The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-29
GUARDING AGAINST ACCIDENTS
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC INTRO
DUCEs THE BLOCK SYSTEM.
An Electrical Continuance which
shows the Movements of Trains,
Making Collision Impossible.

The Southern Pacific railway, always up
10 date in everything tending to render
more safe life aud limb. and expedite traf-
flc. has Just installed. under the direction
of Superintendent W. b. Mulvey and
Electrician A. S. Foofe. an electrical sig
nal apparatus in It's Houston yards.
To the uninitiated it might seem sim
yle matter to pass along the mighty volume
of traffic OF big trunk line through
terminal yard like Houston but on the
contrary, IL requires high degree of Skin
aud executive ability to keep the arteries
of commerce. from becoming 'yaricose'
when as many as 1900 loads are assembled
in the yard at one time as was tue case re-
Gently in the Houston gard
There are fifteen yard crews at WORK
dartIns back and forth night and day, ana
II requires consummate skill In handling
engines and trains in the yard ana taxing
care CT the incoming and outgoing tiaih3
To AVOID smashing I'D valuable properly
and manning and killing passengers and
employees.
Under the old way Of doing business and
the system now In vogue in nearly every
ward west of the Mississippi ircoming an
outgoing trains are compelled to iheranJ
feel their way through yards with a
large element osAincertainty In face OF the
trains. The electric system adopted by
the Southern Pacific does away with this
feeling of uncertainty and reduces TO moth
ING any risk Of collision with opposing en-
gines The power operating the signals
is produced by ordinary gravity battery.
There are two semaphore signals some
thing over mile apart. The first IS 10
Gated at yard entrance. the second on the
main line about a mile from the first. There
Is also a large gong or bell situated at the
street crossing and close to the little house
| seuanfed by the high tall'' or switchman
This bell commences ringing when an IN
| coming train arrives Within mile OF he
ward and continues 10 ring until the train
is safely in the yard and serves double
purpose of warning the high ball man OF
the approaching train. and puts the cross
ng Waterman en- guard ftVe minutes ere
train arrives. AS soon as the nell oesins
10 rig, the high ball man proceeds 10 Zinc
! I'm switches" or. in other words. see that
! ali switches are set right for approaching
engine. The somaphore signals stand at
red or danger" which blocks all trains
until track is clear, When the switches
are lined up the high ball man turns an
electric switch, which throws signals To
white or "sll clear" permitting tram tc
! enter In other words. 5000 feet OF track
| is cut into a block" and whatever trair
| enters this charmed precinct first holds u
against all others. and is effectually pro-
tected until leaving same.
This avoids any danger OF yard engineer
and other trains meeting when hurryina
to and fro between CLANCY Junction ans
other outlying side tracks. and results II
much time economy. as 81 is no longer
necessary to communicate by telegraph
with suburban stations 10 get trains ~
| CLANCY. II also does away with the an
inoyance OF wh.stting for signals which
many people imagine to be meaningless and
1 wanton, but which is absolutely neeessar,
! and composes a language as readily under
stood By the ear OF the experienced train
man as the telegrapher understands his
/ Morse.
Superintendent Mulyey is 10 be congratu
Hated upon this ssfety guard against danger
and accidents. and the enterprise OF thu
| Southern Pacific In thus furnishing NJ
! highest possible protection that the worlt
m science can suggest for its employees
and the public. deserves 10 be initiated b.
other Texas railroads