random from one hundred cases on English roads, (American reports do
not detail such information with accuracy,) were,--

Collision 56 56
Breakage of machinery 18 18
Failure of road 14 14

Misplaced switches 5
Obstacles on rails 6
Boiler explosions 1
__ ___
88 100

Eighty-eight per cent. being from those causes which are aggravated
by increase of speed; and if we suppose the amount of aggravation to
augment as the speed, the danger of travelling is eighty-eight per
cent. greater by a fast than by a slow train.

These are the direct evils of high speeds; there are also indirect
evils, which are full as bad.

All trains in motion at the same time, within a certain distance of
the express, must be kept waiting, with steam up, or driven at extra
velocities to keep out of the way.

Where the time-table is so arranged as to call for speed nearly
equal to the full capacity of the engine, it is very obvious that
the risks of failure in "making time" must be much greater than at
reduced rates; and when they do occur, the efforts made to gain the
time must be correspondingly greater and uncertain. A single example