Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-19


The Nu ison River Railroad company IL held to
be really responsible for the Spuytan Duyyil acci-
dent, because 1t IL claimed That IL coeld have pro-
yided a sy>ta'9 OF signals which would have pre-
vented the d'SaS,cr. The system so offered re-
ferrpi - IN lois roinccton is known as the block
system, abi ms long been in general use in Eng
land l. divides he railroad into short sections of
abot foE: mikes e.Ich and each Of these divisions
Is termed block. and the precautionary measure
OF the system is that not more than train Is
permitteita he on block at the same time. Each
block Is provided With an operator. who assures
safety by telegraph. As soon a train has
crossed the boundary line III his block ne signals
that the way is clear. No train is allowed to move
forward until this signal IS made. Hence. should
the operator neglect his duty. the worst result that
can follow Is a delay Of trains. as the road is
blocked until the safety signal appears. The sys-
TEN In general use in this country is that which
the Ho ison River railroad employed and which
led To the disaSt r. When train is delayed it is
the duty o. one OF the br3kemcn to go 10 the rear
and display rcd flag in the day time, or
red light if il is dark Unless this
signal is shown the rear trains have
nothing 10 warn them OF danger. and as in the
Sp9yten DUyVil accident, where the train men
are negligent, disaster follows. The enterprising
Pennsylvania ROAD has adopted the block system
on the main lines Of of its system, but has Prob
ably not been able to utilize it !: ngie track
lines like the Baltimore and Potomac road. The
work OF Misunderstanding this ltne between WASH
fngtOn AMI Baltimore Is now being energetic3lly
pushed and will be completed next summer, when
this important branch OF the Pennsy lvania road
viii be placed on the same complete footing As the
trunk line.
Governor Lowry, OF Mississippi, in his inaugural
address has evtnced true perception offhe faults
well the needs, of the south. He advises the
70 thpir az
velopment OF their state. He urges the education
of the masses and says 1.-The extent OF illiteracy
among US Is appalling He especially calls
attention to the great benefits to be derived from
The establishment OF factories. and holds that
''the managers of 3 success vi factory among rs
ought 10 be more highly honored than any public
functu5ry In the land" He couaSelS moderation
I'm politics, and reminds tha people that there is
no existing necessity or excuse for political ex-
element. Pew things he declares. ''couid he
hore beneficial to us now than copiOuS Infusion
into oar population and pursuits of the energies
and improved methods of industry which dis
tinguis.I other states and countries" Governor
Lowry seems To realize that the best means of
killing the liberal movement in the south is 10
hberalhe the dominant party.
Mr.. ScOrille permitted his zeal ia his 5rothern-
laws cause 70 away with his discretion yester-
day He probably has become convinced by this
OF the Indirect responsibility of others for Guteaus
Crime was long ago discussed ana utterly secuted
by every Intelligent person. There was nothing
whatever to sustain it. The public mind has been
convinced that the factonal quarrel In the repub-
ncan party did not furnish the motive for the MUIR
der Of the President. 1t afforded the assassin a
pretext for the carrying out of his scheme OF re-
venge for imagined personal slight and afTront
IL II were possible TO weaken the case OF the de-
1ence, Ar. Scoyille has done so by his absurd at
tempt TO put the characters of the President and
other 1oDored citizens in the dock alongside the
ASSASSIN.
some sharp criticisms being fired at Lieut.
DanenhOWer and Engineer Melville of the Jean
nette crew, upon the assumption that they, In
leaving the delta OF the Lena and going to Yakutsk
had abandoned belong and his compeers to their
fate. 1t Is true that appearances are against these
TWO Officers: but there may be the best of reasons
for their course, and II Is not fair to condemn them
without any knowledge whatever OF their condi-
Hons or surroundings, or the motives which have
governed Their. 1t Is contrary TO all the charac-
tertstIcs OF the American naval officer to say
nothing OF the duty OF humanity, TO suppose that
Lieut. Eisenhower has LETT the locality where the
missing crew would be likely to put In without
making proper provision for them.
The people OF Brooklyn have inaugurated war
Of determination against the ''bob-tail,- street
eNIS ~ hiCceiIiS vi cItiLellS SUNDAY an anu
Dob-tail ear association was formed and the MEN,
bers pledged TO begin their crusade against this
Class OF cars on the sd inst unless the evil shall
De @bated 10 The companies The plan OF opera
ton IS for each person TO refuse TO pass up the
1areS or other passengers and to refuse payment of
fare unless IA seat is provided. This plan worked
successfully in Chicago several years ago. The
companies lost so many fares that they found it
profitable TO put on doUbls cars and conductors
---> . s----
III you happen 70 have lot OF xerotine siccatine
about you you had better get rid OF 1t as promptly
as possible Ii has been ascertainei 10 the sa,js-
faction Oi the Board of Admiralty that il was this
substance that caused the explosion the British
sioop-of-war Doterel, in the straits OF Magellan,
last Ari, and the nag ship Triumph at one OF the
Pacific stations. more recently,