New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-14
THE NEw-HAMBURGH DISASTER.

At7ISTANCE FOR THE ENGlNEEkS FAMll1'
To fhe Editor 81 The Tribune.
SIR: Dark amt gloomy rs the late disaster
on the Hudson River Railroad appears s there is "a
silver lining 10 the cloud" which, think, should be
brought clearNtO view tnasmuch as 1t gives W.
renewed faith in humanity and shows us that IN all
sphere. Of human activity there may exist that true
manhood which bears the stamp OF the Creator refer
to the conduct OF that uncrowned hero the engineer OF
the eXrress train, depicted ia US in the tremans eV
dence before the Coroners jury "Tbo dead he speak
eth" As cannot grasp him BY the hand and tell hIn
how he has shown to the world by his deed he true
spirit OF Christianity and that thank him for IT, will
do the next best thing viz help take care OF the family
which he left and gho have lost their support be-
cause Of his unsesh for others. ncose So hop
ing that many others viii feel it duty a. well AS pryi-
lege thus TO show their appreciato Of his act.
e,,-York Feb 12 1871. A.
THE BELL-CoRD AND TIE BRAKEMAN.
TO the Editor Of The TribUHe.
SIR: By the testimony of the conductor of
the oil train it appears that he had neglected, first TO
string the bell cord" TO establish cammunica-
ton between the "caboOse and the engineer and
ond TO place a brakeman in the middle ct the train
both demanded by the regulations of the Company. Is
is true that the conductor himself for this neg
ect by saying that be did hot think was nt eesy III do
the Of the saortness Of his train lonly rs
elrsD and the difficulties in the way OF doing H. which,
il his OPINION would have rendered tao cord useless
even he had strung il and he did not station brake
man In the OF the train because there no
clear that it is to these two denquences tat we are to
Ta or tnr of McMhon and Willard bat more e.
pecaly that of Conductor Underwood, clearly estab-
fishes the fact that, had brakeman been stationed III
fbe middle OF the train he would la been AZ be exact
point of the accident and had the bellccsd been prop
instantly TO the engneercertainly in time for him 10
have the train before reaching the bridge and
'one andahalf mixes on, in t' sne " have saved
from the collision. In fact even The conductor might
he Inv
sders" at the staonhonse Though many seconds must
have elapsed after the car & o osssS
strous crime" ONE Or HE BkREANtD.
brooklyn. Feb. II, 1871.
MORE SPACE BETWEEN TRACKS
70 the Editor Of The tribune.
SIR: l have nowhere seen it suggested that
the tracks OF dOube-ne railways should be laid
further apart. Suppose thai the minimum OF approach
of these in and out tracks and sdDgs where ears are
left standing should be fixed by law the distance to be
greater than commonly observed. Let II depend
unon the speed Of trains Within cities. and where
speed does not exceed is miles hour. there might he
no need OF change that the increased expense for
right of way would fall where land values were less aid
the necessity for widening greater VINO that has wit
meath him ming each miles hour and the sway
ing Of the wide paaeeears has not seen the possibility
know that two feet would have given passage To
the last fatal Tan-perhaps mol. But INA. dlhereues
read for instance your issue OF to-day that the door
of AN up-train freighcar, this very Hudson RIVER
road swung against the down passengercar, crash
ING out -four windows and that several passengers mar
rowy escaped instant death Need such an accident De
possible on any TOadi The right OF way as now owned
would doubtless upon many lines, admit OF ths Track
senaraiion OF course il would involve, particularly on
The Hudson River Road with lite numerous bridges ana
cuttings great labor and expense But perhaps one New
points. the Company would have the alternative g, OF
diminishing speed As things are with close traC ks
believe the fingetrack roads are the safest the old
fashioned accident Of trains cOding from opposite d
REGIONS having gone out with the general establishment
Of the Telegraph aud Of more efficient superntendepee
| A. l., c.