St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-28
THE CABLE ACCIDENT.

hHCN IL NOulU OCCuI, was luc lllSb
remark of every knoweldgeOuS person,
yesterday, when tidings of the frightful
accident on the cable line spread over
the city. And yet it is singular that in
the face of such widespread conviction
of the insecurity of the cable line every
body was anxious to take ride on it.
While it is true that there was more OF
less apprehension that the steep incline
from Selby avenue to Third street might
be the scene of disaster at some time,
1t is also true that most of our people
had full confidence in its perfect
security. This confidence grew prin-
cipally out of the belief that the cable
company would not attempt to con-
Struct its line without first being fully
assured that there were no risks to be
incurred. The company is under the
management of gentlemen who have
record for thorough business qualities,
and it did not seem to be business way
of doing things to invest an immense
sum of money in an enterprise that
would expose the company to heavy
financial losses, to say nothing of the
danger to life that might be imminent.
1t was the confidence of the public
in the men who built the cable
line that inspired confidence in its
safety.
As much as the accident is to be re-
GREETED, and in face of the fact that
there will be many disposed to be
severely cenSoriouS in their criticisms,
it is due the cable company to say that
the public are equally blamable with
the cable company for the accident. 1t
was largely due to public pressure for
the opening of the cable line in weather
unsuited for it that the company started
the cars to running before a sufficient
test as to the safety of the line had been
made. The grip used is the same in
use in San Francisco. where the
SteepeSt hills are climbed and where
it has proved eminently safe and sue
cesSful. This much is due at least to
the cable company. in the way of extern
uating its responsibility for the accident.
The single fault was in cOnsenting to
build the line on the route which neces-
STATED curve on steep grade. 1t the
line had diverged Oh Pleasant avenue
and then had made a straight ascent,
even though the grade had been
sleeper, it would have been better en-
gineering. Or, better still, if the tunnel
which the company proposed to make
had not been rendered impossible by
the violent opposition of residents along
the line, and by the enormous damages
that were demanded, the public would
now be better satisfied.
So that, in consideration of all these
facts. it is rot reasonable to be too
severe upon the builders of the cable
line. At the same time the public have
the right to demand that absolute free
dom from all risks be first assured
before the line is again put in opera
ton. This can be done, and we feel
warranted in the belief that the cable
company realizes the necessity for
it. Their own interests require it.
A guard rail placed at the curve
and proper incline of the roadbed at
the same point would materially lessen
the danger, if not altogether remove it.
The GLOBE recognizes the fact that the
cable line is necessity to the city, and
while we deplore most deeply the acct
dent of yesterday, we are by no means
discouraged in the belief that the cable
line is going to be complete success.
There will be more caution hereafter
on the part of both the public and the
company, and there is no likelihood of
repetition of yesterdays accident.