Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-12-09
Automatic Car Couplings and Safety Brakes.

AutoWdut td 1VaP'h4s anu SafeV o'a"eS'
The commissioners devote much spare in
their report 10 q consideration Of the sys-
TENS of automatic ear coaplcrs for freight
cars, aud to careful inquiry regarding
their workings, IN accordance with a re-
solve passed by the Legislature in 1921.
The number of railroad employees in
Maine killed and injured during the past
year, as shown by the appended table, was
uainmen. three killed and twenty two in
iured; switchmen. one killed and three in
iurel OF this number. one trainman was
killed while coupling or nncouplinv cars
and nineteen were injured, and one switch
man WIS killed aud one injured while so
employed.
Those these figures indicate the crafty
ing result that the ratio of killed and
injured in our state j. much less than
in the country as whole, il
also shows that the number of
injured in coupling and uucoupling ears
compared with the number injured in all
other WAYS, stands in the ratio of TO /.
IL is doubtless true tim, many of these
casualties, might have been avoided by the
universal adoption of the appliances IN
question. The suhlee, and the Importance
Of some action in regard TO the equipment
of freight cars With uniform automatic
couplers ana train brakes, have been re-
cognized and agitsteh largely throughout
the whole country, during the past few
years The publication of statistics show
ing the number of accidents oe-
curing in the railway service,
has led to demand that something
be done to save the lives and limbs of
the army of young aud active men so eIn-
a.
ployed. These casualties, as appears by
the foregoing statistics, are mainly caused
hv the use Of the old method of coupling
cars by the link and pin. which eompeis the
operative to 20 between moving csrs,and by
the use of the oil hand brake. whicil must be
operated from the top of the ears. 10 avoid
these dangers, inventive genius and skill
have been taxed to inven, automatic coup
lcrs so that the necessity of going between
rsrs in motion would be avoiied. and also
to perfect a system of train brakes.
The commissioners publish in full the
text of the bill laid before Congress at the
suggestion of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, ITO promote the safety OF
employees and travellers upon railroads By
compelling common carriers engaged in
interstate commerce TO equip their cars
with automatic couplers and continuous
ntakes. anu tntI LOCOMOTIVES Win ufifttS
wheel brakes. and for other purposes.
which occupies three pages of their report.
and concerning which they say. (aftsr
rrviewing the provisions of the bill
in detail: lit is not probable
that every common carrier Or any
considerable portion Of them could or
would avail themselves of the requisite in
formation, in respect to style or type of
coupler best to he used. or deem it worth
while 10 lille any statement or certificate re-
ls,ing thereto. And We should consider
the Interstate Commerce Commission far
from being competent TO determine such an
important and practical matter. We think
all attempts to interfere, BY legislation. in
matters of detail in the mechanical opera
tons of railroads. tend to paralyze rather
than promote progress. and the effects of
such must be detrimental rather than hene-
aeial
Grade Crossings.
Notwithstanding the fact that scores OF
people are annually killed and their ho.iies
torn and mangled at grade crossings, public
sentiment in this State, apparently favors
such crossings, rather than condemns them.