New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-11
THE AUTOMATIC CAR-COUPLER.

The discussion now In progress In England
over the ACCESSIBILITY of the adoption In that
country Of the automatic car-cOupler naturally
occasions some surprise in America. That de-
vice has come into such general use on this side
of the Atlantic that one Is disposed to wonder
why II has not been received with more favor
abroad It long ago became apparent to the
American observer that limb and even life were
imperIlled whenever brakeman was obliged
to go between two railway cars to couple or
uncouple them Many attempts were made,
therefore. to design n coupler that could be
actuated from "a F.: Of greater safety-that IS
TO say, outside the reach OF the cars.
The device invented by Janney gave the most
satisfaction to railroad men, and 1t was finally
approved by the Master Car Builders Associa-
ton. 1t thus became known as the IN. G. b.
coupler. And when Congress, In the interest
Of labor. passed law directing the railroad
companies to equip their rolling stock with
couplers which would not require the men to go
between the cars the an. c. b. design was
the only one employed. To be sure, the enact
ment has not yet been complied with fully.
The time within which the introduction OF
safety couplers was TO be effected has been
extended But the work Of fitting up all cars
with automatic couplers has gone on so rapidly
as TO have nearly reached completion And the
Janney type alone has been used in the execu'
ton OF the mandate.
Nevertheless, there Is some question as to
the merits OF this device. Favorable reports
have been made on II to the British Govern
ment by experts sent to the United States to
examine II. The managers Of American rail-
WAYS are almost or quite unanimous In conf
mendlng IT, And yet accidents are frequently
reported where the new coupler Is In service.
Only last week 1.-THE Railroad Gazette pub
lished interviews with the manager and several
yard-masters of leading American company
on this subject These men were asked TO ex-
press themselves in relation to the number ana
extent of injuries to brakemen In coupling and
uncouplng. Several other points were touched
upon I'm the catechlsm; but however much they
differed on these latter the manager and yard
masters agreed in this conclusion: Under the
present condition OF affairs it Is necessary for
the men to 60 between the cars, and they are
frequently injured. They do not enjoy i'm
munity from harm. Indeed, several Of the yard
masters emphaticaly declare that the old link
and-pin is the safer Of the two systems.
The remarkable discrepancy between the
faith of the Master Car Builders Association
and the facts here detailed Is. after all, easily
explained Although there is only one type of
coupler used. almost countless varieties Of that
type are made and sold. Janney was respon-
sible for only the general plan Of his device.
His patents expired long ago. Scores of in
ventors have modified the original design. and
In many instances have slightly improved 1t.
But the manufacturers who put these various
coupers on the market to-day are often reck-
less about the workmanship expended upon
their wares It should not he inferred from
this fact that the railroad companies which buy
inferior equipments are ignorant Of the risk
they rum The manufacturers must not be re-
garded as swindlers. At any rate, the blame
for observed deficiencies In the apparatus ought
to be divided.
It appears, then that with automatic car
coupers. as with thousand other kinds Of
| mechanism. certain well-defned advantages
are secured when first-class article Is used,
and they are not secured when a poor one Is
employed. II the English railroads will follow
the example Of the best American companies,
they need have no misgivlngs as to the result.