Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-01-17
aetistellanu.
Railroad Economy.

in railroad management throughout the
country. 1t is the problem of dctermin-
ing just where these reductions had best
take place, that our railroad managers
must decide, and upon which decision
the pu6lc naturally take considerable in
tcrest 1t is not the object of this article
to settle this important question here and
now, for we have too extended an idea OF
our inability, and of the responsibility
which we should have to assume.
But we do desire to call the atten-
tion of these men, and to slrenously OBJ
ject TO the way in which it evidently has
been decided by large number of our
railroad companies.
From our own observations, and from
statistics taken mostly from the " RailrOad
Gazette" showing the yearly increasing
number of accidents from derailmcnts, we
must conclude that these reductions
have been levied principally upon the
road-master'S department; which consists
of road bed, iron. ties, and all material
pertaining to to the construction of rail
road. together with experienced men to
keep it in good repair and condition. Ii
is lamentable fact that new iron and new
ties are things not known TO many roads
during the past year. Roadbeds have
been sadly neglected. Yet every road,
muster and "seelion boss" well knows
how important it is TO have this in good
order. But how can they keep it so when
half of the necessary number of their sec
tion men have been discharged? The pay of
these men has also been reduced to the
IOWn.f rntns I'm Onn doll,u a,
of them have supported families during
the last year, and they are not always
small families either. In NJ instance has
the evil of appointing inexperienced men
to such responsible positions rs roarl-
master been more evident than eases of
this kind that have come under our own
observation.
All this seems TO us to be the height of
foolishness, and short-sightedness, nay,
more, they are criminal actions. We
would ask The powers that be" in these
matters; are you aware of the responsible
ty you are taking, in thus deciding this
question? Are you aware that the lives
Of thousands of human souls depend up
on the good condition Of your track? Upon
the surety of II firm road-bed and a good
rail? Charles Francis Adams, Jr., who is
good authority, says hal fifteen years ago
our roads were the laughing stock of rail
road men in foreign countries. Indeed,
their standard got so low rs to cause Il
reaction, and five years ago we could boast
of the best railway system in the world.
How long will it remain so? Cannot we
keep This well canned reputation? Alas
we must admit that we are already
falling towards The other extreme. And
unless something is done to stay us we
shall have only the consolation thas we
have attained such height as to make it
long journey, before we reach the other
end.
We are justified in making the gloomy
prediction that more of Our travelling
friends will reach the end of their exiS-
tence during the present season, than in
any previous one; that the statistics of
this winter will show IL large increase of
accidents from derailments, or broken
rails, and who shall we have TO thank for
ii? Those cool calculating heads, called
railroad magnates, who sit in their offices,
planning and conriving how to save few
dollars Of money, and who are willing to
luli SuCll lCiI Illl llSkS Ill SD uOlllO.
RUM! QUIT IT.-Statistics deemed re-
liable inform us there are manufactured in
the United States no less than so 200, 900
worth of liquors Of all kinus, and rs if This
were not enough we have $500, 900 more
imported from foreign countries, 50 that in
round numbers we consume 500 OJ0O00I
o. this soul destroying stuff every wear
These figures and the facts to he taken in
connection with them are startling. II the
$l00,000,0U wasted were all that should
be taken into consideration, we no need to
waste more than II breath upon it, for loss
of money is Of small account beside loss
OF character, loss of health, and loss Of
hIppiness here and hereafter; for all these
grow out of and are sure to follow in the
train of the rum interest. They are in
separable from the traffic and cannot be
divorced. Abolish the liquor traffic and
the State prison would be but an empty
shell with scarce convicts enough to keep
the rats company; while the poor-hou-r
would stand out us a lone sentinel to mark
the departure of Incidence and vicious
poverty. Rum selling and rum drinking
are the parent of more than seven -tcnih> of
all The woes that atlict the world. The
rumsrler is Il more dangerous character
to the community than mad dog left free
10 roam in the streets, since the latter KILLS
but few, while the former casts his midew
blight over all and plants his footsteps
deep down in the pillows of hell. These
.de strong words but we should like to ;, C
any one Try to disprovc them. Conductor
to the Internal pit, is what should be writ
ten upon his forehead, for he is truly so.
Reason, law, gospel and common sense
is all against the rle of Rum, yet its de5-
truclive tide still rolls on, and on. Each
day and week and year is marked by the
graves Of new victims cut down in thri
manhOod's prime. And what for? Who
is benefited? Is any one? No, not one
What is curse is curse to all. We lay
this down rs proposition that cannot he
reluted. The rumseller is not benefited
by the traffic, since e is adding IN aGOn,
to his immortal soul that this short life
cannot obliteralc. Woe to him who
pulteh the bottle to his neighbours lips"
is what God says; and we believe God
has never been proved II liar, therefore we
will let the declaration stand without fur
ther comment Rum does not benefit the
one who drinks it, for it "shall cloihe u
man in rags" Do not sell il! Do not
fjnk itl Quit
CHILDREN NEVER LIVE LoNG.-When
they are not carried away il little collins
and laid for ever in the sileni grave, they
become transformed so rapidly that we
lose them in another way. The athletic
young soldier or colegian, the graceful
heroine of the ball room, may make proud
the parental heart, but can they quite con
sole it for the eternal loss of the little be-
ings who plagued and enivened the carly
years of marriage? A father may some
times feel IL legitimate and reasonable
melancholy us he contcmplates the most
promising Of little daughters, full of vi
vacity and health How long will the
dear child remain TO him? She will be
altered in six months; in six years she will
he succeeded by totally different crea-
ture--A creature new in flesh and blood
and bone, thinking other thoughts and
speaking ano'hcr language. There is u
sadness even in that change which is in
crease and progression, for the glory of
MONDAY has destroyed The sweet deicacy
of the dewy Aurora, and the wealth of
summer has obllterated the freshness of
the spring.-PhjFp G. Hamerton.
A Brooklyn physician, who has attended
II. L ~ r