Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-04-16
The Amount the Railroads Paw
for Automatic Couplers.
THE ROCK ISLAND GRADERS.
the Progress OF the work on the Road.
In Hornets NOst-A Tramo
oomblns-Rlp TrAcEs-other
Railroad News.

me act Of congress approved March 2
VIII cost the railways of tho Tnffcd
states So0,OO0,O0O. by the ist of Jan.
uaIy' lSvS every railroad ia the country
engaged IN Interstate traffic must euuip
ny locomotives with power driving
Wheel brake and appliances for opera.
ting the train brake system. so that
brakem will not be obliged to use the
common hand brake: must equip all cars
win couplers coupling automatically by
impact, which can be uncOuplcd also
without obiiging brakemen TO 10 between
the ends of the cars; may refuse 10 re-
ceiYe from connecting lines cars not
equipped az indicated, aud must provide
al cars with secure grab irons or hand
holds in the ends and sides Of each car.
Tor the greater security Of brakcmen en-.
gagged IN coupling and uncoupling ears.
These are the provisions of an act Of
Congress approved March .. The pen
atty OF any breach OF the law is 500.
and the enforcement Of Il is left with the
Interstate Commerce commission.
The number Of cars already fitted with
automatic oOuplers is inconsidcra BILE
something over 10000; freight aud com
pnny cars, 1900; passenger cars. Dc
600; and leased cars. $4,000, in round
numbers. According to the latest statis-
iucs OF the Interstate Commerce commits
sion the number Of cars In the United
States Is something over 1.915OOO-
freight and company ears 1904. 900:
passenger cars, 2S,O00; and leased cars,
l03OOO, In round numbers IL does not
follow, of course, that the first group Of
figures, the number Of cars fitted with
automatic couplers, viii remain untouched
by the new legislation, for uniformity
must be observed. and consequently a
large proportion or the 10000 cars al
ready equipped will have 10 undergo re-
pair On the other hand. the number
OF cars equipped with the master car.
builders coupler which Is the single
kind most generally In use. aud which
satisfied the provision of the bill, Is also
large.
IL DOES not follow either that the ten.
dency TO uniformity will be In the dirpc,
ton of this coupler. as the railroads are
left perfectly free 20 decide of their own
volition which of all the 1000 or more
couplers which have been invented is
the most inexpensive and satisfactory
But, whether or no, it is evident that
over one million cars will have 20 be
equipped with new cOuplers, 60 say moth,
ing Of the grpb-irOns and handholds. As
the average expense il 500 per car, any
one can figure for himself that the total
outlay must be- In the neghborhOod OF
S5O.00O,OOO OF course, the new cars
which number something over 100 pas.
senger ears and something under $4,000
freight and company cars annually, can
be equipped according 20 the act of Con
gress as Il as they are finished
This legislation has been several years
coming. 1t has been much debated In
Congress; and committee reports, sec
tions of Presidents messages, and planki
In party platforms have been devoted q
its support. IL IL almost inconcciyibl,
that so many railway employees shoult
lack Of safety appliances.