RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1073, 11 March 1911, Page 3

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.

Sir,—Upon several occasions wo have read of terrible accidents ,in trains dashing into each other—tho passengers getting mixed up and jammed amongst the wreckage of burning carriages. Let us just imagine the tcrriblo calamity that took place when the Glasgow express look fire after the collision, when those who were able and willing to render aid in extricating ti'.eir fellow creatures from such an awful position were rendered helpless through having nothing io work with. Now, sir, my contention is this: Steamboat companies and ship-owners generally are compelled by law to carry life-belts, life-boats, and lo have up-to-date (ire appliances for the. protection and safely of their passengers and crews. Then why should not tho law compel all railway companies lo havo fixed underneath the side of each passenger carriage a neat locker, -ullieiently large to hold, say, a handy .handspike, an iron crowbar," an axe, and a tomahawk, a few bottles of lire-extinguishing' chcmicole, and n saw, the door to drop outwards. It need cot be above four or five inches wide, and

the length of the tools; the hinges should ho at the bottom and the fastening at the upper edge. If one knew the carriage that might escape being burnt, then that need only he (ho one to have a locker, hut the'-"if" stands in the way, ami every carriage ought to be so equipped for eventualities. \\c have often read of lire-extinguishing experiments on our reclaimed land with chemicals, but when did we hear of the chemicals being used on burning carriages? Trusting some 0110 better able to impress the subject on the mimis of those in authority will take (lie matter up in thorough earnestness — 1 am, etc., ■ HENRY WALTON, Waikanae, March S, 1011.