Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-11-08

TO say that nothing can hc done
Twenty-three Of the accidents, nearly
half of the number recorded, were rear
end collisions. of all disasters in the
world seemingly the easiest to be pre-
vented A block signnl system properly
equipped and faithfully followed makes
such collision impossible OF course,
If the signals are put up purely for adj
vertising purposes, to he run At the con
venience of engineers, or, as was the
case near Long Island City, where six.
teen persons were killed last August
nre placed behind trees where they can
not be seen, or. are operated by incoln-
petent and oyerworllel men, II Is
not to be expected that entirely salts
factOrily results will he obtained.
Another series of disasters is cnta-
logued under the title Of head-end col
lisiOns. These are generally caused by
misunderstanding of orders ANA m
such cases invariably some one is at
fault There should be no chance for
Observation-Disclosures in the running OF
trains Misplaced switches are another
frequent cause of trouble. though Just
why any person should ever leave
switch open for a train 10 run in on 20
another train is incOmprchensible to the
lay mind. unaccustomed TO the japanese
Juggling methods followed by some raul
tween stations in the expectation OF
catching them all right somehow IN the
end.
A DUTY or RAILROAD EMPLOYEES
Some railroads have habit of econo-
MIXING on bridges, and the result OF I. 't
economy Is evident on examining the hst
of the years disasters. The ex-presi-
dent of one of the great western rHll'
roads speaking recently of tie famous
Ashtnbulu disaster aud the fact that the
engineer of the bridge had protested when
ordered TO bui,l it ON the nlan adoplel
that 1t was not strong enough, sald: ~
was that engineers duty TO Lave t3lu ms
employers, You will build that bridge ae
rnfInIg to plans t.At | am salts -, "lll
make II perfectly safe. or | shall leave
your road, and Ohio shall know the rel-
son wby.' If every engineer who sees
things being done on railroads mat re
knows are unsafe would follow that pan
he could compel his idea to be, followed
and public opinion would uphold nm ~
Ms course" This is undoubtedly true.
Too many employees do things against
their Judgment ratcr tE1n brave the iuan-
ayers passion for economy.
Accidents from the breaking OF rams
and similar causes are more dlihcnlt 10
nrpycnt. MS such flaws are hard TO dls-
rayer' though it Is done with good sue
cess In England In this country, now
ever. the great mileage and comparative
il small traffic for the length. of roads
make the expense Of keeping up me
roadbeds and track as is done In England
utterly out of the quetlon for most ruauS
nj the rates charged for freight ana
passengers. The price of snfety III TINS
particular Is the pocket-book OF me PEG
! ME A tLOusandmile road, with niue
| traffic and running at loss, cannot be
| eNppcted TO be in good reDalr rs nun,
dred-mile one crowded with business ana
making good proht-
Inc Worlds fair traffic has been the
| cause Of numerous incidents this year,
| 1Nle conclusion to be drawn from them
| IL TINT fhe railroads have been trying TO
| do an exceptional business without ad'
eauate preparation. In some cases en-
| ployes have been 0verwurked TO hanqle
| The traffic. In other low-pricN and IN
| cnmnefent men have been hired, while
| In still others inferior and worn ont
| rolling stock has been pressed into SER
| vice 1t Is II curious fact that some OF
| the roads with the best equipment ana
reputation have had the most trouble IN
this respect, which seems TO point 10 the
conclusion that double tracks ana o,,iet
| cduipments have been relied on some
times 10 the neglect of individual care
u IN the other hand the Erie line,
which is for the most part one track west
Of Salamanca, though having an exceed
ingly heavy traffic. has been e1treIneiy
fortunate. il 1t be fair to give 70 fortune
the credit for rigid application of thy
block system, and the safe running by II
Of many trains at good speed over
single track.
A FEW GREAT DISASTERS.
The first great accident of the year.
which resulted in the death of twenty
fonr persons, showed little trace OF me
fate but WINS purely the result OF human
cnrelessness A "Big Four express
train on January q ran into 20, an ~, oIe 81
switch onto a freight train. Inc s"ite ~.
man ran away. In the course OF W. w
DAYS another misplaced switch at " ~.
lace, n. Y, kills one and INJURIES Ioni
persons. A rear end collision, NOR it
| broken rails, in quick succession, kh
nine people and injure ninety-hye.
Then, on February %, PennsylYhnla
express, at Morton, Pa, runs INTO q lor
hidden block. where car -. os a,i
switched across a track. Kills iopr AZ W.
Injuries fifteen. The excuse for the dls
neter was chat the truck was supper!
anil the engineer could not stop aiief W
saw the signal All Of Mareh's mishap.
were rear end collisions; IN AlrN
curious accident oeciirred: a tLai ad "a "
away on a short mountain raiironh 4
Somerset, Pa. and rushing down W
vrode killed seven Isrsons Inc tfouoe
~ the ..Rir -Four" were again made man
ifesf on MAY I, when the air brakes Q
an express refused to work, ana lhe lflll
left the track anu P'oMev iiiiad On,
sheds, lis record was ten kiieu am
me Manhattan Beach railroad disaste
at Parkyle tunnel where T., in,e elslb5 os M ee
, hsan forgotten. The state railroad CON
mission found that a sleeping towerinla
was suddenly awakened by tfe odIn LAWN
. 49, witch under the cars. thus dc
, sailinr them. During July trains "a
, into a street car az Chicago, over 9 M NJ
placed switch at East Aa ar II i,,ii.
n aaainsf a protecting freight ear on
! side track at Providence. through "a IN y,
, lie near ST Louis and INTO me r TSas e gu
,,al s,bss,.er. n each case would probi
! biy have been so lnconsiderate as 70 g.
J why It happened, and insist % ola rislll
s somebody. Perhaps he Nolu ,, ~ a.,
{ ] for 1t ia utterly inpossluAe 70 e''e' 80