Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-07-18
Spirit of ystttrsnn.
Oharlestown, West vifg'a., July l8.

OneeLtoosO0uI WeS1 Wig bst July 4oI
The TENNESSEE RAILROAD DIsAsrER.-
The telegraph has reported the facts Of the
disaster on the Nashville and. Northwestern
railroad at Harpeth river, by which fifteen
persons were instantly killed aud twenty. three
wounded, and the verdict Of the eoroner's jury
pronounced the bridge in unit condition for
the transit Of passenger trains The more de.
tailed accounts since received by mail, how.
ever, disclose some unusual features attending
the catastrophe which have bearing upon the
whole question Of wooden bridges.
The fatal bridge consisted Of two spans con-
structed on the Howe truss principle, by the
United States military authorities in 1861,
out OF white pine brought from Chicago
This pine, Improperly seasoned, ought to have
lasted for ten years, that is, till 1874. This
particular bridge was visited aud inspected in
the early part Of June by Dir. Il. C. Morris,
resident engineer, and reported in good condi.
tion. Later, w. w. Smith, superintendent
Of bridges, made \ special examination Of all
the bridges, and ordered some repair on one
Of them, not the fatal bridge indeed, he says
he thought this the soundest Of four of its
class. Ia April all these bridges had been
overhauled and adjusted. On the Saturday
before the accident Jos. p. Kelly, division su.
pervisor, had gone over the line and especially
examined the condition of the bridges and re.
ported all we'll.
Either all of these men made their cxami-
nations without reasonable care, or the defect
subsequently, developed was of n sort to eIude
proper examination. The officers were ex-
perienced railroad men, and there is no reason
10 suspect that their examinations were any
less searching than those of other officers
would be under similar circumstances.
A Rha hRSH "a
covered that all the larger timbers were shells,
the heart had rOtted away. Tho shell was
from one to two inches in thickness. To the
stroke of hammer the timber sounded solid
aud good. Il had no doubt been green when
put in place. OF course its defective condi.
ton could have been discovered by the ex-
traordinary measure Of boring. But there is
no evidence of any signs which should have
induced tho officers to adopt extraordinary
measures. The warning of the case applies
to all timber bridges aud trestles.
Baltimore Sun, July IL.
TRYING TO LIVE WITHOUT REAL WoRK.
Our people are much inclined to shun the
quiet ways of productive labor and try to live
and thrive in the crooked paths of speculation
and needless traffic. We have deplorabIy few
boys learning trades. with ten times too many
anxious to "get into busiuess"-tLat is to de.
wise some scheme whereby they NAV live
without work. OF the journeymen mechan-
les now at work in the cities, We Judge that
two'thirds were born in Europe; and the
disparity is steadily augmentinS. Oae mill
lion families are trying to live by selling Ii
quors. tobacco, candy, &c, &c, who could be
spared theretrOm without the slightest public
dctriment; aud if these were transferred to
the soil, or employed in smelling the metals
or weaving the fabrics for which We are still
running into debt in Europe, our country
would increase its wealth at least twice as fast as
now. aud there would be far less complaint Of
''dulltrade" aud "hard dtimes"-EsssI Gas.
"ToUKNAMENr."-The Petersburg CVa)
Index does not like the nomenclature adopted
in connection with the equestrian sport Of
tournaments. 1t therefore greets with hearty
welcome the "charge" delivered at Richmond
on the 4th by DR.. Bagby, in which he was
bold enough to laugh at the thing as il de,
serves to be laughed at, thereby earning the
public gratitude. The charge was happily
conceived and expressed, and in its conclusion
aptly travestied the mock herOics common ON
such occasions:
Therefore. Sir Knights and gentlemen. I
now most earnestly charge yOu to do your level
best. Proceed. Set sail. Unship your royal
mizEeD cat heads, haul aft your spanker bow.
spirits, hoist your fore>tOps'I hatchways. Go
it. And may the devil take the man that
don't take the ring"