The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-16
.Railroad Commissioners

4, The public nina IL DecOmlng mofeSu1
.ligbtened upon the general subject Of the
relations between railways and the people,
The public welfare aud the public safety are
deeply involved In the Systems OF railroad
management; and 1t ID the duty OF the Coy.
eminent to interpose is authority to secure
the most faithful peffo rmance Of the obliga-
tions Of railways ito theispublic with re-
ference to both charges for transp ortation
and the safety Of travel. The body polite
grew out Of the necessity Of union no Tor Pro
lection from common danger from without
and within. The railway is now, the general
mode OF travel andsttransportatio and m
wolves the interests and safety OF all com %
rnunities, and therefore Is the agent directly
demanding, more than all Others, the vigil
liant and effective supervision Of Govern
ment--s the Iife,' sof the body politic-for
the protection Of the people and the pubic
interest. z.,f u ..s,. sy.!..taxn az.
The recent railway accident at Ashtabula
has drawn forth letter from the venerable
CHARLES FRANCIS adams to Dir. GARFIELD,
of Ohio, who represents the sAshtabula dis
trict in Congress, urging shim to take some ~
stem in Congress that may, help to promote
the security Of travel upon our railroads.
Mr.. ADAMS says that there has been in the
limited States an average Of 1,100 accidents
per aunum, involving $50 deaths and 1000
injuries. In Great Britain, last year, with
passenger traffic greatly heavier than ours,
there were bat seventeen deaths and about
ffsv injuries. The facts show how, with
proper vigilance and regulations, the disas-
tiers upon our American roads may be re-
duced. ...ri iii u. i:..:ss;a. /. .s.ai,-.
Mr.. ADAMS says that: the public has no
better machinery now than as"crowners
quest,' and cannot thoroughly investigate
the causes Of railway accidents, and there.
fore the investigation is in this country
practically left. in the hands of those respon.
sible for the killing, and the interest OF the
public is far from identical with the interest
OF those who are so responsible. Massa'
chusetts has a board, efs commissioners
| whose duty it is to look into such accidents,
and Mr.. ADAMS says that last year their re.
port will include eight, special reports, each
one OF which will close with distinct state
ment OF the .:;cause !" of an accident
But the matter of disasters, gene
rally does not belong to States, as i
includes duty states cannot possibly
fulfil, says Mr.. ADAMS, It includes thu
commerce between the States and river Of
coastwise navigation. Therefore Mr.. ADAM
begs Mr.. GARFIELD to Introduce a measlir,
for bureau Of railway statistics (to, be 1
part Of the Department. Of the INTERIOR, It
include two officers, the one,an aceountan
and statistician, and the other'a railway ex
pert and engineer. . The first to collect ant
put in shape the vast am CUNT, Of informa
ton connected with the interior commerce
Of the country, ,whichsis now practically in
accessible; and the other'to study railwa.
accidents and investigate unusual features
or those whose causes are difficult Of ascer
tainment. The facts thus ascertained woult
hasten the appliance offnproved ageneie
and greater watchf 1fness, and thus loss o
| life would be diminished. The. ascertain
ment OF the causes OF accidents and the fix
ing Of responsibility by a national bureau
would exercise a quickeniIg feeling upor
railroad ofhcials--so Mr.. ADAMS thinks. E'&
/ Mr.. ADAMS does not want ststhat legisla
tive nuisance q scomprehe nsive' measure,
but earnestly asks for such bureau as b
names, which, he thinks, would, through
it's information, lead to the adoption Of mea
sures and policies that would effect o great
er security for the travelling public. i.
Such bureau would be valuable. A!
the States should have boards Of commits
sioners, and then reports might be mad
more certainly correct, and would deriv
added force from corroborating testimon!
in the Federal bureau. -: !" @..% Z.
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