The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-22
RAILROAD ACCIDENTS.

RAILROAD ACCIDENTS.
The frequency of railroad accidents has
been matter of comment and discussion
for years past. During the last few years
the Interstate-commerce Commission has
published statistics that throw good deal
of light on the subject and ought to lead to
some preventive measures. An act of Con-
gress passed March 3, 1901, makes 1t the
duty Of the general manager, superintend-
ent or other proper officer Of every common
carrier to make to the Interstate-commerce
Commission, at its Office in Washington.
District of Columbia, monthly report un-
der oath. of all collisions of trains or where
any train or part of a train accidentally
leaves the track, and of all accidents which
may occur to its passengers or employees
while in the service of such common carrier
and actually on duty, which report shall
state the nature and causes thereof and the
circur stances connected Herewith. Since
this law was passed the Interstate-com-
merce Commission has issued eight quarter
ly accident bulletins describing briefly the
most serious Of accidents reported, with
their results and causes, without, however,
giving dates names, places or the roads on
which they occurred. The object Of the
bulletins is not to cause embarrassment to
the roads, and the law expressly provides
that part of the reports furnished by
them shall be admitted as evidence or used
for any purpose against the company in
any suit for damages. The object is SIM
ply the compilation of information in the
abstract which may help to minimize rail-
road accidents.
The first bulletin showed that during the
quarter ending Sept. 80. 1901, fifty-seven per-
sons were killed; the next one. for the
following quarter. showed seventy persons
killed and pa injured, and the other bull
letins following In order showed, respective
ly. forty-three persons killed and 255 injured;
fourteen killed and $50 injured; eighty-one
| and lS5 injured, and forty-six killed and 23O
injured. Bulletin No. s. covering the months
| of April, May and June, 1903, shows 23O per-
| sons killed and 2,s29 injured. These bulle-
tins only cover the most serious accidents
and do not include those to employees. The
total casualties to passengers and employees
in 1902 were 3O3 passengers killed and 6,0S9
injured; employees. isis killed and 33.711 in
jured. From June 80, 1902, to June 80, 1903,
| the killed were 321 passengers and 9, 233 en-
ployes, and injured 6973 passengers and
1904 employees. These grewsome statistics
show that the destruction of human life by
railroad accidents is a constant and steady
factor in modern life.
| The causes of accidents are varied, but
too many indicate bad management of
roads or carelessness of employees. Among
| the causes assigned for a large number of
accidents are defects of roadway and de-
fects of equipment. both of which reflect
men and signalmen is a prolific cause. and
the general phrase, 'other causes" doubt
less includes a great many cases of bad
management and negligence by employees.
Among the causes of fatal accidents appear
such entries as these: Conductor and en-
| gineman Of east-bound train failed to read
| and understand Geographic ORDERS" ZEN
] gineman disregarded stop signal at station,
had fallen asleep" 'error of train dispatch
| err and mistake Of OPERATOR" conductor
and engineman of freight misread tele-
graphic ORDER" engineer was under the
impression that he was to meet south
bound train further on;'' operator fell
asleep and failed to deliver Geographic or
DER" engineer. south-bound, failed to read
Geographic ORDER" conductor and engi-
neer both forgot about passenger train;''
conductor and engineer overlooked meet
ing ORDERS" and so on. The frequent repe-
tition Of these and other like causes of fatal
accidents is calculated to make one feel
that there must be great many incompe-
tent or careless persons employed by rail-
roads.
The management of railroad company
cannot fairly be held responsible in al
cases for the negligence of employees, but
they are responsible for bad roadbeds, de.
fective equipment, for not employing
enough men, for overworking employees, fol
not issuing strict rules and enforcing strict
observance OF them, and for many Other
contributory causes Of accidents. That the
United States should be so immeasurabl,
far behind England and other countries IL
the matter Of safe railroading and that tn.
destruction of life should go on at the pres
emit appalling rate is almost a national dis
grace.
THE COST OF LIVING.