The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-05
Testimony 10 Favor Of The Operation OIL
DoubIe.aeale S Was Given.
The /. AND G. N REDUCING ITS GRADl
directors of the International Were
Elected Mt Pnlestinc--rhe II. of
r.. T. Excursion.

accident at crossing by applying the
emergency, although the first engineer was
asleep or failed to take the necessary
to a question by Colonel Campbell. at
torney for compainapts, said he did not
know that Santa Fe engineers and fire.
men prefer runs on local and work trains
TO runs on double headers. Two engines
at the head Of train double the strain
on the coupling appliances. but the strain
between the two engines is not doubled.
Coupling appliances break beyond GER
tain limit of strain whether the train Is
pulled by one or two engines.
w. G. Mnon, general superintendent OF
the Gulf. Colorado and Santa Fe, followed
MIR. Scott on the stand. Testified that in
his opinion double headers are not extra
hazardous and that the view of the crew
on the second engine is not materially
oDscured. Thought double headers eco
nomical and was of the opinion that their
| operation had resulted in a saving OF $4,000
TO the Santa Fe.
| j. r. Mcdonald, road foreman or en-
gnes on the Santa Fe, testified that In
his opinion double headers can be sue
cessfully operated over nog backs when
equipped with automatic couplers. in
travelling over the road in his official capa-
city frequently rode on engines pulling
double headers. Had observed nothing
that to his mind indicated extra hazard
In the operation of two engines at the
head of train.
On cross-examnation said that he
thought double headers can be success
fully operated on the Santa Fe. Did not
increase the liability of accident, but there
were more men exposed to danger in case
OF accident on a double header than on
a single header. Looking out for danger
is only one OF an engineers duties which
| are multitudinous, Thought one conductor
and two brakemen sufficient to run train
of sixty cars with air brakes. Believed
in the double-header system. In the be-
ginning engineers and fremen on the
Santa Ee objected to double headers, but
knew of no late complaints. Local aud
work trains are considered preferred rsns
on the Santa Fe, but did not think II was
because OF objections to the running OF
double headers on through freights. Did
not know of a single engineer on the
Santa Fe who favored double heading
Had not advised six Santa Fe engineers
who had come down to attend this hear
ling, but returned home without testifying
not to take the stand In this matter. On
were to ask anybody to testify they would
be the people he would pick. Knew that
Santa Fe trainmen are opposed to double
heading Engineers prefer local runs be-
cause of better pay and increased time at
homo for the men on those runs
Recess to 2 p. m.
At the afternoon session Chief En-
gineer Felt of the Santa Fe testified that
the company has been and is changing its
gr-Ile so as to get rid of hog backs and
dips as much as possible. One heavy sA-
CINE is harder on the track and bridges
than two small engines run double-head.
All Santa Fe bridges are designed to safe
ly carry the weight of two engines. Ques-
toned as to this assertion, however, Mr..
Felt explained that investigation had de-
veloped that Santa Fe bridges could safely
carry two small engines, but not in all
instances two Of the heavy enginea that
company is receiving today and which
are not run on doube-headers.
Mr.. Felt was followed on the stand by
General Manager l.. j. Polk of the santa
Fe Testified as to agreements made in
the past with employees not to run double
headers The only objections advanced to
double headers when these agreements
were made consisted OF complaints that
they cause loss Of work to tralnmen. The
question of extra hazard was first raised
when the Santa Fe gave thirty days no.
tice last fall of the abrogation of the
contract by which 1t had previously bound
itself not to adopt double headers. The
question Of loss of employment was, at
his suggestion, eliminated from the discus-
sion occurring at that meeting. He de-
clined to consider 1t because economy
OF operating through reduction of the force
. necessary 10 run trains was one OF The
reasons for the adoption of double head.
Ing.
Next on the stand appeared William
Ranahan, a locomotive engineer in the
employ of the Galveston, Harrisburg and
San Antonio for the past eleven years
Began running on double-headers about 1
year ago. From his experience considereC
double headers MS safe as sngle- headers
Preferred running on double headers tc
running on single headers and knew ~
other engineers with the same prefer
enee. Galveston, Harrisburg and San An
tonic locomotives are equipped with all
and usually all cars on its train likewise
Either engineer can apply the air. AZ
emergency application of air applies IL "
both engines The view of the crew or
the second engine Is obstruoted only Il
the extent of the length of the first en-
gine; had no preference as to which en-
CINE he would ride on. In stormy weathe
T the second engine was more comfortabl
, than the FIRST Split up into sections
d lftlAh NNhip 1--WE Antl
chances of accident doubled. The pres
!, ence OF two engines at the head OF
train Is an additional factor of safety, be
: cause the second engine can take car,
OF the train In case Of the disabling 0
the first engine. Had heard that ,ht
brakemen kicked against double headets
: but knew nothing about their obi Etions
as none Of them had talked to him abou
IT,
Gross examined, Mr., Ranahau did no
know that every lodge OF engineers an
freinen on the Southern Pacific from Sa
Antonio TO FL Paso had passed resolution
coudemning double-headers Had bee
suspended for misleading order In Jan
5 nary Could not say that he has beef
! reinstnted since the double h-acc- agra
ton began, because he d't not kno7
J when II began. Had not been reinstate
! upon promise TO help out In this double
; head matter. QUIT the Rrotherhnod q
. Locomotive Engineers about ten y<ers ss
because OF the re election OF p. II. Arthu'
AS chief engineer. Neither General Nan
ager Van Week nor any Southern Pscif
official had talked TO him about dnnhls
headers with careful man. well &C
quainted with the road the second engin
u