The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-18
RAILROAD ROBBERIES.
How Freight il Carried on tho Erie and tho
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Rail
roads-Bettcr Protection Demanded.

annoyance to shipperA Cars have been
broken open at different stations and large
amounts OF valuable property distracted. DIFF
ferent plans have been adopted to prevent the re-
curence OF the robberies, but to little eeot the
thieves generally succeeded In repeating their thefts
at regular intervals, and the railroad companies had
no other recourse than to pay the losses and submit
to the complaints of the shippers.
ride over nearly thousand miles OF railroad
has given large opportunities to observe the man.
ner in which the freight business ID conducted by
three large railroad companies ana TO observe what
precautions are taken BY them TO protect the ship
pers against the annoyance OF having their goods
stolen while In tva,isitu. The railroad officials
tend that they pay Tor the goods stolen the gen.
cral public has no business 10 inquire into the man
agement OF their affairs. Yet they seem to forget
the TO those who do not receive their
goods upon which they depend to Ill the orders Of
customers Is often OF more serious consequence to
them than Is the pecunary loss 10 the railroads
that have to pay for the stolen property. Shippers
VIII send their goods by the safest route than
by the quickest, provided the latter do not all
necessary exertion to deliver the property shipped
10 the consignce.
left New York via the Erie Railroad BY this
route quantities OF freight daily shipped to
the West, and close inspection OF the means Of
preventing robberies on the road proves tho officials
TO be ide awake to the necessity Of protecting
the property Of those who entrust 1t to their
care. On this road the cars are carefully
watched by men, one Of whose duties It
Is To do SO Whenever train stops at
station or on side Track to allow another train
10 pass IL is such times as these That the thieves
have usually chosen Tor the breaking open or the
cars. Tney then wait until the tram stops, when
they dump the packages out while conederates pick
them up and csrry them on In this manner goods
TO large amount were stolen between stations, at
some one OF which the thieves would quietly slip
ffslp1 fhA ~ N ma En IA ~
That the employees Il the different roads
are often implicated in these robaerles
very men entrusted with the duty OF protect
ing the freight were found to be in COLLISION with
regularly organized gangs OF robbers, formed for
uhe express purpose OF pre- ing upon railroads. The
difficulty OF procuring honest men 70 watch over the
cars wne Ia transit M mas away ar Deen one o. o
their Efforts to insure sale delivery OF the properly
entrusted to their care. In one instance the con-
ductor OF The train as well as the brakesmen were
found be in league with the robbers and 1t Is
be presumed that on every railroad OF any extent
the country employees equally dishonest are to be
found.
ON the Lake shore road there have Of late been
but few robbertes Of freight OF any magnitude In.
telligence the ORGANIZATION OF numerous bands OF
railroad robbers thro lghout the West have made
the o1icias OF the road exceedingly vigil
liant. Freight is carried over this road by
the several lines established for that purpose.
The railroad is not, therefore. the direct CARTER
although me cars are carried over their track and
transferred TO the Michigan southern Railroad which
is now also controlled ny the Lake Snore. The cars
road. When received by the Lake Shore road they
are examined ana duly checked off, the cars are
then sealed and placed IN charge OF the conductor
ern division, 10 which they are delivered alter being
duly examined ana checked of1'' In the same man
ner when received. No especial guard seems to
be placed over the cars wnle N transit which, 1t
would appear, ought TO be done to prevent robbers
from breaking into the cars while waiting at sta
tons or on the side track. mere examination
oil The cars at the different ends OF the does
Of mes the cars light BE- ha 81
Without tho theft being found out until some hours
the robbers had made their escape. Before the Lake
Shore was consolidated with the Michigan Southern
was me dase was t noa gy an eve9y
and 10 Keep an especial guard over them while
standing upon the track Since the two raadslrrn:
e o wsc
men. This latter statement Is denied by some or
the officers OF the road but have reason 10 believe
that the facts are as above stated.
The officials oil the Lake Shore ana Southern Mich-
gan road are now however. considering what can
DE done to afford additional protection to freight
cars while en- route TO their destination. One plan
they propose to adopt Is the establishment OF spe
cia police TO accompany the trains and guard them
posed 70 make an estimate q the average losses the
company have had to pay tor stolen freight during
several years back and then to see whether it would
be cheaper for the company to maintain the pro.
posed police .orce or to continue to pay the losses.
1t viii therefore be seen thaS the officials take into
consideration their own losses and gains only aud
not the annoyance which the robaeries may cause
their patrons. This Is y way Of doing business
which shippers VIII not fail duly appreciate and
the different railroads which adopt the same policy
Will very likely soon discover that IT. works greatly
to Their own inconvenience as well Us to their pc
cuniary disadvantage.
One OF the precautions which many roads seem to
think quite enectual to prevent robbery that of
sealing the cars Inch carry what Is called
Through freight This seems to be OF little conse-
qlence 10 the thieves. They provide themselves
with seals precisely similar to those used by the
railroad seaiers, and aiGer car has been entered
and robbed they reseal and the robbery goes I'M
discovered until the Car arrives at Its destination.
To be sure these seals are changed quite often but
assome OF the employees OF The road upon which the
robbers operate are generally connected with the
gang the latter are promptly apprsed Of the change
OF seals and are also prepared with new ones. As
raise Keys are easily obtained, 1t VIII be with
what facility The robDeries committed. The
Lake snore road recently paid several thousand dol
lars lor new seals Tor short PERIOD and yet tue
making duplicates OF both seals and keys. IL Is APP
parent Tom TINS that the or The goods stolen
must be great else the thieves couid not AFFORD
70 tXpend such large sums ior the OF eject
ing their robberies.
As the matter contained IN express cars is oil more
Vdluc IMAM llat Whlcn Is shipped In common freight
cars strlcter watch Is Kept over them. The fire.
quent dumping out OF iron sales, containing yau-
aOles ~ a large amount, nave somewhat frightened
railroad officials anu awakened them TO O sense or
their responsibilities Nearly all OF the roDbelles OF
! express cars nave taken place White those having
! charge ol them were absent at their meals. A new
regulation has, therefore, atey into force upon
many roads. IL requires express messengers ana
othefs connected Wtl express cars TO take their
meals In their cars While on duty. BY this measure
additional security Is gwen 10 the contents OF the
express car, and tie robberies OF this nd OF vau
abe property nave iatey become less frequent. The
regulation ~, OF course, III great ulsay0r with those
whom II inconvelences, bat IL Is one when de-
| manaed by circumstances and w1ich viii save eX-
press companies a vast deal ot money AID annoy.
ance.
| Within few years past severai companies have
| been organized Tor the carrying OF freight. These
| companies have established .iluesr-suc as The
Whne Liae the Blue Line, the Red Lane ana the En-
pire Line, aud have employed an almost complete
| monopoly OF the freightage business upon railroads.
Many oi the roads over when these lines despatch
freight are largely Interested IN them. They gene
raly own certain number oil the cars. Thus
| aitnough the roaus over which these lines send
tler freight control them 10 a certain extent Yet
they are nevertheless not responsible for them.
ihey receive The cars III the manner stated above
ana II ROBBED pay them the amount OF the goods
stolen III Is doubtful, however IL establishment
OF these lines has eone any good 10 shippers. In
deed, conversations with several prominent railroad