Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-08
Train DiSpatchinS.

hail-itcADiNT As A StlENiE-ItOW TRAINS
ARE HANDLED.
Within the last few years the work of rum
| ming railroads has been greatly simplilied.
Now on every. weIlreguated railroad things
move like c Ock-WOlk. the machinery working
without a jar day in and day out. The In,
dianapoHS NeUS says: In the movement Of
trains much depends on the train dispatcher.
who fills most responsible and laborious po-
sllion. The latter day-train dispatcher 81 :
at headquarters and with the aid of a curious
chat is enabled to see at a glance the exact
Whereabouts of every train on the road at any
minute of the day. ii 3 has the entire line be-
lore him i'll a miniature.
Dots and pegs of different size and shape
indicate the different trains in motion at the
same time. and from the chart and an elabo
rate time card the train dispatcher is ena bled
!" direct operations by telegraph with as much
could possibly have We're he ubiquitous and
able to give oral commands in a hundred
PAGES at the same time. The train dispatcher
is supposed to know and does know the size of
each rain, freight and passenger, on his divi
sion, the speed and power of each engine the
grade OF every mile of the road and where
1ime ear be made up to the best advantage
be usually works with the superintendent
or manager of the road. though frequently he
IS put IN charge of his particular department
ment or the duties assigned HIM. being given
great latitude and left wholly unhamptred
The train dispatcher keeps a record of the
time each train starts from the end OF each
DIVISION. and from that moment until it ar
rives at its destination it is constantly under
ms eye and guidance. like chesSmen in the
nandS OF Skllful player. SO long as trains
move on time he is not called upon to exercise
his ingenuity much. 1t is when 4 train is
dltched or meets with some other unavoidable
accident that the dispatcher shows up to ad-
vantage.
Here he finds field for the exercise of hi,
lull powers. In such emergencies the regular
tiile cara Is OF no earthly account, and he is
forced to lmproviSe one for the occasion. He
IS called upon to decide which trains shall
have the right of way. where and how they
shall meet, where lie on the side track. and =
thousand and one other matters that arise out
OF the emergency. On his presence of mind
and accuracy of knowledge depends the lives
OF hundreds of train men and passengers and
thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of
property.
ADMINISTRATION Of his daily duties: Ten trains
an on OF time and running by telegraphic
trains on stretch of track 50 miles long, and
designate where the five going east shall meet
the five going west. One Of the five west bound
is a through passenger train with no stops to
make, and can run at a certain rate of speed
another IS local passenger making all stops.
emit from the rest: another is a freight with
ilght load; and another 4 freight with heavy
load load one has part of the road to run over
has large hills to climb. Ali these things have
TO De taken into consideration plans formed,
and executed at once. and these trains started
dn9 hepI going without delay and without ac-
cident.
The train dispatchers connected with the
indianapolis railroads handle daily about 30
tralnS-on paper-a fact that will enable the
p1oilc TO Judge something of the Importance
OF the trust.
A CURIOUS BIT of philology is conveyed in
me name of the familiar briar-wood y pipe.
1t has no connection with any "briar" such
as SWeet-briar or blackberry. but the word is
merely corruption of "bruyere,' the Irish
no tnir,
coast OF FRANCE, and grubbing this heath and
saving out the roots in steam-mills are i'm.
pOrtant industries in that vicinity.
4s-They say Eve never looked through
ADAMS pockets for letters from other women.
Boston Post.
4sThe strike in the Chase mills. at Fall
River, Mass, ended Saturday, the EMPLOYERS
acceding to the demands of the strikers.
Ro= Frederick MOrker and John Dale have
been arrested at Cincinnati for attempting to
pass raised checks on the Commercial bank
of that city.
H9-A child two years old at Leeds, in Eng
cat lying on its face when asleep.
80 The duelling mania has revived in the
more thlnly settled parts of the south. 1t is
regarded as preventive against Over-pOpula-
ton.
A9-It is estimated that over 100000 persons
In New England have signed the total absti
hence pledge since Dec. l.
&c. Mr: ,t Rogers Of .. Grafton; Conn, has
teacher, leaving wife and seven children to
mourn his sudden and terrible fate.
ASrCOld cOmfOrt-RepOrts come from the
kennebec that over 100000 tons of ice have
been stored