The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-08-02
A CHANGE
IN C0L0RS.

/ =
in the color of signal lights. The propo.
| sition is to make green the safety lislt
instead of white; in fact, to do away with
the white light altogether, replacing the
| green with yellow light for caution, but
| to retain the red to signify danger. This
change has already been made on some
roads, notably the New York. New lIa'
ven and Hartford, and is receiving tho
consideration of many other great rail
roads throughout the country.
REASON FOR PROPOSED CHANGE
Recently a Pennsylvania Railroad Off
| cial, who has direct charge of this mat.
ter, received communication from Gen
cral Manager W. Il. Chamberlain, of the
New York, New Haven and Hartford, on
this subject. in which Mr.. Chamberlain
discussed signal lights, and set forth one
reason in particular for the change made
by his road. This reason is given AS fol
lows: I'VE had an accident. and, upon
thorough investigation, we proved be-
yond all doubt that the signal that was
represented to have been given by the
signal man in the tower to the engineer
BY a hand lantern with white globe in
it was Il white light on crossing gate
beyond the tower but could be seen
through the tower windows, and the gate
was raised at the time the train was com
ing up to the tower
1t is this possibility of confusion of
white lights that has turned the minds
nP rnilrnnl "a ~ ~ n nf tbn
question of change. Practically all lights
in use outside of those for railroad sig
nails are white These lights have be-
come so common along railroad lines that
it is said the danger of confusing rail
road signal with other white lights has
become serious. and is constantly grow
ing more so. Upon the light which indi.
Gates clear track much dcpcnds--somr
railroad men say more than any other
light. 1t Is only that light which keeps
trains at high speed. and it is to trains
at high speed that accident is most likely
to occur. 1t is contcndcd therefore. by
the advocates of the proposed change
that all possibility of Il confusion Of
lights should be entirely removed.
BltEAkAGE OF LENS.
Furthermore. there is possibility of
danger in the white light in another way.
Every light back of its lcnse is, OF
course. white If rcd or a green lens
should break the lamp would then show
white light, and instead Of indicatn:
danger or caution respectively. would
give the engineer to understand that the
track ahead was clear. and grave acct
dent might result. IN fact accidents hav"
been caused in Just that way although
The possibility is very remote. However
remote. say those who argue for the
proposed signals. it ought to he re-
moved altogether. If white lights did not
play my part in railroad signaling there
would he no accidents due to such a
cause.
The white light ii is pointed ont has
no real significance or individuality, be-
cause of its common use. The other
lights. red green and yellow. have Il very
distinct individuality. which is given
them by design and for an evident pur-
pose. Their use would do away with the
1
il any lens hrcakagc occurred the cngi-
ncer. getting no individual light, but
only white light, which would he no
signal, would stop until righted
CONSIDERATIONS OTHER Way.
There are some considerations which
stand in the way of the proposed change
says General Manager hutchinson Of
the Pennsylvania. One of these is the
fact that signal lights change in signi.
ticancc according to where they are used
Ror instance a green light If on freight
or switched train. tells the engineer of
an approaching express that the freight
or the switched train. as the case nav
he, is not on his track but that his way
is clear. Consequently he does not re-
duce the speed of his train. But, it is
said. like arrangement could be made
if the signal lights were changed, and
therefore, that is no real objection.