Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1903-04-16
INSTALLING
BLOCK SYSTEM

The system of improvements being
installed on the Catawissa branch OF
the p. & r. railway have now practlc-
ally reached Danville and it will be
only short time before the entire
division to West Milton will be equip
ped with all the useful appliances that
go with modern railroading.
The additional telegraph instru-
ments were placed in the station here
Yesterday, required for the Block y
system. which has now been installed
as far as Ringtown This system in
addition to the first cost will add a
little to the expense of operating the
line, but it will prove a good invest
ment in the end by increasing the
security to travel and reducing the
loss by wrecks to a minimum.
Under the rules, no passenger train
Will be permitted to enter the block
until all other trains, passenger or
freight, have left it. Two freight
trains will be allowed on the block at
the same time, but the signals will be
so arranged as not only to indicate the
presence of the two trains but the exact
location of each on the block.
Undar III, the entire divi-
sion WI, 30 divided into sections of
three or four miles. One block will
extend from Dauville east to Chris
tian's about a mile this side of Grow
ania. The block westward will ex-
tend from Danville to Mausdale. The
system will uecessitate the installment
of telegraph operators at Mausdale a;
two Will be needed, day and night
man.
George Payne Of this city, will fill
the position on one turn and William
Reichelderfer, at present night operat-
or at the station here, will take the
other turn. The next block westward,
will extend from Mausdale to Moores-
burg. At the latter place as well as
at Christians a night and day office
has been maintained in the past and
no additional operators will be need
ed.
The two additional telegraph instru-
mpnts Installed at the station here
Yesterday, are needed under the sys-
TEN, one to communicate with the end
of the block ut Christians and the
other for telegraphing westward to
Mausdale. This gives the station five
telegi aph instruments and necessltat-
ed some Encouragement in order to find
room for them all. 1t was also necessary
to install telephone in the station to
be used exclusively in connection with
the switch engine when employed be-
tween the station and the Reading
Iron Works. The signals at the station
will show the block occupied until the
switcher leaves the main track at the
cinder tip. where by means of tele-
phone conveniently located, the train
men Will communicate the fact to the
station, when the signals will be dis
played to show the block clear.
The P. q r. railway has also brok-
en- ground for new station at Moores-
burg which will be quite a preten-
tious affair. The Office at present III
use, which can only be reached by de-
scending a long flight of stairs leading
from the wagon road, contains merely
a waiting room and telegraph office
combined, the freight house being
located ut some distance north of the
station, where it is accessible to wag
ons.
The new station will be built near
the present freight house and will in
clude under one roof commodlous
waiting room, a ticket office, a tele-
graph office and freight room large
enough to accommodate the business.