The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-11
S~TREET-CAR CASUALTIES.
Mechanic" Once MOre Urges the I'M
pOrtance of Capable MOtOrmen.

p~Ortance of Capable MOtOrmen.
To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal
In your issue of Aug. % was an article
headed "Street-car Motormen." with the
text. 1.-The public demand for high speed,
not the carmen. responsible for casuaii-
ties" 1t is doubtful whether the writer or
that article has read the preceding publica-
tons in your paper. beginning July 81 and
followed up each Monday week on the sub.
ject under discussion. It is not for the
purpose of institnting q fight against Mr..
Galloway. any more than against motor
men and conductors-ss men-that the sub
iect was first introduced. and no 'senti-
mentality need be INDUCED in by referring
to the intelligence, pohteness or good in
teption of the overworked, o~verexposed,
and. added to this. the underpaid mon,
who are hired to do this business; nor is it
necessary to otter as an excuse for run
ming people down." that a motorman cam
not ''see through q wagon" or another carr
both offered for two OF the most needless"
accidents we have yet had. indianapolis
residents do not want excuses for killing and
manning citizens or strangers that come TO
visit. and as no personal attack has been
made upon any man. the matter of shifting
responsibility on che public. or of excusing
individuals in charge of q system that re-
suits In such dreadful calamities will
not bring the redress asked for of
tho wrong that are being per-
petrated day after day on tho streets.
The ground taken, heretofore, in these
criticisms wa that IN time these same raw
motormen. unedueated and unqualified for
such responsible positions. would. by ex-
perience. aud az the expense of human life,
be taught TINT they were dealing with
forces they little dreamed of when they
A-0lr 700. aNA ho N~tN cha &C.,
turn this way of the crank made her 60"
and that way made her STOP" and with
this knowledge of a motor car were in
stalled as iuli-tiedged motorInen. barring u
few exceptions. TO get their education and
qualification IN the experience they should
have on the lines. Those who have been
unfortunate enough TO have killed n boy, at
an understandable speed. because he
couldn't sec through q wagon" or TO have
killed q woman because he couldn't see
through u car" Will not be likely to ever
again DO the same thing. Nobody supposes
tor q moment that any man on the line
intends to MAIN or kill.
OF course We will have accidents u we
will have rapid transit. TOO. but is that
any reason why We shall not reduce the
chances to the minimum There is
no premium to be allowed on
cheap. This Is a well-learned lesson by all
pre-einInentIy sucoessful manufacturers,
where merit sells the goods. The public
demands % better and speedier way all tho
time, but 10 does not want to pay for IL by
being killed. The New York Central gave
TO the demanding public the flyer" but
who did they pat IL charge of that first
trainf The little "Old man" with the
"keeD. biue-gray eyes" and the "steady
nerve" Was tho best qualified man they
had. Whyf Because he knew almost to
the turn of q wheel how fast he was run
ming. and in what space. at sny given
speed. no could stop. He knew every
nerve aud fiber OF his machine" what
speed 'she would make" on ''nps," and
"ourves," IN fact. he Was qualified, what
ever it had cost lin and others to get IL.
else he never would or could have run that
train.
As long "a we allow it and offer any KIN d
of excuse Tor lt, the syndioates to which
we grant franchises will employ men who
are incompetent. and men knowing posi-
lively that they are incompetent will as
sumo the position they now ocou py OF mo-
torman. and will 60 on causing casuelties
until they are stopped by rigid la requiring
them tU show cause why they are In
with these great engines, OF which they
know SO little-some of them absolutely
nothing.
If some of the questions heretofore sug-
gested-wlfh many more. COM
petency-cenDOt DO answered. let our
properly delegated municipal authority
see TO IL that sucn q man. or men. are de-
barred from operating rapid transIt OF
any KIND. The citation by Mr.. Galloway
of railroad accidents" Running men
down and killing men. lie IN no way u
parallel TO our street casualties. It is their
right of way" and the people are warned
not to walk on the track. and ct
every crossing, not supplied with
tagnen. cautionary signals. danger signs
and other precautionary methods are
used aud demanded by rigid laws. to re-
duce 20 the minimum loss OF life TO the care
less or venturesome, while on ouc streets
every body has an undisputed right TO use
them, and by common consent certain
amenities are observed. while it road Law"
is violated we have some redress by State
statute. Not 80 with this system OF rapid
transit of such recent origin. But lt IS
gratifying 10 read of some action being
taken by the City Council in even talking
over the matter. and whether it results Of
once in giving US protection or not it Is
surely q step in the right direction and
regulating this deplorsbis state of
affairs that meKes our streets
so unsafe ct present. IL is not
enough 90 say that everybody is more or
less TO blame for people being killed or
crippled almost daily upon thIckiy-orowd-
ed th0rOughfares. 10 Is wrong. radically
wrong. and If any part of 1t is attributable
10 ignorance of common law. the law Of
mechanics or of physics, such ignorance
should not be excused on the ground of
ponintentionAl desire. but should be set
down as criminal caTelessnoss or negligence.
Put on these motors qualified and COM
petent men. and surround the whole sys-
tenn OF rapid transit with all tho most
/ improved safeguards now known tor the
protection Of human life and limit; regulate
the downtown" speed TO the real require
ments mot wants. of the general public,
and give us the assurance that We
arc protected as We ought to DO from need