Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-01-14
TltaI Killed and iniured-

Alla4 Elll5l ana injured. D3E
This list does not include the vast
number who have been run over and
killed while engaged in operating the
roads. The railroad system of the
country has proved Of immense bene-
ft. It has brought distant sections into
close neighbOrhOOd; developed the re-
sources Of whole States, and given an
impulse to internal commerce, to ag-
%riculture, and the mining arts, such as
have never been witnessed before.
But these benefits, great as they are,
may be regarded as purchased at too
high a price if life is always to be
placed at hazard, and the cOnquests Of
peace are to prove little less bloody
than those Of the sword. If
the disasters that so frequently
occur did not in many cases result
from careless management, a mig
gardly economy, and seeming disre-
gard Of the security of human life, it
might be difficult to suggest the rem
edy. But when wholesale destruc-
ton happens on one line from the
sudden destruction Of q cuIvert known
to be inadequate to discharge the
waters Of a flood, or from the falling
Of a bridge that the whole village was
long aware was in an alarming stage
Of decay, or from a collision through
the h~eedlessness Of conductors and
engineers, the remedy is at once at
hand. The public should hold all to
a rigid accountability through whose
neglect, oversight, imprudence OF
parsim0ny the destruction happened.
The American people are disposed TO
pass too lightly upon the dement's of
the living when such accidents occur.
They hesitate to call things by their
right names. They shrink from
uttering unwelcome truths, and
thus take away the heavy sense
Of responsibility which should
ever rest upon all who temporarily
have the lives Of their feIlOw-men in
their keeping. The result Of such ma
characteristics is seen in the
mode of performance of NEARLY all pub
lie contracts, a rigorous execution
being witnessed, because Of the
accommodating disposition that per
nits gross ~derelictions of duty to pass
a rigorous exaction OF the
penalty. It is necessary that on all
,ur railroads a discipline Of the most
character should be introduced.
should be no federation Of care
essness, Of neglect, OF of remissness.
There should be no pardon for a sin
lie relaxation Of a solitary rule; no
.Xcuse for an infringement of any
equation, even if no accident hap
,ened in consequence. On all the
Dads Ofthe country where strict dis 4
has existed the loss Of life has
zen remarkably small. We may
ay with pride that the Southern
Dads though comparatively new, and
7orked before they were put in q
tate Of perfect finish, have, thus
II, been the scene Of no great dis
sters. Perhaps the absence Of an
mbitiOn to make quick time, putting
le locomotives to their fullest eapaci- Z
z for speed, is one Of the causes of
leir greater safety. Still, even on
there has been loss that might r
ave been saved. When the public
1mes to look upon these terrible rail-
BAD calsmities in the right light, and
determined TO exact full Justice.
e may begin to hope for an improve a
lent. The passage Of laws making
)meDody responsible, not in dollars
cents, but in life for Mfe-pufting
killing by collision, or any other .
ause that might have been avoided.
pom a par with death by the pistol or
uife Of the assassin; and chasing To- 3