New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-19
SIGNAL ENGINEERS.
THEY ARE THE MEN WHO HAVE
CHARGE OF THE SIGNAL SYSTEMS
ON GREAT RAILROADS.

The Railway Signal Club Of the United States.
COMPOSED OF signal engineers from all parts OF
The country held its fourth annual meeting In
Now-York last week, and people who at
tended the sessions had an opportunity to note
how much time attention and money are being
devoted ~ the various railroad corporations to
provide proper signal systems. Signal cngi-
ncers are not the men who operate tn" signal
machinery but scientific men who regulate the
signal service Of the company with which they
are connected. from the roads central office To
I'll the position properly one must be civil.
mechanical and electrical engineer and those
who become members Of the club must have
been connected with the designing. construction.
maintenance or operation Of signals not less than
one year.
one of the members 81 the club said The
Railway Signal club is the natural outgroHth OF
the advance In railroad business. There was
time when flags in the hands Of poorly paid ana
often ignorant men were the only signals IN
use Then cane the various Improvements
which the increase In number Of trains and
speed made necessary But for a long time
there was little harmony Of action. and in that
particular much is still to be done. The object
Of the association is the advancement of knowl-
edge concerning the designs. construction.
maintenance and operation Of railway signalling
appliances 10y discussion. investigation and the
reports OF the experience Of members. The as
sociation also provides means for exchanging
ideas to the end that signalling practice may be
systcnatized and improved"
The recent railway accidents ii Colorado and
Kansas have done much to awaken interest in
the work of the Signal Club. and it 5ecms to be
the opinion OF its members that perfect sig
nfaI hos "A Al
other similar catastrophies.
III the Office Of signal engineer carried with
1, the executive authority Of the administration"
eaid Earl NJ. SeitZ. secretary Of the club. There
IS litlc doubt that We would soon see the
railways go equipped with block signals and
other safety devices as To make It unnecessary
fer u to record the frequent accidents such as
Tho Atlantic city crossing disaster. the New
castle Col hcad-en1 collision and the En-
yaria. kan. collision. which may expect to
lc repeated SO long as no provision is made
/, insure against tho ft!libility Of the operator.
conductor and engineer
a Moral ana Physical Agent in SAFE Rail
way Travcr WIS tho subject ~ the chief paper
read ri the clubs session. It, author. charles
Nan.,l reviewed The growth II IN" intcrloc1tluS
sye,ril and closed the hirhly interesting paper
a follows. The signal engineer should follow
t. ever CLEANSING .,uiitiaus ~ traffic. and those
charged with me moral oh.i,1tions T. sud- ia"
conditions Mould throw aside precedent which
has not been confirmed H. practice. should an
alyzo tn various Problems which are sure To
be pr rt,d ~ oy,Ty crossing. juno ion "r draw
bridge and. thus equipped. h" may determine
wisely upon Ia plan which experience has
Demonstrated is Tho best f'r tn situation under
consiIrrat.on."