Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-10
What will prevent the next generation from

What will prevent the next generation from
doubling or even qusdrupling the rate of speed
on railway trains? Such is the daring and the
success Of modern practical science that the
public is apt to regard any thing possible.
But Prof. r. H. Thurston in the December
Forum argues very pIausibly that no such
speed lie likely to be attained with the machinery
of the present day. With things as shey are
the passenger train running at the average
speed Of fifty miles an hour travels rs fast as
the largest migratory birds and twice as far as
the common fed birds average per hour
Quadruple this speed if you can in imagination,
Look at it in another way. The train now goes
8, $40 feet in q minute and nearly 60 feet in a
seconds speed about equal to that which
would be attained by a body falling freely
from the top Of q tower so feet high or from the
roof of a hve-story house. Two such trains
coming together would be in result equivalent
to fall Of nearly $50 feet. Prof. Thurston.
after stating that the danger and the damage
are proportional to the square Of the speed,
and that an increase from 50 to 100 miles an
hour multiplies by four the risk and the de-
struction of life and property in case Of acct
dent, seeks the causes of danger as we'll rs the
essentials to the attainment of high speed.
Curves in the line Of the road must be reduced
as much "a possible and made as gradual and
Of as large a radius circumstances will per-
init. The road bed must be well made
and ballasted. The rails must be heavy and
deep so "a to preserve their line under
heavy pressure. Distances between stations
must be SO arranged as to have the fewest
stations and stops Tracks should be specially
assigned to fast trains, all local and freight
trains being provided with independent
tracks. Grade crossings should be avoided
and the track fenced in. Then with strength
and free fabrication the danger Of accidents to
the machinery would be reduced to the min |
imum. There has been great improvement in !
most Of these things. but in the avoidance of
grade crossings this country is still crimnaIIv |
negligent. although in this respect the great !
trunk lines have made a distinct advance |
They. however. make such improvements as |
the last-named only when public sentiment !
becomes fully aroused and has power to enforce |
itself. At the republics capital, where, Of all |
places, there should be safety against accident |
there seems TO be PLENTY of sharply expressed |
public sentiment, but as there is no local rep |
fesentative government it finds no power of |
enforcement Congress. the local legislature |
Of the District, has not yet been aroused to the |
danger to which its members and all the indi-
viduals here in the service Of the whole people |
and citizens generally exposed. With |
grade crossings and a rate Of speed of 200 |
miles an hour the loss of life on surface |
tracks, already large in this country, would |
be frightfully increased. With increased |
speed there win go in any permanent plan of /
Improvement increased safety. The sixty
mile train Of 1890 il safer to the occupant than
the stage coach of our forbcGrs. With the /
maximum of speed should come the maximum
of safety. The former must not be developed
at the expense of the latter.