The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-19
Single Track Railroads.

Our contemporary, the Evening Post, CON-
menting upon the recent railway accident
near Atlantic City, N. j., suggests that, if
the business of railway is not profitable
enough to pay for double track, ''ether
the carriage of freight or the carriage of
passengers, or both, should be stopped"
and that 'single track passenger roads
should be abolished by law" The Posts
idea is excellent, though the remedy it sug-
gests is somewhat hasty and impracticable.
Most Of the single track lines OF railway
now in operation throughout the country
are protected Under interpretations from the
legislatures of their respective States which
cannot be easily revoked. Iswould be some
what difficult to recall privileges given in
good faith, even though it were prejudicial to
the public interest to maintain them. In the
way of prevention, however, which is pro-
verbally better than cure, something
valuable may be done. Twenty years ago,
when the railway traffic of the country,
both in passengers and freight, was but
fraction of what it has since become. and
when trains were not only less frequent
but less fast, single tracks answered the
purposes of the main lines without hazard
to the lives and limbs of passengers. AS
the volume OF business increased the APP
plication of the electric telegraph for the
purpose Of signalling between stations
diminished the danger; but even with this
safeguard mistakes were of frequent occur
renee and caused serious losses Of life and
property until double tracks were laid
along most OF the trunk" lines. The enor-
nous growth OF traffic within the past
decade has even compelled one or
two of the companies to have four
tracks--two for their passenger transporta-
ton and two for the carriage of freight,
thus separating the business of the roads
into distinct functions. The single track
branch lines and unimportant tributaries
of the principal roads, but the number of
these is SO great that their total annual car
rage of passengers amounts to an enormous
figure. Many Of these tributary roads are
roughly laid and oil are in the habit of
keeping up Appearances in the matter of
speed, if not of regularity, the natural re-
suit DcluB OccnSlOnul SmaSneS OF the Atlhntlc
City kind. Of course as long rs the public
will submit to be carried over single track
roads (and in many cases there is no legal
alternativc) the companies will avoid in
curing the additional expense of laying
extra tracks. 1t is cheaper for them to
sacrifice few lives annually than to reduce
their dividends by increasing the capacity
OF their roads. In such cases the only
satisfaction for sufferers is by recourse to
the law, with claims for heavy damages.
The radical remedy is, however, as the Post
suggests, prohibitory Legislation. If the
State legislatures would unite in the policy
of torbidding the construction of single
track railroads within their respective
boundaries the safety of the travelling pub
lie would be increased tenfold. In future
no grant should be given by any State for
the construction OF a railroad except upon
the double track principle. If the press of
the country would advocate this plan it