Connecticut western news., 1890-09-10
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1890.
MORE RAIL WAY DLSCONNECTTONS

nections at Canaan would present their grievances to the railroad managers Or even to the railroad commissioners, in- stead of presenting them to the editor, they might accomplish something, but they seem to think that swearing at the railroad companies and complaining to the editor is all that is necessary to be done to remedy any real or imaginary imposition on the travelling public. The aforesaid victims have the editor, sym pathy, but he cannot do their swearing or issue orders that will compel railway connection at Canaan. However, he is willing to state that complaints have been entered to him that on Saturday evening, Aug 30, and on Saturday even- ing, Sept 6, the O. N. B. & w. train from the west failed to connect at Canaan with the Housatonic train for Albany and Pittsfeld, because the C.. N. E. & W. train stopped at the coal bin, | mile west of Canaan, and coaled up two engines each evening before coming up to the station. On each of said dates the O. N B. & w. road ran an excursion on their regular train, and of course the train was too late to con- nect with the north bound limited ex- press on the Housatonic road, but they could have connected with the accomo- dation train to Pittsfeld and Albany if they chose to instead of coaling the engines before coming to the station. Aug 30th, passengers for points north of Ct Burlington were thus compelled to hire teams at Ct Harrington to reach their homes, and Pittsfeld passengers had to wait until Sunday noon before they could reach Pittsfeld. We are told that on the evening of Sept 9th a dozen passengers for Pittsfeld could not reach home until Sunday noon in con sequence of the disconnection at Canaan
 In these instances the c. N. B. & w.. road seems to be to blame, but in some cases the blame may rest with the Housatonic road, while in other cases both roads seem to be to blame At all events it is bad state of affairs, and there ought to be some legislative o1 judicial authority to enforce remedy.
 But the primary cause of all these vexatious delays rests with the travel ling public themselves. They are not content to travel at reasonable or safe speed. The public demand express trains at lightning speed. Competing lines, especially, have to meet this de- mand, and the one that furnishes the most rapid transit gets the cream of the passenger traffic. The result is, the schedule time between important points is cut down to the lowest possible limit This leaves no margin for short delays occasioned by hot journals, some trifiipe disarrangement of the locomotive ma chinery, some little trouble with the all brakes, or various other little hindran. ces frequently occurring If train gets 8 trihe belated, by whatever cause, it i, almost impossible for 1t to make con nection with intersecting roads or make its connection at terminal points whereas were the schedule time of pas senger trains extended somewhat, ther, would be chance to make up tim, lost by trihing accidents and still make connections with other trains. If tn, public would be content to travel
 little slower in other words " to mak haste slowly" they would be the gain CTS in the end and many of these vexa tious railway disconnections would thu: be avoided.
 We think that railway manager would rejoice to have the public demand less speed and more safety. The wea and tear of rolling stock and road be, increases iu proportion to the speed while the danger increases beyon, estimate. No one realizes the dange accompanying rapid transit more thar railroad men themselves, and they eel tainly would prefer to avoid sue
 danger. But if the public will insist O reckless speed they must accept tn danger accompanying it, as we'll as tn uncertainty of train connections, fo breakages, accidents and consequen delays frequently attend the attempt to distance old Father Time.