The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-06

apparatus now used, 70 prevent disaster, aris-
ing from mistakes of the signalmen. By the
''slottng system" the connections OF signal
are such that the arm of the lever may DO
raised to show Changer by q signalman in
either of two neighboring cabins, while the
indication 'clear" can be displayed only by
joint action of the signalmen in both cabins.
Every notification which allows the locomo-
tive driver to go ahead is thus checked and
doubly certified This simple and common
sense continuance. conjoined with repeaters
to tell the signalman how the index is work.
ing, and the confederation of neighboring
stations for mutual correction of signals would
evidently avert many of the terrible acct
dents, especially those which befall lightning
express trains, running by hundreds of minor
depots without stop.
The preservation of intervals between trains
is another aspect of the subject which quite
recent accident on one of the great through
lines of the Middle States shows has been too
little studied by our railway managers. The
rule OF allowing ten minute or more intervals
has been well tried in this country and Eu-
rope; but the result is conclusive against
every scheme of time intervals. No matter
what the time allowed may be, in case of
train breaking down failures will occur in the
disabled train sending back promptly to warn
the on-coming train. The only reliable
method of intervalling is by telegraph, work.
ing either by hand or automatically, so as to
inform the engineer, say every two miles (as
is done on some of the English railroads)
whether he can advance safely. By this az
rangement special loops of the telegraph wires
are provided, and the instant train is dis
abled the brakeman sewers the wire
and thus notifies the signalman at
either end of the section that the track
is blocked. On all great lines, where
trains follow each other at short intervals,
because the traffic is heavy the profits must
be large enough to justify the expense Of con-
structing such Geographic apparatus. In
carrying out such a system in times of fog
it is, of course, necessary for the signalmen
to stand near the telegraph stations and give
the engine drivers decorating warnings and
intimations. Difficult as this must be in
England, where fogs SO often prevail, it is
quite feasible in the United States, requiring
only a somewhat larger number of trained
employees.
Captain Tyler has done a great service to
his profession and to the world in thus pre-
senting the programme of simplicity in lieu
of that of multiplicity and confusion In
his elaborate paper he shows that the three
fold pledge Of safety lies in the observance
of signals by the engine driver, in
the working of points and signals by signal
men and in the secured communication
of signalmen with one another.
The ventilation of the subject will do good
by exciting investigation and securing i'm
provements in his plans, even if they are
defective The elements of human frailty and
mechanical failure must ever develop them
selves in railway management, but they may
be reduced to a minimum. The authorities
can secure this by training their responsible
employees, by providing them abundantly
with the apparatus for discbarging their
duties and by maintaining discipline among
them which, while it permits no looseness.
does not overtax their energies.