The New York herald., 1879-03-26
Disaster-A Waraing the "L'' Conn
panies Must Not Ignore.

Oisosser-A Warnimg the "A COM
panies Must Not Ignore.
God forbid that We should rejoice at the
occurrence of anything like disaster; but
VIC cannot refrain from expressing satisfac-
tion that the collision which took place yes
terday ON the New York IL" road at Forty
second street junction occurred, to empha-
size our repeated protests against the disre-
gard of public safety exhibited by the 81
companies in important details OF the opera
tion Of their lines. We consider the ''acci-
dent" fortunate because it was unattended
by loss Of life or even by injuries to
any one likely to be fatal or seri-
GUS in their results. Fortunate also, be-
cause it calls attention again to dangers
which it seems no corporation will rec
ogpize unless driven to do SO by the
indignation such accidents arouse IN
the public mind, and by their more power
full influence, perhaps, on the companies
in the form OF suits for heavy damages,
which we hope will keep the memory OF
this accident green in whatever may be the
substitutes for souls in these 'L" corpora
tions. How often have We called at
tention to the danger threatening
the public that turks in crossings,
functions and switches How often
have we pointed out the uselessness
Of this Forty-second street junction, with
its dangerous crossing, and suggested
means by which all danger would be re-
moved by the substitution of movable
platforms worked by stationary engine
or by trains running only between the
main line and the Grand Central Depot
station How often have we predicted
that some day or other great calamity
would shock the community, and insisted
that the present designs for multiplying
existing causes of danger by the crossings
at Chatham square and Beaver street and
other places should not be permitted to be
carried out
Until now we have steadfastly deprecated
any attempt at Legislative interference with
rapid transit in New York. We have done.
so in the vain belief that the high
character and wealth of some of the
gentlemen engaged in the enterprise
would insure the rectifcation of all
Objectionable features in the plans for
securing rapid transit, and that q little
time only was needed to demonstrate
what these were and how they could be
completely eradicated from our rapid transit
systems. But our expectations were not
only upfulflled regarding existing evils
our recommendations, made in theinterests
Of public safety, seemed only to inspire the
managers Of these IL" roads with o desire
to multiply the causes Of danger wherever
it was possible to do SO, and to defy public
opinion and even the dictates Of COM
mon prudence in plans Of their
roads, which would be called asinine
if they did not better deserve the term
"murderous." Now we feel bound in the
same interests of public safety to adopt
another COURSE toward these 81" companies
and their roads. We must appeal to the
government of the State, to the Legislature
now IN session. to adopt and enforce such
measures with regard to the operation of the
Ill roads us will place it out OF the
powerof any corporation, actuated by the
most selfish of purposes. to invite disasters
by gross violations of the laws of public
safety. We demand from the State govern
ment such immediate action as will end at
once and forever the deadly experiments of
these companies made to attain maximum
Of profit with q minimum of public safety.
We have already explained in detail the
Objectionable features Of the operation
OF rapid transit. We have pointed out
how, owing to high fares, the heaviest
traffic is crowded within o limit of
few hours in the morning and evening,
and the cars and their platforms are
packed with passengers, SO that some people
do not get time to leave the trains ut
their stations and are carried up or down
town long distances before they can ex-
tricate themselves from the crush. We can
scarcely permit ourselves to imagine the
consequences if the north bound train yes
terday had been loaded with its ordinary
evening crowd and had advanced on its way
Just half its length more when it was struck
by the locomotive of the south bound train.
1t was the mcrest accident that This did not
happen, for switch can be neglected
in the evening as we'll as in the early
afternoon. To guard against such '::acci-
dents" we have advocated tho abolition
of switch systems altogether, except
ut points where they are to be used on
special and infrequent occasions. Again,
we have pointed out the dangers of juno
ton like that proposed ut Beaver and Pearl
streets, where the trains of rival companies
would run ON q common track. II tho
trains of one IL" company cannot be oper-
ated safely on that company's road how
is it possible to assure safety where
rivalry is added to recklessness and neglect
or stupidity as On element OF danger2 Have
We not shown by articles and diagrams
how the proposed and existing functions
aud crossings at Chatham square may
earn for that locality q ncw mama