Morning journal and courier., 1891-03-14
RAILROAD ACCIDENTS.
Means for their Prevention-Lectur
 in the Mechanics, Course.

Means for their Prevention-Lecture in the Mechanics Course.
 Colonel H. G. Prout spoke last night in North Sheffield hall on Railroad Acci- dents and the Means for Their Proven tion." After very complimentary intro duction by President Dwight he said: "The subject of railroad accidents is so large that we must be careful in our di- vision of it. Two divisions may be made, train accidents and those not involving injury to trains in motion; the first divi- sion separating into derailments and col lisions. The great mass of classified acci- dents are from the latter cause; but by far unclassifed kinds-those at crossings, and from trespassing on railroad property Three thousand persons, half of all the fatalities in the country, are annually kill ed in this way. This class however, does not occupy the public attention.
 The method of prevention of collisions most generally used is that of time tables If these could always be maintained per fectly there would be no reason for col lisions, but for many reasons unfortunate
 
 employed in timing the trains, but they are very falible, and accidents often hap pen from misunderstanding or neglect. We must have some mechanical means The most important of these is the air brake, by which not only can the train be stopped in one-ffth the distance of the hand-brake, but it can be administered very rapidly and continues to work when the train has parted. Another means of keeping trains apart is by signals. In the last few years signals have taken the stan vices for color as we'll as shape have also been introduced. Ingenious means for the interlocking of switches have also been perfected and put in use. Block signals separate trains by space and not by time. They would be perfect if worked honestly, but men cannot always keep their heads clear. The Sikes system of blocking is very perfect and is used on the New York and New Haven road near New York, but it is expensive and involves much care. There can be very little question concerning heating. The steam heat is perfectly safe, and the danger of scalding imaginary. Bridge failures are seldom and now be- coming, very rare; but they are most disastrous in kind. In conclu- sion there is one great element of safety, namely to have the employees we'll disciplined. This is very serious prob lem for labor unions, public opinion and even legislation are against it. It should especially be remembered that 91 per cent. of the railroad accidents are of none of these kinds, but simply to tresspassers on the tracks.
 The lecture was illustrated by about twenty stereopticon pictures, among which was one of the Lehigh Valley accidents, recently agitated to prove the danger of steam heat. The photograph showed that the steam in reality escaped directly from one of the colliding engines and not from the steam heating in the cars which were heated by stoves, as was proved by a broken stove which lay in the foreground.
 Now, Give Attention
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