Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-07
WORCESTER.
aArUnDAY, JANUARY =. 1871,
RepOrr of the RailrOad Commissioner

sued, under two heads. LIST. Those matters pc
culiar to this commonwealth, or which, by
special order OF the legislature, were referred to
this board with instructions to report thereon,
being rather of a local ana temporary nature;
and 2d. The general questions of railroad de
velopment which are now subjects of inquiry
here, no less than elsewhere, and which arise
out of the relations existing between the com
munity and its railroad corporations. Under
both these heads they discuss matters of great
interest aud Importance 10 the people of Massa-
chusetts, and With an intelligence and breadth
of view, and such evidence of patient and thor
ough examination Of the subject as show that
they have not only been discharging an official
duty, but also pursuing a congenial inquiry, for
which their tastes and aptitudes eminently fit
them.
The railroad legislation of the last year COM
prised ffty-lve acts and two resolves. Among
these were nine acts of incorporation of railroad
companies, and four OF street railways; two
lapsed railway charters were revived, and one
Street railwag charter. Seven of the companies
organized, and two have completed their roads.
The whole amount of completed road reported
this year over that OF last year is 81 miles The
only eyentof any significance in the way of con-
struction during the year is the completion of
the Mansfield and birmingham road, opened in
June, forming the last link in the chain of roads
connecting New Bedford with Fitchhurg and the
Northern raiload system. OF the nine roads
chartered in 1870, only five miles of track in all
have been constructed.
Every year that the existing systemYof incor-
poraton by special charter is continued it greatly
increases the labors Of the session, and ADDS to
the confusion of mass of legislation of which
few persons know how COMPLICATED and incon-
sistent it Is aheady. II cannot be said in favor
OF the present practice that it serves to perpetu-
ate distinctive policy. There are no recognized
principles on which charters are granted or
withheld. The evil, in the opinion of the COM
miss:oners, is needless and ought not to be per-
petuated. Closely allied with this subject is
that Of municipal aid in encouragement of rail-
road construction. A general law authorizing
the construction should be supplemental by
some provision regulating the public contribu
ton to 1t. This question was disposed of by the
legislature Of last year in the passage of a law
which authorized, under certain limitations, any
town having less than 12 900 ini abitants to sub
scribe in aid Of railroad construction within their
limits.
The commissioners report that they have been
surprised to ind that, while in Ohio, five out of
sixteen accidents to passengers were referred to
attempts TO get on or off the cars while in mo-
ton, and in New York, tbirty-iour out of one
hundred and two occurred in the same way, in
N lsslchusetts the number rose 10 thirteen out
of fOu teen. In these three states, ffty-two ont
CT one hundred and thirty-two reported acct
deuts arose from this Cause. In 1868, it was
stated by high authority that the number of
passengers killed Or injured by causes beyond
their own control was; on British railways, / in
$4,000; on Belgian railways, in 100000; on
Pfussian railways, l in 100000, and on French
railways, IN 100000 On Massachusetts, rail-
ways, in 1869, the number Of casualties of all
descriptions among passengers was one IN a
little more Than 2,0000 900. The same authority
states the casualties in stage.2oach travelling at
one in Is, GOO. showing that the system of rail-
goad travelling in Massachusetts, is nearly
a hundred times safer than the old
sta ze-coach system, and not more dan
gerou5 than the systems used in Eu-
rope The commissioners say that they are
Unable to suggest any satisfactory legislation to
guard against these accidents, but they call at
tcntion to the Miller platform as a safeguard
against falling between the cars while passing
from one to another, against Jerks in stopping
and starting, against telescoping, and against
the danger Of one car, in case it rolls down an
em5ankment drawing another after it. The
commissioners offer and strongly urge the adop-
tlon Of bill to require all railroads to put upon
their main tracks none but safety switches
such as shall receive the approval of this board,
since there Is hardly any one thing so pro-
ductve Of accidents, as the displacement Of
switches. They also recommend that at the
close of the present legislative session the gen
eral laws, including all the notifications adopt
cd BY this legislature shall be consolidated into
one act and all previous laws repealed.
The severe competition between great trunk |
routes extending beyond the limits of the COM
monwealth has reduced through freights be- |
tween points where the competition exists to |
lower rates, during portion of the year, THAN
have ever before been known. The short roads
of this and other states generally desire to be-
come members Of the great associations which
control this through business, and the Inv rates
contracted for and the disc limitations against
local freights bear upon them with peculiar
hardship. But the difficulty lies in ill-regulated
competition, and is far beyond the Jurisdiction
OF our legislature. The commissioners recon.
mend, however, the passage of law which
shall compel all corporations to treat their entire
routes without discrimination as regards pro
rata business, so that local or isolated points
shall be no worse off than terminal or compei-
!nG points, ana goods which pay the full pro |
rata price TO the terminal point shall be de- |
liyered without increased cost at any local point
on the same road. A thorough reform in re- |
gard to the methods of dong express business
is much needed, and on this subject the com
missioners propose to make a separate report.
Complaints have been received of needless |
delays and excessive charges in forwarding |
freishts from Northampton and towns in that
vicinity 10 Boston. One great cause of this and
some other railroad abuses, is the neglect of the
aggfievtd parties to make their complaints 10 |
the commissioners or to the officers of the de. |
hnquent roads. The commissioners say, that If |
they can have specific statements from responsi. |
bic parties they feel safe in guaranteeing an
effective remedy.
During the ten months included in the last
railroad year, i41 casualties have been reported
Of which 1ol resulted in loss of life. Or the
whole number injured, "a were travellers, SO en-
ployes Of the companies, and 81 persons walk
ing on the track OF exposing themselves other
wise needlessly, if not Illegally. OF the persons
killed. % were passengers and "A employees.
OF the accidents 10 passengers 80 ont Of the
81 were caused BY getting on or off the cars
while in motion, or by falling from the Plat
forms. OF the accidents to persons employed on
the roads occurred in coupling cars, and G
were struck by bridges. satisfactory self.
aching coupler suitable for freight cars would
remove the former danger. Nearly half of the
accidents occurred TO persons walking on the
track. Whenever the companies have endeayor.
Cd 10 enforce the laws forbidding this, their ac
ton has generally been followed by the placing
Of obstruotions on the track in the neighbor.
heed. The commissioners suggest that towns
and cities be authorized 10 construct foot walks