The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-01-03
Wrecks and Their Causes.

The newspaper that does not contain an
account Of one or more railroad wrecks per
day in this country does not give all the
news. Some days as many as half dozen
are reported. AS only those where lives
are lost or very large amount of property
Is destroyed get into the general reports
1t is seen that accidents of some kind are
OF hourly occurrence. Already railroads
are beginning to feel the effect of such
startling condition of things in the dimin-
lshlng passenger traffic. Prudent peonle
now remain at home unless compelled to
travel What is the remedy or remediesa
Railroad men should set themselves IN
solving the problem. Here are few sug-
gestions that may afford them starting
points.
First, railroads are constructed on the
high pressure principle, premium for
haste and penalty for delay being gen.
orally attached. This is calculated to re-
suit in faulty work even if the comnanv
and contractors are honest. When dis
honesty is added to haste, as it often is. a
roadbed and track where accidents are sure
TO occur IS the inevitable result.
Secondly, cheap material is put into
tracks and rolling stock on many roads
sometimes under mistaken economy and
often through the dishonesty of BUYERS and
sellers, connivance to cheat stockholders
ard oftener where the purchasing agent,
Ino9gh honess Is not judge of the articles
used.
Thirdly, cheap men in the operating de-
partmenps. Locomotive engineers should
be licensed by the state or national govern
ment. Conductors, firemen, brakemen and
swltchmen should pass through annual ex-
amlnations. Better pay and fewer hours
should and would follow these reforms.
trusting human life in the hands of mex
perlenced boys or men, or in those of men
rendered incompetent by overwork or anv
otner cause is criminal negligence and
should be punished accordingly And it is
coming to the point that unless railroad
managers introduce a safer system there
Will some day be manager hung, either in
ooedlence to the mandate of the court or at
hands OF an outraged people.
tourthly, incompetent operators in the
telegraph department BOYS who cannot
De expected TO exercise the care and yigi
lance OF men, TO realize the responsibility of
their duties; who become absorbed in a
dime novel or a base bail score and the re-
suit Is wreck and ruin. Telegraph opera
tors are about the poorest paid men in Office
servIoe none put hrst-class men should
De employed, and they should pass annual
examinations.
flftnly, trains are run too fast. The
american people are always in hurry
Some years ago writer said that if a can
non coul9 be loaded at ST. Louis with ten
people, and with a propulsion that wonId
carry them to New York in an hour. and
that nine out OF every ten would be certain
10 De Killed, that it would be filled every
day, every man being willing to take the
chances OF being the lucky one. That was
an extravagant statement, but certainly
the average American has shown a willing.
ness to take great risks in order To rusb
through the world. Railroad men in cater
ing to that characteristic add to it In fsct
they are largely responsible for its exist-
ence. One railroad with an extra smooth
piece OF track, staunch engine and a skill
ful engineer will make extra fast time.
Immediately imitators spring up all over
the country, and no matter how MANY
grades or letter SIS or weak bridges or
streaks OF dust where steel rails ought to
be, or anything else, manager issues
orders that send trains over his de-
tectlye roads as fast as they went over a
sood one. Fast running is attempted TO be
'usuhed by the supposed necessity of meet
ing competition, but the apologists do NOT
seem to understand that it is their duty to
put their road and rolling stock in the same
condition as their competitors before risk
ing the lives of passengers
Sixthly, the qualifications, duties and
power of railroad commissioners. state and
national, should be increased or the laws
regulating railroads be SO amended as to
place restrictions on managers of roads and
providing penalties for the violation of the
same commensurate with the Importance
with the subject Men are put in places of
great public Importance, where not only the
comfort of communities but the lives OF