New-York tribune., 1890-01-18
PRETENTTNG STBWAY EXPLOSIONS

II
Several years ago the able editor Of one Of the
numerous bright and sparkling daily newspapers
published in the important city of Boston pro-
posed in the course of trenchant editorial article
a strikingly original plan for doing away with
railroad accidents 1t was nothing less than this
Let a director of the company operating the road
he attached TO the cow-catchcr" Of each loco
motive The capable Boston editors idea was
that with director thus exposed on each engine,
with possibly the president of the road tied to
the locomotive of the through night-eXp press,
great care would be taken, and the danger of
accidents reduced to minimum. Those VINO
have only been acquainted with the Boston papers
Of late since they became devoted almost wholly
10 the study of Messrs. Buddha and lbsen, may
scarcely be able to believe that the editor OF one
Of them could have ever thus lightly turned to
another subject but onr learned friend was pc
culiary interested in this matter Just at tllat
time, having if We mistake not recently rolled
down n high cmbanhmcnt in sleepng-car, or
something of this kind.
Descending to the practical details Of the adj
iusting of the director on the cow-catcher, as
the clever journalist did in subsequent articles he
was of opinion that the best way 10 place the
official was crosswsc of the locomotive pilot We
were inclined at the time to crtlcsc tins plan,
reluctant as we usually are to find fault with
n high Boston authority. Our idea was mat the
able directors feet would bc apt to strike along
an the trees and other scenery at the side of the
track. We vcnturcd to suggest as much but
were promptly. and we doubt not, dcscrvcdly, re-
bukcd by the crnditc writer. We believed that
the director should he placed in gently re-
clining position along what we suppose may be
called the ridge pole of the cow-catchcr. The
practically on any railroad; but it occurs to
us-and we trust that this Will be deemed
sufficient excuse for our having referred TO the
suggestion at such lcngh-that perhaps some
thing Of this kind might be done for the subway
explosions which constantly trouble Ncw-lork.
What would be- the result If an alderman were
placcd on the more important manhoc covers
about town and fastened there? We know not
if this will meet with any warmer public reccp
lion than did the Boston suggestion, but It
seems 10 us ai least contain what some forgotten
writer once dcnomnatcd food for thought II
there were not enough aldermen possibly they
night be- ckcd out with few presidents Of sas
companies.
Seriously speaking, it Is evident that if the
legislature could make some such arrangement
as we have hintcd at il would materially reduce
the subway explosions. There might be few
uphcaval, for a WHILE but make no doubt
that some plan would be speedily discovered to
do away with them. II would, perhaps, be inoon-
ycuicnt 10 a certain degree for the aldermen. but
al present II is inconycnicnt for the rest of rs.
Even il am alderman were to cNpcrlcacc an cN-
plosion. We can assure him that II would be-
poibing 10 what those brave Old Roman scntlncs
still found grmly standing In buried Pompcli
p,ssod through. True, II killed the Roman
soldiers but thcs, subway explosions are going 10
kin = great many of us If they are not stopped.
We suppos. that while an alderman was on dIty
lie could hc provided with c1mp-,tool 10
.it ON, and given his flyortc author 10 read.
seated half reclining in his chair, laneuidly turn
ing the leaves of Emerson. MAcaulay or Milton,
or Tl,ius or Pluiarch In tine ori-inal, one OF our
aldermen would present novel but not unsatlS-
factor. sight The noise, of thc street might
h. anroyin- ~ lim al first. ANA hc might hnd
that hc could not take up hls iaYoutc Homer
and roll out those grand lucs with a choice
Hellenic accent ~ is his wont now during ms
hour, of ca-c IN his study after Li~ public duties
are done. hui hc would soon become accustomed
10 H. We know of nothing which would gave
r-oplc moro confidence in the explosive suh"ayS
than to see "a few aldermen aud gas presidents
.ca'cd around town on the manhoir covers We
believe there is nothing which would hold the
manholc covers down So cGcctlally, and We hope
go see At tried.