The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-10-02
RailroadI proxeme nts.

AT no period nave railroad enterprises Deen
pushed with the vigor that the past few
years have witnessed. The continent is not
only belted by parallel tracks, but innumera-
BILE intersections and connections are continu-
ally added to answer the ever increasing de-
mands of travel. The recent narrowing dis.
asters, however, bywhich human lives have
been sacrificed and vast pecuniary losses in
volved, carry admonitory lessons and suggest
certain precautions and Improvements that
are worthy serious attention.
1t is obvious, at the outset, that railroads
have too often been managed in the interests
of corporations rather than those of the pub
lie. The improvements have not kept pace
with the increase of income. The work at
temped has exceeded the capacity of the road
in many instances.
To particularize; a want of cars becomes a
great hindrance to travel and so cause OF
casualties. The neglect OF the telegraph sys.
tenn is another evil (which results in frequent
disasters of greater or less moment. Too much
is left to inference or guess work in regard Il
minor details. A diversion OF responsibility
always leads to trouble. A brakeman the
other evening on one of our roads opened a
switch for freight train to leave the main
track and lett it open, perhaps for the switch
tender to care for. He knew nothing about
it and passenger train was thrown of in
consequence. Nobody hurt, and SO little il
thought of it. Infamable oils ought no. t.
be used in lighting cars, nor stoves to warm
when steam Is much -saier and
better. Some cars have pipes under tn
foot rest just where warmth is most needed
and where it is not bad by the common meth
cd, which heats the h, ad bat leaves the lowe
stratum of air cold. Some on, II. s.med Stearn
has made an "anounciator" by whl.s 10
engineer gives signal, ard displays IN eacl
car the name of the station he approaches
This would save not little delay as we'll as
anxiety on the part of travellers unScquainted
with the route.
A rule should be enforced requiring all to
leave by the rear door and all to enter by the
front. This would prevent much pushing
scolding, as well as economize time. A wild
ening of the platform OF stations would add I,
the comfort and safety of passengers. Clear
ing them and waiting rooms of loafers i
another improvement needed. The showins
OF ones ticket, as at the Old Colony X. X.
Boston, should be the condition of admitancs
to the enclosure surrounding the train
Again. the people who travel, carry, partcu'
larry to Watering places, double the amount
OF baggage required by good taste. The to's
of trunks to be loaded and unloaded, changed
and changed again, form principal cause o.
the netention of trgins more marked dis
elimination in the price of tickets between
thse thus encumbered and these unemcun.
bered might work a reform.
Not to enlarge, our people are 10 learn tha
safety is better than reckless speed, and ,ha
the English signal tor starting IAN rgbtn
better than our "Go ahead" so Significant {
that impetuous haste which characterizes or
times, too often unmindtul OF moral obligs
uons as well as of personal safety.