The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-11
MR.. BARR AND DOUBLE
HEADERS."

The following letter was received yes
terday:
Portsmouth, Va, Oct. 9, 1901.
Mr.. Josephus Daniels, Editor News end
Observer, Raleigh, N. c.
Dear Sir: Referring to the editorial
under the caption of Investigation Inn
peratively Demanded in the issue of your
paper of the eighth instant.
AS this editorial is based on misinfor-
nation and reflects discredit upon the
management Of this road, ] beg to make
the following brief reply thereto ana to
ask that it be published in your paper:
1st With respect to double headers. 1t
is the common practice today with rail-
roads all over this country to run them.
They are are run today and have been
for years on the Norfolk and Western
in the States Of North Carolina, Virginia
and West Virginia. 1t has not occurred
to the employees working thereupon that
the practice is hazardous. l have rail-
roaded during the past twenty-three years
in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Da-
kotas, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Ne
braska, Utah, Missouri, Kansas, Oklaho-
ma, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Ari-
IONA and California and double headers
are run therein and have been for years.
Double headers are run today and have
been for years on the Pennsylvania and
Baltimore and Ohio railroads. No greater
hazard attaches to the running of double
header, or two engine trains, than 20
single engine trains. If there did the
practice would not have come into exist
ence No railroad will voluntarily pursue
course which will increase the cost of
it's service. AS this practice is hoary with
antiquity, if any special hazard attached
thereto the accident insurance companies
would have discovered it and applied a
higher premium rate to employees engag-
ed therein than is charged employees in
single engine train service. This is not
done.
Further. 1t has been the practice OH
all railroads, especially at the north and
in the northwest, to run passenger trains
when heavily loaded and in bad weather,
with double headers. These trains are
frequently run at rates of speed as high
as seventy-five miles per hour. No en-
gineer, SO far as my knowledge goes, has
ever objected to handling such trains be-
cause of any additional hazard being in
volved. The claim that additional hazard
is involved cannot be supported. No &C.
ton whatever has been taken by the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
against the practice of running double
headers.
End. There are no heavy engines in use
on the Seaboard Air Line Railway. 1t is
- A. ALnk
been run with double headers. The heav-
lest engines in service on this road weigh
100000 pounds on drivers. Freight en-
gines in service on adjacent competing
lines weigh from 1875, 900 to 165, 900 pounds
on drivers.
3rd The derailment of double header
freight train at McKenny, September Both
was caused by loose wheel under a
freight car about rs cars in the rear Of
the engines and the fact that the train
was handled with two engines had nothing
whatever to do Herewith. The derail-
ment Of double header freight train at
Monroe, October 7th, was caused by the
engine truck of the leading engine mount
ing the rail. The cause of this has rot
yet been definitely determined. 1t was
due, it is believed, either to running at
an excessive rate of speed, or to broken
flange found on one Of the wheels of the
engine truck after derailment. The fact
that the train was handled with two en-
gines in no way whatever contributed to
the derailment
very much regret these accidents and
their consequences. If they could have
been prevented by the exercise of fore
sight or care on the part of the manage
ment they would not have occurred. No
road in it's operation is free from acct
dents.
No methods have been or will be ap-
piled in the operation Of this road SO
long as / am connected Herewith, which
have not already been tried upon and ap-
proved by roads which are commonly
recognized to be the most efficiently and
intelligently operated No employe of this
company Of any class has been or will be
called upon to perform any service there
for which is not commonly performed by
men of his class for other roads.
4th. In taking charge of this road for
it's operation my purpose has been to
build it up and not to skin it, When,
for reasons beyond my control, find this
cannot be done / will quit it's service.
The interests of the owners of property
as we'll as that of it's employees, can be
best served by improving it and increasing
it's efficiency.
| very much regret that you did not,
in spirit of fairness, ascertain before
publishing your editorial, what our side
of the case was.
Yours very truly,
J. M. BARR,
First vice. president and general manager
We are glad to print Mr.. Bars letter