The Daily State Journal

The Virginia and Tennessee Railroad—Its Miserable Condition Broken Rails Must be Taken Up.—'Twas but a few days ago that we ventured to pass over a portion of the line of the Virginia and Tennessee railroad. The subject of discussion generally, among the passengers, was the miserable condition of the road and the great risk to human life imposed, by traveling over it.

We, by our intimate acquaintance with this road and its almost criminal neglect, then predicted that but a short time would elapse before an accident of the most serious nature would occur.

Our prediction has been partially verified, and as will be seen by a special telegram published in our columns on Saturday, the lives of two employés of the road have been sacrificed.

In many places along its line, rails extending sometimes over only three ties, are used—pieces of rails put in to supply the place of broken ones; and in many other respects the road in a majority of places is but a man-killing trap.

The special to the Dispatch of this morning announces that the train which killed Captain Fogus and another employé, "came in contact with a broken rail," &c.

It has for a long time been remarkable that as few accidents have happened, when the condition of the road is considered, and unless an improvement is made the entire length of the road, we are not unprepared to hear of the complete destruction of an entire train, together with the lives that may be upon it.

It is true, parts of the road have been improved and new rail substituted for the old, but this is so small, compared with the whole line, as to make it but insignificant.

From Liberty to Salem, the traveler receives many a cruel jar and bump, and unless steps are immediately taken to improve the road thoroughly, the public should be notified of the risk to their lives whenever they venture upon it.