Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-12-04
RAILWAYS IN INDIA.
Great Care Taken to Protect tho
People from Accident.
Vol Regulated System and 81 Low
Mileage Rato-Small Percentage OF
Deaths from Accidents-A
Rem arkublc Record.

1t appears that during the year 1890
only 400 persons were killed and 775 in
jrrca upon the East India railways,
while only one passenger met his death
by an accident to n regular passenger
train, being one in the 10000, 900 car
ricd during the year.
Ono hundred and fiftv-one railway
servants were killed, and the rest OF
the deaths were those of persons other
than passengers or servants. there be-
ing G4 cases of suicide and 1SS killed
while treSpassing on the track
This record is remarkable, when it is
remembered that the railway system of
India extends from Pcshawar to Cape
Comorin, and from Bombay to Calcutta
and Madras, and, with the exception of
the engine drivers and guards, the Of
EclnlS are, Tor the most part, natives of
the country. 1t is true that very many
OF the railroads are single tracks, and
:hat on nearly all the lines of railroad
the rate OF speed is slow. Still the
statistics which appear in the Govern
mcnt Gazette show n remarkable de-
gree of discipline in the railway system
"f that great empire.
Every railway track is protected by
al iron fencing, and level crossings are
comparatively few, which doubtless ac-
counts for the very small percentage of
people killed by their own neglect.
1t would appear that the heathcn Hin
doc is Il good signal man; and if we
must have foreign labor, it is a oucs-
ton whether it would not be better to
import it from Calcutta or Madras than
from Kilkenny or FircnZe.
IT. Is curious circumstance that not
withstanding the apparent efficient
service of the native in railway traffic,
the companies do not seem disposed to
intrust him with either the engine driv-
ing or the conductorship of train. II
Is said the men lack nerve.
The India railway trains have four
classes. First, second, intermediate
and third, the natives of the country
usually travelling third class. The first
class carriages are luxurious and pro-
vlded with every convenience, and dur
ing the hot weather are kept cool by
thclmantidOteS. y first class cOmDart-
mcHt, taking half of the whole carriage,
Is not intended to carry more than four
passengers and the sleeping coaches
fold up in the daytime so as to form
comfortable seats. Some first class car
RACES have a second class compartment
adioinining for the accommodation of
servants. and as the journey from Pcsh-
awar to Bombay or Calcutta occupies ut
least four days, this arrangement adds
"luch to the comfort of first class trav-
cling in India.
The rates of passenger traffic arc
Third class, half Il cent; intermediate,
one cent; second class, one and q half
cents: first class, two and q half cents
per mile.
The number of miles open for railway
traffic IN India Is seventeen thousand
Eve hundred miles and about two thou
SAND miles more are under conStruc-
ton. The English railway will shortly
run ms far as the city of Kandahar, and
it is not Improbable that the State line
now, open to Pcshawar, within nine
mics Of the Khyber pass, will be eX-
tended to the city of Cabul and evcntu-
ally meet the Russian railway at fash
kuId or Samarliand.
The government of Kashmir is now in
t"Caty with the British government fol
the construction of line of railway
from liaSan Abdal TO Sirinagar, u route
familiar to the English reader as that
travelled by Lalla Roolih in the Imperial
days of the Moghul rule.