The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-09-14
che 4enosha 0Jele0raph,
KENosHA. WIS. SEPTEMBER 14,1871
From the Hearth and Home.


Az the number of railroads increases
throughout the country, there Will be
Dr0portionate increase III loss OF 3lfe by
accident. unless means are constantly be-
mo taken to reduce the chances OF such
casualties as are likely to occur on OF
by the cars. So many passengers have
been killed because of negt gence in sig
mailing the opening of drawbridges, that
precautions against these catastrophes
have been taken on most roads, and such
another disaster as that or Norwalk
Bridge is not likely 10 occur. The estab
lishment on many lines OF system OF
eec rio signals at points where the RAD
crosses avenues of traffic has largely re
duced the percentage Of acc1dents az
these points, and 1t now only remains 70
adopt some similar plan or informing
enoineers whether the switches they
cross are opened or closed TO prevent
such accidents as that which recently &C.
curred on the Newark road. The careful
euoineer. as his locomotive bounds along
over the rails, has one hand constantly On
the throttle valve, while his eyes are IN
teutiy scanning the road he is 90 traverse,
Knowing that the safety OF the train, and
oftentimes his own lie, depends upon the
accuracy of his scrutiny, and ais Keen
ness in noting anything that is wrong
Il. therefore, electric signals can be SO ar
ranged as to show one flag or light " hen
the switches are closed, and another
when they are open, there need be no
more loss Of life from mis- placed switches,
while engineers can always be unmlst"k-
ably informed when swtch-ton ters have
been negligent in the performance OF
duty.
The arrangement for the display OF
danger signals at railway crossings, now
In successful operation, IS made Dy SO
placing lever that is being borne down
bv a passing train completes an electric
circuit, and causes tbs display OF a signal
and the ringing OF bell. BY the use Of
an electric circuit, q lever can be so ar
ranged as to cause the display OF white
flag when the switch is on the main line
and therefore all right, and red flag
when it is open, or out OF place. Inc
same apparatus sets an alarm-Dell ring
inc near the switch, which serves to Call
the attention Of the tender to the TACT
that the JTalu Is approaching, ana TO the
position OF the switch. The amount OF
money which it would cost TO attach such
signaling apparatus to railroad switches
wouji be triflng compared with the IN
munity from dsnger and loss which
would thus De secured to the company
aud the travelling public. Human life Is
too valuable UO be sacrificed to any
chance winch can he provided agalno(
with reasonable certainty Had bolh 81
the trains which coiLided recently on The
Newark road been full OF passengers, a>
they generally are at that hour, instean
OF f7r killed and twenty wounded, the
list Of causualties would have been APP
Daliiu2ly large. AS it is, even five lives
are fat O precious to be sacrifc d to he
cureIeasness of negligent and therefore
dangerous sWltchmau. Ii the loss OF
these Iives-as valuable 10 their families
as those OF tue Hottest and most learned
serves t. arouse the public TO the I'M
portance Of greater precautions IN the
matter of signaling mis- aced switches
this accident, like many more fearful
ones, will not b. without saiutary ct
feet. Modern invention has suggested
many methods Of utilizing the lightning
but in no way can il be used to better Ell
feet than where it serves to warn OF APP,
preaching danger, either from or to ralt
way trains