officials, every rope in order, the wheels inspected and greased at every stop, the cars 

 dean, windows washed, a certainty of safety by years of impunity, and there is no 



tolliiij:; the profits that would result. 



The luxurious " sittings'' of some Continental rail-cars would astonish our easily 

 satisfied citizens, no less than it would gratify them. In Bclt^iuni, the works are 

 owned by government; the employed have the badge of government, and if anything 

 is amiss in their conduct, government corrects it; this cannot be here, but it Ls in 

 our power to have a government of active and intelligent directors, paid for attending 

 to the working of the road, and who are to be found when anything goes wrong, 

 instead of being at their distant country scats, or engaged in business of their own, 

 so large as to allow little time to that of others, who are thus subjected to inconve- 

 nience, untold discomforts, and ^^death. It is a good practice in many insurance 

 offices, banks, &c., &c., in London, that each director receives a guinea for a daily 

 attendance at the office, to see after the company affairs ; absent at the appointed 

 hour he forfeits his pay. 



Let us suppose that this practice prevailed in railway organizations, and that five 

 dollars a day each, or more if necessary, was paid to a number of Directors on a 

 given route, provided they could prove that one at least was on the spot at the arrival 

 and departure of every train at every station on the road, prepared to see that the 

 time-tables were adhered to, and to hear complaints. There cannot be a doubt, 

 that with well chosen men, the economy to the company would be immense. Sharks 

 of all kinds, lurking about under any guise, would be detected. As it is now, when 

 a man breakfasts in Massachusetts, dines in Pennsylvania, and lodges in Virginia, 

 there is no authority to hear what he is subjected to, but on the contrary, it seems 

 to be everybody's business to be out of the way; the traveller is soon out of hearing, 

 and the consequence is that eveiy official does just as pleases himself. 



These paid Directors would be of a superior class; to them appeals of all kinds 

 could be made, and if not redressed they would be removed ; they could inspect the 

 character of the freight, designate the perishable, and if there was a preference ne- 

 cessary by reason of a surplus, order it forward, and see that it went, or be themselves 

 responsible. 



There must and will be more attention paid to the public by these monopolies, for 

 such they are apt to become by reason of their privileges, and till there is, good 

 people, and those who value their lives and limbs, tciU aUiy at home as much cts 

 possihle, have little to do with the murderous affairs, and risk no perishable freight 

 on them when they can avoid it. "VVe hope to live to see at least the same atten- 

 tion to the interests and comforts of those who employ railroads, as is paid by an 

 individual to the customers who support him. Why is it otherwise ? 



Alabama vs. Turkey. — The Mobile (Ala.) Advertiser states that figs can be grown and 

 dried in Alabama, which, in two years' time, will equal, if not surpass the best imported 

 qualities. 



