The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-17
Double Headers Again.

To the Editor: I've just read Mr.
Bars letter of the 9Th instant to the
News and Observer in regard to double
headers. / may be considered back
number in railroad circles, as resigned
my position as passenger conductor in
1889, but as l was on the road for over
twenty-five years it is only natural
that should still feel a deep interest in
any matter in which the interest of the
S. A. L. railroad is involved / approve
of what Mr.. Daniels had to say in reply
and / would like to make a few re-
marks in regard to both letters. / am
one of the many who think that the
practice of running double headers is a
dangerous one. 1t may be very true
that they are commonly used in other
parts of the country, where they have
better roads, all oak ties and ninety
pound rails, but it is very different on
the 5. A. L., where they have many
pine ties, medium rails and so many
nip and tucks, as an old railroader used
to call the quick and sharp grades,
curves, etc. Under those circum-
stances I should think the use of double
headers would prove most objection
necessary. on the other roads just des-
cribed, as Mr.. Daniels says, it greatly
depends on the road. The reply to Mr..
Bars letter contains several splendid
reasons why they are considered hazard
Gus by railroad men of experience and
l should think any one of them would.
Mr.. Barr says they would never have
been used at all if any danger was con-
nected with them.
A gentleman in describing horse
which he was anxious to sell said this
horse is sixteen feet high The other
man said ooh, no., you mean sixteen
hands instead of sixteen feet, do you
rot?"t
mo, I do not mean sixteen hands, |
mean sixteen feet high, and he is that
high because l said SO, and l never re-
woke anything / say
So / suppose Mr.. Barr thinks that if
he says there is no danger in double
headers there is none, regardless of
what older and more experienced rail-
road men nave said concerning them,
and what they have been so universal
ly condemned, also that because they
have been used in the past, that is a
good reason why they should always be
used, whether they proved satisfactory
or not
Mr.. Barr also states that he has mo
desire to skim the railroad. / do not
know what his definition of SHINING
means, but when / see one individual
accepting salary, so reported, of $685.
900 a year and the rest of the employers
just half paid L call that skinnng the
railroad pretty badly. If the help on
the S. A. l.. railroad received better
l'pay it is my opinion we would have bet
ter service, better time and fewer acct
dents
would like to suggest to Mr.. Barr to
restore in full the Raleigh and Castor
shops at Raleigh and the working ma
chinists that have been left out in the
cold. / would also like to ask why
there is SO much secrecy in regard to
these accidents, instead of the people
receiving a prompt and correct report
The authorities seem to do all they can
to keep every one in the dark. Mr.
Barr expresses a desire to do every
thing he can for the road, and if SO it is
to be hoped that SO many accidents will
not occur in the future as they have in
the past. an dit does seem that mar
with so much experience over SO many
roads ought to give good satisfaction.
| have often heard, however, rolling
| stones gather no moss
DALLAS I. WARD.
Franklinton, N. c., October Is, 1901.