, 1873-08-25
DOUBLE TRACKS AND THE PUBLIC aAFETY

OUuULE IAAEAb AMI THE PUBLIC HAFETY,
The late collision OH tho Chicago t. Alton
Railroad hns directed public nttontion to tho
necessity Of double tracks as nn element of
eafoty III railway travel Taoro appears to bo 4
that double trucks on tho main trunk linos would
decrease largely tho number OF collisions, as
thoy would certainly nrrcat tho danger Of head
collisions. These, 1t is proper to remember,
arc always tho most serious in tho loss of life.
Il is natural that the railroad mnnagorz should
not come forward voluntarily to up
prove Of this position 90 long US tho
capitalists who control tho companies TINT
employ them arc opposed to tho Investment.
Yet it would be difficult 10 persuade oil intoll-
gent business mail that second track OH q prof.
peroua railroad like tho Chicago i Alton would
not expedite mud increase tho business to au OK
tent tint would moro than pay good interest on
tho oxtra Investment. THIS is q matter, however,
Which the railroads claim tho right OF regulating
for themselves, and, 80 far "a thoir business and
its returns nro concerned, tho State has no right
to Interfere Its authority. But, as regards pub
lie safety, there is no doubt tl.at tho State has
tho power to coorco by Inv NIL adjuncts which are
doomed essential to 1t.
| 1t has already been suggested in The TRIBUNE
that tho next Legislature should fx statutory
ponalty OF largo sim Of money for oycry rail-
way collision resulting III Il loss of human Life.
leaving 1t to tho railroads to provide their own
means for protecting themselves against it.
Whether this shall DO douo or not, 1t III compo-
tont for tho Legislature to examine what proyou-
tive influence double track l,aa on collisions,
and it could do tho people Of this State and tho
whole country service by taking testimony in
regard to it. THO Railroad Commissioners
gothor evidence relevant to the subject.
II the Coroner's Jury in tho Lemont disaster
Ind done it's full duty, It would layo entorod
upon this inquiry with reference to ascortaining
the blamo which actually attaches to
tho Chicago l. Alton Company for not laying a
Eocond track before this t.no. If 1t can bc dom-
onstrated that u rairoad, doing cortain amount
Of buainoss, aud running certain number Of
trains. requires two tracks to insure the safoty
Of Its passengers, 1t undoubtedly comes withit,
tho functions Of tho State to enforce the laying
of n second track In Ruch caHnn. OF course.
thero iB great diiEoronco between
| roads which aro occupied with nurlor-
GUS trains. both passenger and freight,
| going both ways on tho same track, and
roads OH which few trains aro run, fnr apart, anl
with loss necessity for c1peditiug t11cir busncss.
Tho Dellovillo Q.) Aduocaio has collected somo
decisions Of tho Supreme Court OF tlis State,
noting forth The police powor of the State In ro-
gard to regulations Of public safoty, which show
that double tracks, could DO enforced by law ii
they arc necessary to tho preservation Of human
lifo. 4 caAo brought against tho Ohio Il Missis-
slppi Railroad Company for killing cattle IL ONO
in point. III 1866, tho Legislature passed gon-
ornl law requiring railways to fouce in their
roadbods. Tho case WAS carried to tho Supreme
Court, whore the railroad Bot up ita chartorea
privileges. The Supreme Court held in this caso,
nj 1t has hold In many others, that 1t waa
not tho will Of tlo Legislature, In granting
charters to railroad corporations, that tlleAe
bodies should DO wholly independent of and
irresponsible TO the Government. It Aaid fur
thor az ha powor to ouact police regulations
oporatea upon all alikc T1ia Ia fundamental
principle. and loa at tho foundation of society
asBolf. 1t IL yielded by oacll member whom l,o
onsers society, for tho bcncat Of all. It is Incl
don't to, mud part Of government itaolf, and mood
not 10 expressly rosorvoi whom 1t grants rights
or property, to individuals or corporate bolos,
as they take Buheryiont to this right. Although
individual rights mny 10 said to 10 absolute,
thoy aro all aubject to bo controlled In
their enjoyment for tho general good" This
portion Of. tho decision, like Judge Lawropco's
doclalon in Tho celebrated Alton case, shows that
| W|llle ohartoru must bo respected, they do not