The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-05-21
NEEENIaNAN NEsF.Ef.Mtffl.

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CRIMINAL NEGLstENCE.
II is strange. il is passing strange that
men will NOT learn wisdom from cxperi-
cpcc. If is still more strange. II is crimi.
nal that men should expose their own
property and the lives and property of
others. by lisrcgarding simple well-known
PRINCIPLES. The most common observation
has shown toeyou thcmost ordinary minds.
that the smallest leak, stream no larger
than a broom whsp, will. unless promptly
repaired, result in the destruction Of the
hes, of dams, illc most powerful OF res
cryoirs Great oaks from little acorus
grow. " and large streams have their rise
and origin in the smallest OF rlyuicts, the
tin'e,i OF springs An insignificant insect
or worm will, il let alone, IN time sink the
largest OF wooden vessels, the monarchs OF
the ocean. i'ust will, also. unless guarded
against render the iron-clad or ron bull'
vessel Useless. SO II is with the emoanK-
ments or dams, made OF earth. which re-
strain the lloW OF rivers or collect large
bodies Of water 20 be drawn cli for manu-
featuring purposes; the smallest OF leaks
viii evcn'uatr IN the destruction oil the
most powerful Of distractions. This has
been the experience and observation IF
years, and yet no attention is paid thereto.
Yea afterycar, wcarc compelled to record
the breaking away Of tho lcvces Of The Mis-
sissppi accompanied by ihe loss of life,
the sweeping away Of houses and other
buildings, and the obstruction Of millions
Of dollars worth Of growing cotton. sugar
cane and other crops. ii is true that Il
generally occurs in Times of freshcts. but
the loyccs are not oycrnowc} In weak
spots, which have been before noticed, the
force of The water first work. the smallest
of appcrturcs through The bank; 10 aticn-
ton is given TO it. and the stream becomes
larger and larger, until finally tie bank is
swept away, followed by more and more.
The water then oycrilcws the adjacent
plantations for miles upon miles. with the
attendant destruction of lilc and property.
/ Cries far relief 20 up for the sufferers, auC
| American citizens. both In thcr individual
/ corporate ana governmental capacities. al
ways chccrlully, generously and layshll
respond to these appeals for aid.
But these things ought net 50 10 be- n
ounce OF prevention i, worth pound o
cue. The trouble is that false economy
I pr9yen,s the use Of that ounce. Are no
the men who neglect these precautions re
sponslble Tor this loss OF lite, This destruc
ton OF property? Are they not crminalll
responsible Take the case OF the recen
terrible disaster III western Massachusetts
with loss oil nearly one hundred and MI.
lives, IS there no person or persons cllml
nally guilty OF their death We believ
that there is. We believe that the fact
show IT, We believe, moreover, although
it would probably be impossible to obtain
jury to convict that the company whicl
built and owned the reservoir. the attend
ant upon the gate" and the supcrintcnd
ent are legally guilty Of the crime of man
slaughter. Let us look at two or three 0
the facts, commencing at the time the en-
bankment or dam was constructed. In til
first Mace nm engineer was emnloyed (
make mans. which were accented. Bu
when the work Of construction commenced
no engineer. or other person familiar wit
that Kind IF work vos emn1ovcd ia s,inc,
intend its construction and TO save n fe,
dollars fine ulon was dcvia,el from In so,
oral inror,art particulars Aoain u cor
nc,cnt nersou nronoscl TO bnild the dam i
- nrore, manner I'm, tho cor,nonv tbinl
inc sncb - snnctnrc would cost too mucl
o,,,,lo,ol ero,bor nor.or bol
,yoalo. cp,,,onlrcut- ,hn results "
lrov san moro DAMAGING. Som
forr mr. FIVE ,co,s AFRO - oontlcmon collo
uo otion,i6n IF Governor Iov1en II,
,ros;lo,+ If ,,c co,,,onv IN the foct u,c
tho ,yator was oozinr ont from Under II,
dam inror,,inp him that if II was No
rc,ncdiol +, wound rcsuI, in fine dos,ructio
Of fine e,nbonllment. Hond telling him tina,
If ho dam I'D on off if wouId swco
everything ON IFS wov into the Connectc,
rivr,' These words Of WARMING were NJ
Ioof.l o,,l ,,l l,,.1r,l o,I GF,,. ,,,,i
,,, IT,, -.
,.ro,,o,o,io, into thc ,,oso,co IF ,bor