The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-16

Triumphant from the mszes woven by
self-seeking liars. Competition demand
ed heavier engines There were longer
trains 10 be run AZ higher speed. To meet
the increased strain the permanent way
must be stimencd. An increase OF one
pound per yard in steel rails means the
renewal OF the entire track. Lesser limo
vations have wrecked huge enterprises.
The microscopic eye Of a financial math-
ematicson scrutinizss the pros and cons.
Track like rolling stock. must earn up
10 the limit A wheel rolling "a mile In a
given time repicsenta an item In tho
earning column. Decrease the time and
the item Increases pro rata.
This axiom sired the block signal The
road is divided into sections. called blocks.
In its simplest form q block comprises
The track between any two stations. II
IS guarded by n semnphore controlled by
the telegraph operator NJ the station. In
its normal position thorizunsaD II means.
Stop The preceding train has not yet
been reported tby wire) as having passed
out 81 the block ahead An approaching
engineer whistles for the semaphore. II
It Is promptly pulled down h proceeds on
his way rejoicing The block ahead r.
clear Otherwise profanity cnsues. but ne
stops. just the same. From the operator
he gets q signed statement as 10 the time
the other train entered the block. IL adds
that she has not yes left a. The requisite
time (by the rules having elapsed. the
operator pulls down the semaphore. The
engineer may now proceed az his own
risk-knoWinr she block to be occupied.
II IS his privilege. however, TO wat for
"a clear block.
Wireless telegraphy may supersede the
block. which. however. r. quite satisfac-
tory Bar accidents. trains trundle the en-
tire length OF the road az short Intervals
at high speed and indefinitely. The system
here simply outlined Is capable Of num-
berless combinations. Many semaphores
governing different tracks may appear
upon the same pole. The operator, know
ing the destination OF the approaching
train, governs himself accordingly. The
engineer also. That other ingenious eys-
TEN. the interlocklng switch and signal,
enables one man 20 handle all che trains
and engines az n large terminal. The per
fected system renders mistakes by the
operator Impossible. Switches cannot be
oDened or closed until The warning signal
has been displayed. Nor, when once set.
can they be changed until the last wheel
has passed. train arriving az the ter
minus faces acres OF tracks crossed by
switches IN all directions Trains are con-
finu1lly arriving ana departing. HNiit en-
gines. busy little railroad tugs. are ny
ing cars all over The yard. IL Is scene
20 daunt a veteran. How shall he pick
his way through such confusion and land
his train safely In the shed half a mile or
more away7 When the semaphorc con
trolling the track he Is TO enter Is pulled
down the engineer knows two things; He
knows his track IL clear All the way IN.
otherwise Inc operator could not have
nulied II down. as q would have been
locked. He knows too. thas time IL ex-
ceedingly valuable IN the yard. lie II en-
titled % the least possible fraction there
Of. Owing 20 the interlocking system an
amount % work r. done thar would have
required many times the space available
under former conditions. Hence business
Is expedited
The individuality Of tho railroad man IL
lost. The capitalization OF n generations
experience has produced definite rules
covering every possible eme regency. Tx
t,ert Interpretations or orders are barred
A generation has arisen 20 whom the sin
sie track 8 but a legend The dlscrimi-
Mating old-timer has been submerged by
the new school. which obeys orders. The