The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-16
RAILWAY DANGERS
soon TO Be ENDED
French Government Will Put
Old Road III Good
Condition.
RECENT ACCIDENTS
System Allowed Ia Go Down
Because State Wanted
to Buy II.
ny GEORGE D,rnEsNE.



ny GEORGE DtEnEsNE. H.
lSpeclai Gable TO iii. Times Dispatch.]
Paris, AprIl -. american tourists
arriving here by C'herpourg. or from
England via Dieppc. anu travelling over
the Western State Railroad have little
idea of the dangers ;hat threaten them
on Ibis comparatively short trip. be-
cause of the miserable condition of the
road bed. the rails. the signal system.
as well as the rolling; stock Of this com
pany which the French government
took over from :: concern that for
years had neglected all improvements
and repairs, because i, WIS known that
the state was determined to buy the
road. Innumerable have been tile acct
dents that have taken place OH these
lines during the last SIN months. but
now the end is in sight and, after
spending the enormous amount of l0O,-
100000 francs on improvements tho
ne" minister Of public works. NJ.
Charles Dumont hopes to transform
the system into one of tho safest, fast
est and most up-to-date railroads in
Europe
NJ Dumont, who has an extensive
knowledge of railroadlng as well as OF
enginecrinSs has just laid an elaborate
scheme before the senate. which has
declared itself satisfied and passed Il
motion expressing full confidence in
the minister's ability 10 carry out his
plans.
The Western State Railroad will,
when the improvements have been COM
pleted he the most American road in
europe. The automatic block system
"ili he identical with the one used OH
the PENNSYLVANIA and New York Cen
tral system. the rails will be of the
same pattern and weight. the main
lines Will be throughly rock ballasted
and oil Will be used for sprinkling 10
prevent dust, while heavy engines built
after American models will he brought
into use s fast as the roads machine
shops can turn tl.cn out. |, is X
rec,ed that all the other railroads OF
Europe VIII have 10 follow the en-
ample set by the state and Americans
VIII be able to travel through France
With all the comfort to which they are
used at home.
After three weeks yachting cruise
In the Mediterranean Nj. BRAND thc
cN-prime minister. is back again ana is
spending his Easter holiday in love-
Is brittany
So far nothing is known about his
future plans. lie refused tempting
OFFER 10 lecture in several European
capitals and in the new world 1t IS
better than those given 10 his prede-
cessor in the Office of Premier. NJ. Gle
menccau, whose lecture tour In South
africa was entirely successful Rriano
docs not possess the personality OF
Clemenceau. but he is an acccpta bic
speaker and. given topics congenial TO
himself and of general public Interest.
he would undoubtedly have attracted
large houses
III .Eh ,ln,
reason for his refusal. The new min
lsterial combina ton is not expected to
work very we'll There are forecasts,
indeed, OF another new Cabinet in tho
near future, in which case Clemenccau
and BRAND might be called upon 10
lend hand in forming IL.
whose appearance In the tribune was
tho signal for an uproar in the Cham
Der. IT is now NJ. Driant, He IS retired
commandant. who left the army +: thcr
than take par, In the Inventories a
very popular figure i'm eastern France.
he was elected deputy for Nancy at the
general election. lie seems to revef
IN setting everybody ighting. lie
Withstands the president OF the Cham
Der, he withstands the minister of
war. and he mocks at tho radical ma
1ority. They try to drown his voice.
bnt he holds firm and says what ne
wants TO say, So irritated was the
minister of war few days ago that
he consulted his friends as 10 whether
he should not challenge the so ,cier-
deputy to a duel. -
Driant is getting on in years now
He fought in the war of 1870 and ne
was General Boulanger's orderly foi
two years at he ministry of war lie
Is detested In the chamber because n
founded military league against Free
Missionary in the army. The members
of the league are eN-oftccrs, who for
the most part had 10 quit their careers
because of the hchcs. They numbc,
about 100, and include sixty-thrce gen
erals. ll"iant says he will have 1000
al his back by The next general cleo
ton. The leagues mission is TO warn
the messrooms every time q new chum
is Freemason. The consequence al
rendy is that the spirit OF comrade-