New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-28
BLOCK HTGNALLING.

In the latest report of the Interstate Com
merce Commission the enactment OF law
making the adoption Of block signalling by the
railroads Of this country compulsory is recon-
mended The draft OF a bill for this purpose is
submitted. IN that measure a gradual con-
formity TO the requirement is ordained, SO that
the expense involved may be distributed over
reasonable period of time. Each company
would thus be obliged to introduce the system
upon only quarter OF IFS track in the course of
year. Where half more than half of a
given road was already so equipped, of course
the effect Of compulsion would be felt at CON-
paratiyely remote date.
Concerning the authority Of the national gov
eminent 10 require the pursuance of this pol
icy, there can be no question 1t was exercised
when Congress passed law directing the use
of automatic car eouplers. The latter piece of
legislation sought TO avert a class of accidents
in which railroad employees were injured. The
measure now I'm contemplation aims TO protect
passengers from the consequences Of rear end
collisions. II the power to insist on one reform
is constitutional, the enforcement Of the other
must be So too
How great the benefit OF the proposed enact
ment would be cannot be determined in ad-
vance with precision. Scarcely a year passes
81 which the number Of deaths in the United
States from rear end collisions does not exceed a
hundred, and sometimes the mortality is still
higher. OF course, block signalling would not
avert other classes OF accident, and IL would
uot be absolutely eficacious in averting the one
kind against which it is directed. Engineers
have more than once ignored the most positive
warnings and fatal consequences have ensued
On the other hand, no sane person viii deny
that the limited use already made I'm this coun-
try and the extensive use made abroad OF the
system In question has materially promoted the
safety OF railway travel. There is every reason
10 expect still larger immunity from the fur
ther Introduction Of IL on American lines
When the wisdom and righteousness OF MAX
ing block signalling compulsory in the United
States are 10 be determined, one difference be-
tween conditions which exist in this country
and England deserves a moments considera-
ton. On trunk lines, and especially in the Vi
cinity Of great cities where traffic is heavy the
necessities in America are as great as those
II England. but there is much wider disparity
IN the rural districts OF the two Countries owing
10 The enormous disproportion in size and
density OF population. The least frequented and
most remote branch lines Ia the United King
dom are comparatively short and busy Many
big American railway systems include among
their ramihcaticns local roads hundreds OF miles
long and barely paying for operation. The cost
~ installing block signals on such branches
would he relatively, If not actually greater than
on corresponding sections OF railway abroad.
and the advantages would he smaller Already
seilnierest has impelled number Of compa-
MES 70 adopt these safeguards in THIS country
ot1e's have been culDably slow. One might