Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-12-13
MAINE RAILROADS.
Annual Report Of the Board
Of Railroad Commission.
ers for 1890.
Complete Surrey Of The Great RailIay
Systems Of Maine.
Aud Summing OF all IMPROVEMENTS
Made During the Year.

The Railroad Commissioners of Maine
have submitted their thirty second annual
report to His Excelleacy, Hon + c. Bur-
leigh, Governor. Ii 10 al exceedingly
valuable pubic document. and Ia the
abstract published below no fact or opinion
Of importance has been omitted
In their introduction the Commissioner
refers to the subject Of safety to travellers
on railroads, and give = somewhat lengthy
and csre full account of the number of pas
se1gers carried and the number of acei 'ent'
resulting to them. The ststistican of he
Interstate Commerce Commi.si N stat,
that on the 30;h day of June, 1859 the rail.
av milesge of the United States was 81.
.5s s3 100 miles :the number of passengers
carried during that year. 472 lSl S43; the
sggregate number of miles travelled H.
553. $50, i45, which shows an average
joui aey of "a Al miles for each passenger.
OF the above number of passengers carried
$40 were killed and 2l4G more or less
injured.
1t will be seen from the foregoing statis-
tea, that not withstanding the vast number
of passengers carried. the number of miles
travelled, and the demands for swift loco
mot on and transportation made upon rail
roads, which is the most speedy mode of
travel now in use and, as appears, as safe
as other modes, comparatively few have
been. in any way, injured.
THIS freedom from accident to pa.sen.
gers on railroads, is not realize by en-
ployes. In cnnnect.on with the rail-
road system of the country, there
are 704,743 workers, the most of
whom are men. 1t is estima'ed tina, ipde-
the United States, provide living for
3 900 600 persons. or about one in twenty
two of the total population of the country.
OF the above number of employees, sts,is-
tics show the stsrtliog fact that 1872 were
killed, and 20 OPS others injured durir z
the year eading June 80 1889. wbicn COM
pletely discloses the dangerous nature of
railway travel.
That this number of men employed in
railway service should be killed or msimed
in one year is appsliug and seems unrea
sonable and unnecessary II trains were
equipped with such modern appliances as
are now at hand. The above statistics show
that few accidents occur by reason Of
defective tracks or bridge structures of
railroads. The number Of passengers above
mentioned, which are carried safely bv the
railways of the country yearly, is evidence
that the physical CONDITION of railroads is
generally well maintained The great dan.
ger to travellers by railrosd, is not that rail
ways are Improperly constructed or main
t,iaed; but by reason of mismanagemen mt
and The carelessne.s and incompetency of
employees. Nearly every railroad accident
to trains Of which We read, can be directly
attributed to the above mentioned causes.
What is true in respect to the accidents
throughout the country is true as to our
own State. The ply steal condition of rail
roads in Maine is well II Taintained and no
accidents of serious nature has occurred
for msny years, TO trains that could be
reasonably attributed to defects in construc-
ton or wan. of repair in track or bridge
str lctures.
Railroad Employss.
In con ,ection with the statistical facts
above given, as to accidents to employees on
railroads, vast numbers. of whom as we
have shown are yearly being killed, MANNED
and otherwise injured we are led to inquire
must this slaughter of our strong. active
young men be permitted to continuel Is
there no remedy: Can it be said that we
have acquired perfect system of railroad
ing in this country when out of 704 .743
employees, 1872 are killed and 90 OPS
injured yearly. of whom many of the latter
class are manned and crippled for life
Doubtless many of these accidents oc ;ur
by reason of the csrelessness of these per
sons or their employees; but from the nature
of the accidents above enumerated, we can
not doubt that if such modern appliance.
and inventions, as are now available, were
used. many of the lives and limbs of oper.
stives on railroads would be saved.
In view OF the dangers to which these
men are subjected and the fact that rail
road corporations, under our laws. are
exempted from liabilities, is i, no, clearly
the duty of railroad corporations to use all
the means within their power, and adop'
every device that will in any manner lesser
the dangers to which these employees are
repeat what we sail in our report in lss!
upon this subject.
"As means of promoting the efficiency
of railroad employees. and to stimulate
them to faithfuluess in the discharg, o.
their dnties, we believe it would be wise
for railroad managers to adopt system
of grading in each department. with 4
CORES pondng, compensa,i,n for eacl
grade. Where the lives of the travelling
public and the property of the corporation
depend for heir pressry alton, upon the ey
perience. care and faithfulness in the dis
charge of the duties. with which slmos
every employ is necessarily entrusted nen'
to, great care can be exescised in their Sc
lection. Neither il it Just to the employ
who has FIR years exercised skill
care and faithfulne.s in the discharge o
every duty entrusted to him
to have nothing held up, to whicl
he may attain, as a reward for exer
cisirg such skill and faithfuIne.s. by wa,
Of increased pay or promotion. We ar
confident thst if some such policy as oul
Tired shouli be adopted by railroad official
ard managers, greater efficiency would b
secured and better feeling would exis
between employer and employe.'
Automatic CoupIers.
As has been already shown. during tn
year ending June 30. 1889, out of 1873. 80
| rainmen ia the United States. 3G0 wer
killed and 6.757 injured in coupling an
upcoupling cars. In no other branch of tn
service are meme xposed to 90 much dsr gsl
Generally the link and pin coupl-r o
bye gone days. is sill in use. Brakeme
are still compelled to 20 between freigt
cars 10 couple AMI uncouple them Hsrdl
day passes but on taking up pewspspei
We see the account Of an accident 70 SON
one who has been killed or severely ipjure
in 40 doing In our last report, we sait
while satisfactory progress is being mad
| in the operation of railroads asd trains /
mos. respec's. little If any is being mad
in the methods of coupling freight cars i
this or Ia other states. Statistics slIoE TIA
| tue seemingly Unnecessary m1tilation an
| los of life of men engaged in coupli1
and uncoupling freight ears. ssill goes on
The above stssemen, Is applicable to tn
| present situation. So far as appears, n
progress is being made ia this state. M
/ throughout the country, 10 the sub,titu,io
| of automatic freight car couplersin plsee c
| the liak and pin As we stated ia our fol
mer report, we believe that the action Q
the Master Car Buiiders' Association,
adopting the Janney Type Of fupler wa
premature ard Ill advised /; not because th'
type Of coupler vas without ms rit. b.
because no coupler Of tina. fype had bee
invented or was in use at the time Of 1
sdop'ion, but when subjected TO prac,ic
or physical tes s,failei to meet the require
ment Of the service. This fact vas clear
sho~n by the report of tests made By con
| pstsnt mechanical engineers shortly aft.
said adoption. Since thst time sever
/ railroad co'p3rations especially in ths w Z
have followed she recon nsndsii N Of th
association. in adopting that 'yps Of cou
| ler; but so far a. we can learn no coupl