Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-10-12
SAFER FREIGHT CARS.
Apai. snces TO Br Adopted That WI sav.
I,GOO lives u Year.


The matter Of equipping freight cars
with uniform safety irons, grab hold
ers and car c~ouplers Ia an Important
one TO a large number OF the railroad
employees Of the country. rhe railroad
men will be pleased TO know
that the railroads are taking important
steps in this matter and are actively
preparing to meet the requirements or
the law In this direction.
Congress passed a law requiring that
all freight ears should be equipped with
Uniform ~handhol4s and other safety
appliances In accordance with the rec
~ommendatlon OF the interstate com
merce commission by December !. 1895.
The law also requires that the cars
shall be equipped with safety ~couplers
by February ]. 1898. In order to more
eGectually comply with the law the rail-
roads referred the matter to the Master
Car Builders associa don - make a re-
port and Communications which 1t be-
lieves VIII result IN q saving Of the lives
Of LOO railroad employees every year
Every o in the United States has
agreed 10 adopt the associations rec
concentrations and will have this class
OF rolling stock equipped with the uni
form appliances by the date named b.
the interstate commission.
The recommendations Of the car
builders association N general are as
follows:
The principal changes from the pres
ent recommended practice OF the assoc
citation involved in this practice would
be. first. the addition of one handholl
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 % hold
onto when il is necessary TO get upon
the end sill or deadwo1l: second. the 10
cation Of ~handholds on certain gordpla
cars above the end sill. instead Of on the
end sill. so as 10 be more like the loca-
tion on box cars, because OF the dyant-
age had in the higher location, :hird.
the location OF grabirons or handholds
on end sills OF fiat or aond0la cars upon
the upper side Of the sill. instead OF else
where. as might 1e permitted ny the
present recommended practice.
The recommendations for specific
styles OF ears are.
/. Box or stock car with end platforms
and end ladders. side handholds-one
over each step. End handholds-two
on each end; ladder may take the place
az one.
>. Boz or stock car with end platforms
and side ladders. Side hlEdhoids-one
ever each step. except where ladder is
located. End handholds-two on each
end.
3. 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
tax the place % enc.
I. 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.
:. Gondolas with drop ends. side
handholds-one over each step. End
handholds-;wo on each nd.
8. Goudolas with fixed ends. Side
haudholds-one. over each sep. End
hlndholds-two On each end; break step
bracket may take the place OF one.
!. Tank cars. side handholds-one
owe each step: safety railing may take
us place. End handhOlds-two on each
end.
s. Flat ears. side handholds-one
Over each step. If no Steps are used.
one WI ---h -i>s~ near end whore oosp-
ling unlocking rod is located. End
handhoids-two on each end.
Note-A coupler unlocking rod. II So
located that it can be erasped with the
hand. may take the place OF a hand
hold.