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Editorial
September 6, 1865
The Wheeling Daily Register
Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
Editorial summarizes U.S. railroad accident statistics for the past year, highlighting causes and casualties, and proposes state-appointed boards of inspectors to regulate locomotives, tracks, bridges, and personnel for improved passenger safety, akin to steamboat oversight.
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The Prevention of Railroad Accidents.
The account of railway calamities during the past year in the United States is thus summed up:
Disasters due to collision 23
Rotten cross-ties, broken rails, &c. 71
Turning curves 72
Badly-built and rotten bridges 73
Bursting of boilers 74
Defective locomotives 75
Absence of double track 76
Raised draw-bridges 77
Land slide 78
Broken culvert 79
Absence or defect of light and signals 80
Running into horses, cows and derricks 81
Trifling with brakes 82
Tornado 83
Misplaced switches 84
Culpability of companies or employes, about 45
The aggregate mortality and losses are as follows:
Passengers killed or mortally wounded 91 300
Passengers burned to death, about 93 35
Cases of injury in every form 95 600
Trains more or less demolished 97 67
Total damages to roads and public $30,000,000 99
The above fearful aggregate which we believe falls far below the truth, recals to our mind an idea for the prevention of railroad accidents, suggested by an intelligent gentleman of this city in conversation upon this subject a few days ago, which is at least worthy of discussion. It is simply this: that regulations similar to those in force concerning steamboats be applied to railroads. Let Boards of Inspectors be appointed by each State through which a railroad runs whose duty it shall be to inspect carefully the locomotives and cars and see that they are in good condition as regards the safety of passengers; inspect also the track and bridges and see that they are kept in good order; examine and license conductors and engineers of trains; have authority to supervise the time tables and regulations of the railroad company; and perform whatever other duty might be deemed necessary to secure the safety of the traveling public. These Inspectors might be paid by fees exacted from the railroad company for whom the duties are performed.
It is true that neither this nor any other plan that is likely to be adopted can operate so as to totally prevent accidents and loss of life upon railroads, just as it has been found impossible to totally prevent steamboat accidents, but we are well satisfied that the adoption of some such plan would tend to diminish the number of those catastrophes whose result is summed up above. Something should be done by legislation to make railroad travel more safe and comfortable to the passengers, and we hope the subject will receive the attention of those who make the laws.
The account of railway calamities during the past year in the United States is thus summed up:
Disasters due to collision 23
Rotten cross-ties, broken rails, &c. 71
Turning curves 72
Badly-built and rotten bridges 73
Bursting of boilers 74
Defective locomotives 75
Absence of double track 76
Raised draw-bridges 77
Land slide 78
Broken culvert 79
Absence or defect of light and signals 80
Running into horses, cows and derricks 81
Trifling with brakes 82
Tornado 83
Misplaced switches 84
Culpability of companies or employes, about 45
The aggregate mortality and losses are as follows:
Passengers killed or mortally wounded 91 300
Passengers burned to death, about 93 35
Cases of injury in every form 95 600
Trains more or less demolished 97 67
Total damages to roads and public $30,000,000 99
The above fearful aggregate which we believe falls far below the truth, recals to our mind an idea for the prevention of railroad accidents, suggested by an intelligent gentleman of this city in conversation upon this subject a few days ago, which is at least worthy of discussion. It is simply this: that regulations similar to those in force concerning steamboats be applied to railroads. Let Boards of Inspectors be appointed by each State through which a railroad runs whose duty it shall be to inspect carefully the locomotives and cars and see that they are in good condition as regards the safety of passengers; inspect also the track and bridges and see that they are kept in good order; examine and license conductors and engineers of trains; have authority to supervise the time tables and regulations of the railroad company; and perform whatever other duty might be deemed necessary to secure the safety of the traveling public. These Inspectors might be paid by fees exacted from the railroad company for whom the duties are performed.
It is true that neither this nor any other plan that is likely to be adopted can operate so as to totally prevent accidents and loss of life upon railroads, just as it has been found impossible to totally prevent steamboat accidents, but we are well satisfied that the adoption of some such plan would tend to diminish the number of those catastrophes whose result is summed up above. Something should be done by legislation to make railroad travel more safe and comfortable to the passengers, and we hope the subject will receive the attention of those who make the laws.
What sub-type of article is it?
Infrastructure
Legal Reform
What keywords are associated?
Railroad Accidents
Safety Regulations
Inspectors
Locomotives
Bridges
Legislation
Passenger Safety
What entities or persons were involved?
Railroad Companies
State Boards Of Inspectors
Steamboat Regulations
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Proposal For Railroad Safety Inspections And Regulations
Stance / Tone
Advocacy For Legislative Safety Measures
Key Figures
Railroad Companies
State Boards Of Inspectors
Steamboat Regulations
Key Arguments
Numerous Railroad Accidents Caused By Collisions, Defective Equipment, And Poor Infrastructure
High Mortality And Damages From Accidents Exceed Reported Figures
Appoint State Inspectors To Check Locomotives, Cars, Tracks, And Bridges
Inspectors Should License Conductors And Engineers
Supervise Timetables And Company Regulations For Public Safety
Fund Inspectors Via Fees From Railroads
Such Measures Would Reduce Accidents, Though Not Eliminate Them Entirely
Legislation Needed To Improve Railroad Travel Safety