be
by another. II the Legislature fails to punish
these rsir99ssa managers BY passing laws bold ?!
ing them criminally responsible for the fright.
full slaughtsrs that are constantly occurring,
then the people should take the matter into
their own hands and apply a corrective in their
own way. We learn that ex-Aderman Oliver
Charlck, President Of the Long Island Rail.
road, is a candidate for Senator from the dis
triot in which the tragedy on that road occur
red. This is probably the first indication Of
what he will do for the benefit of the people il
elected.
Tur FAR SEAaON AND TUn TUF ArREa-REvI-