Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-19
TERMED DISGRACE
Years Railroad Accidents, Ac-
cording to the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
FIVE THOUSAND COLLISIONS
Remedy Pointed in the enforcement
of General Use Of Block
System.

Washington, Dec. 19.-The slaughter
of railroad passengers in the United
States lis Il disgrace to the American
people" in the words of the inter
state commerce commission, in its
18th annual report to congress. The
report says:
The most prominent fact in this
years record of train accidents is the
appalling loss of life and property in
collisions. The showing can not be
called materially worse nor materially
better than that made a year ago
and the total number of passengers
killed and injured does not differ from
the record of the preceding year to
such an extent as to call for com
ment: but the mere continuance of
the record. though it be no worse
than in former years, is a disgrace to
the American people, painful to every
careful observer.
THAT 1870, or lis, or any large num-
Der of passengers are killed in the
United States in the course Of a year
in single class of accidents indicates
condition which should not pass
without serious attention. These IA
talities are due to causes which have
never been adequately considered by
any department of government, either
of the United States or of any of the
states, and there is Il crying need for
such consideration.
Being Adopted.
That many railroads have equip
ped some of their lines with block
signals. a measure which greatly re-
duces the chances of collisions, is a
gratifying fact. Some important rail
roads do not use the block system.
Most companies adopt it on parts of
their lines, but not on other parts.
Some use it part Of the time or for
some of the trains. Some adopt the
principle. but have insufficient regula-
tiCns. There occurred i'm the United
States in the year under review an
enormous number of collisions. 5.219.
and Gncluded in thcse) 10 collisions
in each Of which seven or mere per-
sons were killed GOA persons in the
10 cases).
so far as we can see, the best
thing to do is to introduce the block
system. That is what England has
done, and the immunity from coils
ions on English railroads is so nearly
complete. and the casualty records so
low. as to be powerful argument
for it's adoption. The commission
therefore recommends the considera-
tion of law like that. in force in
Great Britain and Ireland. requiring
the adoption and use of the block
system in the United States. unless
some better device can he secured
The commission supplies Il tenta-
tive draft of bill providing for such
government regulation.
Increase In Earnings.
The gross earnings of 9S per cent of
railroad mileage for the wear ending
June 30, 1908, amounted TO 81, $50 $780,
GO. or $9,3S2 per mile of line. Opera
ting expenses aggregated S1.24S, 526,-
49,. or $6.197 per mile. leaving net
earnings of S641.63O.196. or $3.1S5 per
mile. Fifty-three million dollars in
taxes are not included in this state
ment of operating expenses. Compar-
ed with the previous year, the net
earnings are greater by some $34,-
100000, and stock dividends are great
er by nearly S1O,OOOOOO In 1897 the
gross earnings averaged only $6,122
and operating expenses S4.106 per
mile