The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-10-23
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
wAsntNeror. D. Q. Oct, 10. 1880.

WAsHtEcTON, d. Q. Oct, 10, 1880,
The elections in Ohio and Indiana have
occupied the attention Of the Washington
ians to the exclusion Of every other subject,
In the several Departments on Tuesday, but
little work was accomplished as the officials
from the highest TO the lowest. were ab-
sorbed in the contemplation Of the subject
which to them seemed Of such vital import
ance. The election returns Of Tuesday gave
sufficient cheerful indications to send the
occupants Of the anxious bench to their
home to enjoy slumbers undisturbed by
hideous visions Of impending disaster. The
morning dispatches not only confirmed the
brightest antieipatons Of the night before,
but went beyond the most sanguine oxpec.
tations. The Republicans had expected to
carry Ohio, but with a greatly reduced ma
jority. Of Indiana they had no hope. Bets
had been offered by Democrats giving large
odds but there were no takers. The result
was a genuine surprise. The Democrats
read the returns with dubious looks, and
knew not what to make of them. The
gloom is now on the other side, but 1t is not
intensified by feelings Of personal loss The
departments Of the Government can, with
truth, he said to he on a broad grin. The
clerks are like prisoners with their shaellles
unexpectedly stricken off.
Every leading official and member Of the
Cabinet except Secretary Of State Evarts is
absent from the capital looking after politics
in his particular State. Your readers must
therefore not be surprised il they do not get
anything Of very interesting nature from
this section.
One subject, however, has caused consid-
cradle comment among travellers who have
lately arrived here, and that is the recent
holocaust which occurred early this week on
the Pennsylvania railroad near Pittsburg,
| Pa. AS this is the second accident of a sim
| liar nature that has occurred upon different
sections OF the Penn'a road, 1t behooves our
people TO take into consideration the risk
attending life and limb in travelling upon
| the road. Under the management Of Col.
Tom Scott as President, it was considered
next almost to an impossibility for an acci-
dent to occur. A change however has come
] over the scene and this mighty corporation,
SO confident in its own strength and indie
pendence Of the public, has become careless
and indifferent TO the safety OF those intrust-
to its care. The old adage Whom the Gods
would destroy they first make mad" The
Pennsylvania corporation is so intoxicated
with Its wealth and power that 1t evidently
considers the lives Of 80, 40 or so citizens of
no consequence whatever, AS one o: its
officials stated, so it is reported, in reference
TO the accident referred to when about 80
people in the most agonizlng torture were
ushered into eternity, we get the best men
we can and take the greatest precaution we
cannot help it If an accident dues occur.
That is poor consolation to the mourning
friends Of those who have thus premsturely
been ushered into eternity.
There are other great lines running 10 the
west Tor instance tho Baltimore aud Ohio
railroad, one Of the Lest constructed and
most ably managed roads in the world. So
long 1t is since accident happened on this
road that our memory laiIeth us in that re
gard. 1t is positively pleasure to contem'
pa,e the fact that 50 many millions oflives
have been safely entrusted to that road: 1t
is one of the great avenues by which visitors
come to Washington from the West, aud it
is source of congrntulation that such care
and vigilance is exercised that no such fear
lul disaster as that which enguled the pas.
sengers on the Pennsylvania r. R., could
possibly happen. The arrogance and indie
pendence ofIhe Pennsylvania R.R. officials is
getting to be almost iusuiieraLlr, and short
ly the people will take it in hand them
selves aud speedily terminate it. 1t is be
heved that Congress will take snme action
on this subject the coming session. AvGUsT,