The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-04-21
Railroad improvement and Reform.


The late terrible destruction Of life on
the Erie Railroad will recall the attention
of the public to the condition of the rail-
way system of construction, and should
compel it's reform. 1t was natural in a
new and so very expensive plan OF pub
lie transportation and conveyance, that
there should be incompleteness md def.
cheney. The method was q novelty and
essentially experimental, The privilege
Of carrying it out for the public benefit,
was all which the State was called on TO
provide. The system is now established,
IS IN universal use, and from the nature
of its relations to society as means Of
necessary and universal inicrcommunica-
ton, is of character less experimental
and uncertain in respect to demand and
profit MS property, than any other combin-
alton of industry and capital which the
laws nre exercised to protect, in fact bet>
ter assured in itself beth for emolumcnt
and security as an investment, than any
other interest for private ownership inati-
tuted by law. Every dollar expended up
on it, every dollar earned By it may be
counted by the reasonable vigilance of
those concerned.
Az at present imperlectly constructed,
the normal condition of railroads is one
of glaring insecurity TO the lives intrusted
to them. Tho little bills which the
station agents receive an outside commits,
sion to sell, are certificate of this. The
purchase of an insurance billet IL IL con.
fession on the travellers part of cons
plicity, in his own conscience, OF depend
ence upon God and Aammon for the trip
His folly is wise in behalf of the weakness
that subjects him to a danger his intelli-
gence as citizen ought to snbdue. The
roads, IN respect 10 nearly all the extent of
their exposure of life, may be made safe
Asal. Institution Of society for the common
use. il is the duty Of the State to secure
this result, and in the circumstances in
which il finds lh.- great interest not 10
delay upon it, ndcr tine shock Of the
horrible destruction by The Angola acct.
dent, a remedy WAS suggested by which
all roads may he made wholly secure
from accidents OF the character most usual
upon them, by which that calamity and
this last one on the fated Erie road were
caused. The TribnHe has the credit Of
the suggestion, and the wakelul susceptib
ility to the value of life of lis distinguishes
ell editor deserves the acknowledgement
of those who have sometimes distruated it,
when its inspiration is 50 justly employed.
This device was simply the construction
oI Il parapct Of stone or timber, outside
VI each idll vi tHc 'lhCh 'IId I't' WIN
it, at few inches distance, and OF such
height, say twenty inches, as to mtt" it
impossible for the Nhccl- OF car, to- escape
the track, TIL. p,H,nieV. s- cur \cw Eng
land term is, extending the cutire lcpgth
of the road and constituting uu integral
part Of it.
1t obviously Offer. complete --yrily
from the class OF accidents most frequent
in their occurrence, and uray1ilahlc 10y
any practicable amount OF care and vigil
ance, in the present form of structure re-
lied upon. 4 moro eligible safeguard
may he by third Intermediate rail,
somewha. higher than the others. of the
+ shape, which two holders Of iron put.
ting down from the aXles Of the trucks
should grasp, aud simply by this mcchan-
cal hold, passing without friction with
the course OF the car, keep il in case of
danger securely to its place. Either
method proposed would be competent for
its purpose, AMI if the expense TO The
companies is an objection, let it be met
without hesitation throughout all our
American communities, by the decision
and energy of the State. Railroads are
no longer an experimental enterprise, into
which individual capital i. 10 be allured
for possible public improvement The
improvement is established and adopted
by the public rs "a universal policy Let
It then be cared for under the pubIic obli-
CATION II on the present system of pri-
vate ownership and responsibility there is
only room for fraud and incompetency to
personal safety and reasonable accomoda-
lion, there Is II power that can correct
the matter. and we challenge di.honor
more gricyous than calamity if We fail to
employ IT, Ten per cent added to the
cost OF thu construction ofraiIroaas would
make them the Slte., Of traycl-ways