The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-30
MISSION OF AN Aco1pENT.

IL
thing happened to appall the public as
did the Michigan railroad disaster of
Wednesday evening. Two fast pas
senger trains col1iding in the open
country head on at full speed suggests
a scene of horror that no language can
depict.
At once the question comes up, Is
there not some way in which such acci-
dents can be prevented? 1t is perth
nent to say that surely there is sutf1-
cient genius among railroad men to
enable them to put into effect such
system of operating trains that will pre-
clude the possibility of such affairs.
Indeed, there is already a scheme which
would apply excellently to every rail-
road in the country. That is what IS
known as the absolute block signal sys-
tenn BY this, when one train passes
station no other can do SO until the
first is reported by the next station.
This has been tried on many roads, and
when lived up to it is evident could
have but one result, the prevention of
all accidents resulting from the meet
ing of trains. The trouble has been
with it that employees have in many
cases failed to observe it absolutely
Operators have been allowed little
liberty, giving engineers and conduct
ors of more than one train permission
cards. which allowed them to move
within the same block.
Obviously this would in many cases
hasten matters And in railroading as
well as in other callings expediency
often becomes an important matter.
But in violating such a rule as this
there is bound to be more or less risk
and in many cases the outcome of such
f1e.,,4
costing the company in a few minutes
more than years of strictly preventive
measures would require.
That is treating the matter from the
point of view of the railways, and is
purely commercial. Besides that side
there comes in the consideration that
human life stands for more than all
else. Whenever a railroad assumes the
responsibility of transporting human
beings it should reflect fully upon what
that burden signifies. Since the en-
ployes are the ones standing for the
company, it is they who should be con-
stantly warned to avoid in every way
risks which may entail loss of life 1t
is not to be thought for a moment that
enginemen and trainmen are going to
hazard anything if they realize fully
the meaning of a disaster. But like
other people, they grow careless, 'negl-
gent, and need sharp reminders as to
conduct while on duty. The reading of
an order seems to be a small affair, but
upon the failure to perform it properly
depend many of the blunders from
which the worst accidents result The
use of intoxicants, it need hardly be
mentioned, is strictly forbiddeH by
nearly all. if not every one, of the rail-
roads in this country. 1t is an excel
lent rule which cannot be too strictly
adhered to.
The remark is often dropped that the
railroads are too eager to increase
speed, but this can have but little appli-
cation to the matter in hand. 1t does
not really make so much difference in
results whether a passenger train is
going 40 or SO miles an hour. Time is
the stuff of which mems lives are made.
And if only the companies would exert
themselves in the same manner toward
the safe operation of trains that they
do in building swift engines and fast
track the number of casualties would be
greatly reduced.