The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-02
BLOCK SYSTEM ADOPTED.



Pittsburg Chronicle Telegraph
The adoption of a block system of sig
nails by the American Railway Association
at the meeting Of the association at
Richmond, Va, this week, is the most i'm
portant action ever taken by the railroads
of the United States. 1t means the elimi-
nation OF telegraphic order trains on all
double-track railroads. and the prompt
movement of freight and passenger trains.
1t also means that there will be better
demand for good telegraph operators, for
every man employed in the interlocking
switching towers will have to be a tele-
grapher.
Instead, however. of each train stopping
at the block towers to receive orders, IL
will proceed In the blocks that show a white
light Some of the railroads have adopted
the system, but all the double track roads
Robert Pitcairn, resident assistant to Alex
ander j. Cassatt, president OF the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad. is chairman Of the COM
mittee which had the matter under discus
sion.
The Pennsylvania Railroad and the Pitts
burg and Lake Erie Railroad have used the
block system for some time. The American
Railway Association Is composed or the
leading officials Of all railroads in America,
and its representatives empowered at
each meeting TO speak for the road each
represents. The action of the convention
in adopting the block system was unani-
nous, so that the movement becomes gen.
eral.
j. Z. Yohe, general superintendent of the
Pittsburg and Lake Erie Railroad, this
morning returned from the convention. He
said: The adoption of the block system
Is most important move in railroading.
The old custom Of hanging a red flag from
the window of the telegraph stations to
flag train for orders has been relegated to
the rear
This system of railroading only causes
delays. The engineer and conductor are
compelled TO leave their train 10 get or
ders. These orders have TO be counter
signed and while the train is thus waiting
on orders, it might have gone ten miles
under the block system. When a train In
running in the block. a white light denotes
sary 10 run a freight in one siding, to let
passenger train by, IL can be done without
having to stop the freight at the tower sta
terlocking switch works the switches and
the trains proceed. When the passenger
train mas gone on. the freight can pull on
the main track, after the white light ap-
pears In the block. which Is a warning that
the train has safely passed the preceding
block. A red light is shown as long as the
train is within the next block ahead
graph operators. because the movement OF
trains will be entirely by the train dis
patcher, the operator in the tower being
switches. He will be constantly Informed
as TO the movements of the trains on the
road. so that he is in touch with the where
abouts of trains and knows how TO handle
those passing his station. The national
cipher telegraph code was reported on by
the committee. Its adoption will be an i'm
portant step in railroading. because under
the system all railroads will use the same
code. 1t will be q great time saves The
matter will be up for discussion at the
next spring I'm New York. Arrangements
are being made TO entertain the Internal
tional Railway convention delegates at the
convention next June. I'm Washington Dele
gates from all over the world will attend
this meeting. which will be the first Of Its
kind 10 be held In America.