The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-14

An Interesting Paper Read Before sac Society
OF Practical Engineers.

An Interesting Paper Read Before sac Society
OF Practical Engineers.
The nrst part of an interesting paper on the sub
ject OF railway accidents, their causes and
prevention, together with proposed plan of SAFE
and efficient railroad, read last evening before
the New York Society OF Practical Engineers by Mr..
c. Williams.
The author said that the great aud continued
slaughter OF human beings on American railroads
called for every inventor and all others inter.
ested in the Of humanity to do their utmost to
lessen such casualties. III marine navigation much
had already been done in this particular. Among
the majority OF the roads in the United States it was
the object Of directors, hardly with single ex
ception, to get their roads through and to quickly
pay" having but little regard for the safety OF
life, but great interest In the almighty dollar. u
apologies" Of railroads. The indifference OF Ameri-
cans as class, 10 danger was one result OF the
tnuance OF such state OF affairs In decided contrast
with European travellers, who have q wholesome
dread Of "runs0f, smash-ups ana break-downs.r
IN any new Inventions tending to the safety OF rail-
roads many obstacles were encountered, being the
persrstency OF directors in opposing anything that
viii involve additional expenditure; master fnechan-
ics full OF conceit who resist the idea OF being able
to learn anything new in their business, and of
capitalists VINO have 80 often been imposed upon
by Inventions OF AN impracticable nature. Improve
sound mechanical principles that are new, could not
be added, OF course, to roads without cost; yet
every Cleur-neaueu OFFICIAL must necessarily ADMIT
that in the end such additions would prove rcmu.
nerative ana economical.
In railroads the balastng and sub structure are OF
the greatest importance. Simple wooden crossties,
hlled In with broken stone, properly Dallasted, are
the best II not some substance was ana should be
used that wpnld aid In keeping the ties aligned. In
wet cuts suh-sng Is resortod 10, trenches are dug
longtudnaiiy with the rails then filed with sand,
and, with proper foundationt The ties laid
upon them. Uniform bearing OF the superstructure
Is above all essential 10 SAFETY. Iron and stone
blocks have been tested to supefsede wooden cross
tes but when the latter are prepared as TO pre-
vent decay they preferable. In spices, chains
and spikes the fish Joint Is very good, but II can
be tghlened only when w0rkmen Journey up and
down the track with wrench TO perform such
work. Tue screw spike or split spike aud the twist
spike are such they Will NOT draw out, ana are
the best ana should he used. To prevent persons
cattle from walking or lying down on the tracks OF
railroads-the cause Of many terrible accidents--a
iattlceiike work placed along and adjacent to the
road should be constructed. 10 10 made with strips
or planks with avn top, fastened 10 heavy sup.
ports. In the matter of safeguards to road cross
lngs 1t Is evident that TO insure against accidents
they should BIO operated by trains. This can be done
by wire ropes on friction rollers extending down the
track, BY which, by levers moved by the engine, the
gates or signals can be turned adjusted Switches
should be worked by electricity IN signalling the
switch tender whenever anything Is wrong.
with these interesting suggestions, and admitting
that IL ID still an open question whether steel rails
are superior TO iron or not and promising hereafter
10 continue the subject OF railway accidents the
consideration and discussion OF the paper was de-
TERED to the next regular meeting.