, 1873-02-23

u4ta5IG1d IEeual3 Hull COAAS4uA Alu 4d3F1lk Lie
| track. OF thesi1teen accidents in Massachusetts
during the year, seven were owing to the former
and seven to the latter cauge. Oat Of 391 scci-
dents throughout the country, 159 we're due to
collisions, and los to flying the track, the per-
centage being respectively A and 27.5 OF the
whole number. The residue consists OF the
breaking OF bridges, broken a1les, boiler e1-
p1oRions, malicious obstructons, ETC., but the
proportion Of these to the whole is exceedingly
small as compared to collisions and derailmonts.
The Massachusetts report proceeds to give q
detailed account OF the different disasters
which occurred in that State, from which useful
gsneralizations may be made. In tie East
Foxborough accident, when the Providence e1
press train was thrown of the truck, four pas
denger coaches we're forced not only from the
track, but from their gearing, but remained up
right, though propelled some 200 feet forward.
and down an embank1nent Of several foct.
There was no "telescopin5." nor eren IN
Stacking or separation OF the cars; the glass in
the Windows was not broken, and the passengers
walked out uninjurcd- Thepreservation Of these
cars was due to their solid construction and
the presence of the Miller platform. The &cci-
dent On the Eastern Railroad, in New Hamp-
shire, on the 22d Of October. IVES III illustration
of the same thing. Old-style cars Of light con-
struction had been placed between the locono-
tire in front, and heavy cara provided With tie
Miller platform at the rear. When the shock
came the result Was, a. the COMMISSIONER re-
port states it, that ''the locomotive served 1s an
anvil, and the Miller platforms "a the hammer,
between which the old-fashoned cara were
crushed" Had all the cars been provided with
these platforms, no serious damage would have
been done TO any Of them. Another instance Of
the same thing WAS found in the
accident on the Boston j. Providence
Road, on Nov. 20, when the passenger tr.in ran
into the rear Of u freight train, shattering come
eight or ten Of its cars and damaging the col1id-
Ing locomotive; but no injury was done to the
passenger cars by reason Of their protection in
tie Miller platform, the Westinghous train
brake, and their substantial construction.
Inc 0eQuctl0n8 from LAc5e 14cLS are ODF1Ous-
II 46 per cent Of alf ths railroad accidents is
owing to co1lisions, then the duty Of railroad
management is to provide for the greatest
possible protection in case Of such acci-
dents. Derailment, which will account
for 80 per cent more OF the railway
disasters, is frequently followed by the
same dangers Of " "telescoping" and crushing Of
cars. The great need, then, is stronger cars
and superior contrirances for stopping trains
quickly. While good management may yet
further reduce the number OF accidents, no
amount Of care can prevent them altogether: |
But when they come, railroad trains should be
provided with the greatest power OF resistance.
The cases cited, to which maj be added that Of |
last week, in which train OF the Hudson River |
Railroad WAS thrown of the track, prove that |
The Miller platform and coupler, and the air. |
train brake, furnish the best known ms2us Of |
md quick stopping TOR railroad
rains. It is, therefore, culpable mismaaage-
ment when any railroad runs it's passenger |
rains without these improvements attached to |
Ill the cars