The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-03-25
w. BAKER. Editor.
THE BALTIMORE AND LEHIGH
RAILROAD.

THE BALTIMORE AND LEHIGH
RIILRO1D.
1t is the privilege of those who tray
ell on railways to criticize their man
agement, and with regard to our mar
row-gauge railroad from Delta to Bal
tilnore the travelling public have
awaited themselves of this privilege to
their hearts content. We, too, have
not hesitated to censure what seemed
to indicate IL want of due regard for
the safety of travellers but should
criticism concern itself only or
chiefly with pointing out defects 1t
is only common justice to note what is
good as we'll as what is bad, and the
recent accident at Little Gunpowder
Falls, distressing as it was, afforded,
through the examination made by the
coroner's jury, opportunity for word
of praise of the present management
of the road.
The shocking accident at Overshot
Trestle, in April of last year, develop
ed the fact that the trestles on the
road-many of which are very high
and difficult to keep in repair-were
in a dangerous condition. Immediate
ly after that accident the officers of
the road began systematic strength
ening of dangerous places, and the
late investigation shows that the acct
dent at Little Gunpowder, to what
ever cause it may be ascribed, was
not due to any weakness of the struc-
ture which crosses the ravine. On the
contrary, had the trestle and bridge
not been unusually strong they could
not have withstood the impact of de-
rallied train, or the lateral pressure,
when heavy locomotive, tender and
baggage car toppled over its side.
AS an offset to complaints of the trav-
elling community that the road does
not afford all the advantages they ask
and have a right to expect, it is but
just to the railroad company to say
that at the time of the Overshot acct
dent there had been a general depre-
citation of the rolling stock of the
road, and that accident, depriving the
company of two of its engines, impos-
ed double duty on those which re-
Misunderstanding scarcely time for
needed repairs while accommodating
the large amount of passenger and
freight traffic on the road. This de-
struction of rolling stock not only pre-
vented the proper working of the
road but interfered with the project
ed work of filling up trestles, straight
ening portions of the road and doing
other things which must be done pre-
paratory to changing the road to
standard gauge.
On the list of July last Mr.. w. R.
Crumpton became the General Mana
ger of the Baltimore and Lehigh. He
came with an excellent record as a
railroad manager. He grew up among
railroads, having filled with credit al
most every position from that of sta
ton agent to the one he now occupies
His experienced eye at once took in
the situation and with quiet energy
he has made every effort, with the
means at his disposal, to improve the
road. The testimony at the coroner's
inquest on the 8th instant developed a
condition of affairs, due to Mr.. Crump-
toms systematic and business-like
management, most creditable to him
and gratifying to the public. 1t was
shown that the cars are regularly in
spected at Baltimore and York that
the bridges and trestles are examined
daily and that force of workmen are
constantly employed in making need
ed repairs.
1t was especially gratifying to note
that the railroad company, with a
view to dispensing with the dangerous
car stoves, was at that very time ex-
perimenting with a new system of
heating and the train which went
down was fortunately heated by the
improved method, to which fact is due,
doubtless, the small loss of life. 1t is
point to score in favor of the present
management that the Baltimore and
Lehigh is the first railroad running
out of Baltimore which has made
this move to replace the deadly car
stove by a heating apparatus free
from danger in case of accident.
The public are looking eagerly for
the day when the road will be broad
gagged, and although while this i'm
proyement is in progress it is too much
to expect large number of trains to
be run over the road each way daily,
the company should see to it that
those which do run are in a safe condi-
ton. That the management of the
road is now in good hands is evident
by many improvements, and it is for
the advantage of the road as well as
the good of the public that the pre-
sent excellent Superintendent should
be literally sustained by those who
hold the purse strings.
One word for the hardworked EN-
ployees of the road 1t is said that
their wages are sometimes two or
three months in arrears. This should
be corrected. There is nothing that
SO impairs the efficiency of service on
the road as the failure of the company
to meet this claim promptly. Where
so much depends upon the faithful
ness and care of employees, let not
employers set the bad example of
caralaSSnaSs