The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1895-10-26
SAFER FREIGHT CARS.
Appliances to he Adopted That VIII saw
1000 LIVES n Year,

1000 Lives ii Year.
The matter Of equipping freight cars
with uniform safety irons. grab hold
ers n car couplers is an important
one to a large number of the railroad
employees of the country. The railroad
men will be pleased to know
that the railroads are taking important
steps in his matter and are actively
preparing to meet the requirements Of
the law in this direction.
Congress passed a law requiring that
all freight cars should be equipped with
uniform handholds and other safety
appliances in accordance with the rec
ommendation of the interstate COM
merce commission by December /. 1895.
The law also requires thai the cars
shall be equipped with safety couplers
by February ], 1888. In order to more
effectually comply with the law the rail-
roads referred the matter to the Master
Car Builders association 10 make q re-
port recommendations which it be-
lieVes Will result in a saving Of the lives
OF 1000 railroad employees every year
Every road in the United States has
agreed to adopt the associations rec
concentrations and will have this class
of rolling stock equipped with the uni
form appliances by the date named by
the interstate commission.
The recommendations of the car
builders association in general arr as
follows:
The principal changes from the pres
ent recommended practic. OF the asso-
citation involved in this practice would
be, first, the addition of one handhold
higher up on the end of each car, near
the middle of the end on cars of certain
classes, and where a ladder round is rot
available for such use. for men to hold
onto when it is necessary to get upon
the end sill or dcadwood; second, the To-
cation of handholds on certain gondola
cars above the end sill, instead of on the
end sill, SO as to be more like the loca-
ton on box cars, because of the advant-
age had in the higher location: .hird,
the location of grabirons or handholds
on end sills of fiat or gondola cars apon
the upper side of the sill, instead Of else
where, as might be permitted by the
present recommended practice.
The recommendations for specific
styles OF cars are:
i. Box or stock car with end platforms
and end ladders. Side handholds-one
S'NA StNAA ~ az w
on each end: ladder may take the place
Of one.
2. Box or stock car with end platforms
and side ladders. Side handholds-one
over each step, except where ladder is
located. End handholds-two on each
end.
5. Box or stock car without end plat
forms but with end ladder. Side hand
holds-one over each step. End hand
holds-tWo on each end; ladder may
take the place of one.
4. Box or stock car without end plat
forms but with side ladders. Side hand
holds-one over each step, except where
ladder is located. End handholds-two
on each end.
S. Gondolas with drop ends. Side
handholds-one over each step. End
handholds-two on each end.
6. Gondolas with fixed ends. Side
handholds-one over each step. End
handholds-two Oh each end; break step
bracket may take the place of one.
Z. Tank cars. Side handholds-one
over each step; safety railing may take
Its place. End handholds-two on each
end.
S. Fla cars. Side handholds-one
over each step. If no steps are used,
n on each side neal end where coup
ling unlocking rod is located. End
handholds-two on each end.
Note-A coupler unlocking rod, II so
located that 1t can be srasped with the
hand. may take the place Of a hand
hold.