The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-24
RAILWAYS In INDIA.
Great Care Taken to Protect the
People from Accident
A Well Regulated system and Lo"
Mileage Rate-SmaH Percentage OF
Deaths from AccIdents-A
Remarkable Record

It appears that during the year 1890
ONLY 455 persons were killed and 40 IN
iures upon the East India railways,
while only one passenger met his death
by an accident to a regular passenger
train. being one in the 10000, 900 car
ried during the year.
One hundred and ffty-one railway
servants were killed, and the rest OF
the deaths were those of persons other
than passengers or servants, there be-
ing "a cases of suicide and 106 killed
while trespassing on the track.
This record is remark able, when it is
remembered that the railway system OF
India extends from Peshawar to Cape
Comorin, and from Bombay to Calcutta
and Madras, and, with the exception OF
the engine drivers and guards, the Of
ficials are, for the most part, natives OF
the country II is true that very many
of the railroads are single tracks, and
that on nearly all the lines of railroad
the rate of speed is slow. Still the
statistics which appear in the Govern
ment Gazette show a remarkable de-
gree of discipline in the railway system
of that great empire.
Every railway track is protected by
an 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 heather Hin
doc is good signal man; and if we
must have foreign labor, it is ques-
ton whether it would not be better to
C,lo Madras ha n
from Kilkenny or Firenze.
1t 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. 1t
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-
vided with every convenience, and dur
ing the hot weather are kept cool by
thermantidotes. A first class compart-
ment, 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
riages have second class compartment
adjoinining for the accommodation of
servants, and as the journey from Pesh-
awar to BON bay or Calcutta occupies at
least four days, this arrangement adds
much to the comfort of first class trav-
cling in India.
The rates of passenger traffic are;
Third class, half a cent: Intermediates,
| one cent. second class, one and a half
cents; first class. two and a half cents
per mile.
The number Of miles open for railway
| traffic in India is seventeen thOuSant
| five hundred miles and about two thou
| sand miles more are under conStruc
| ton. The English railway will shortl,
| run as far as the city of Kandahar, an'
| it is not improbable that the State line
now open to Peshawar, within min
miles of the Khyber pass, will be ex
/ tended to the city of Cabul and eventu
ally meet the Russian railway at fash
| kend or Samarkand.
! The government of Kashmir is now il
treaty with the British government 70
| the construction of line of railwa-
from Hasan Abdal to Sirinagar, a rout
familiar to the English reader as tina
travelled by Lalla Rool1h in the imperia
days of the Moghul rule.