The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-12-19
COMMERCE COM
MISSION MAKES REPORT OF
RAILWAY ACCIDENTS s,
CAUSES HAVE BEEN
ASSIGNED FOR UNUSUAL
NUMBER OF FATALITIES.
By PupIishe-s' Press.)

3 AApl A&O44S!tC2S
4 WASHINGTON. D. c. Dec. 1e.-
The annual report OF the interstate
i Commerce Commission made public
today shows that the pass SscaI yea
was unusually prolific IN fatal rail
road accidents There were 43 .26f
employees injured, and S3e9 killed II
E1eo4. as compared with 33SS..1T iniur
ed and 2,516 killed IN 1905 The fig
ures for 1909 are Intermediate be
tween those of 1904 and 1902 In
1904 there We're S.o77 passengers IN,
jured and 420 killed: in 1902, 6,0Ss
injured and BOZ killed IN 1909 there
were S6.973 injured and 32 Killed
The increase IN the numbers ofthe
death OF passengers IN efcompared
with 1909 is 81 1-2 per cent The fact
that there were ten unusually disas-
rous accidents during the year is
commented upon
The number OF deaths resulting
from these ten accidents, eight Of
which Were collisions. was about q
per cent of the total number ki;1ed
IN all the train accidents OF the year.
which comprised over six thousand
collisions and $500 deraiiments. The
report says on this subject
The great increase in the number
OF train accidents during the year
has led TO widespread discussion anf
ra1e causes assigned Tor various acct
dents have been numerous and con
fcriaG Among those mentioned are
laxity OF discipline, long hours Of
labor employment OF inexperienced
men. overtaxins the facilities of hand
ling business, influence of labor un.
ions, and many Others
The fact that there exists so wide
diversity of opinion on this import
ant subject and a careful examination
OF the reports sent in by railway com
panies covering the more serious ac-
cfdentS suggests that If the public"is is
to be supplied with fuH and accurate
information concerning the causes of
such accidents, the facts ought to be
made the subject of impartial investi-
cation on behalf of the government
The commission urges with en-
phasis the uniform adoption of the
block system. The cost OF introduc-
ing the system can scarcely be call
ed burden, when we see it intro
duced on single track lines of not
very heavy traffic. and fild no promi-
nent mention OF expense in the an
nuaI reports OF the companies
Regarding the safety appliance law,
the report says:
The good effect of the amending
act, especially in securing more ef-
fective control of trains through the
increased usage OF air brakes is marx
ed Since the law became fully op- |
eratfve, the number OF brakemen en-
ployed On trains has been reduced /
on some eastern roads upon the sta
ted ground that the control of trains |
by air brakes renders the employ
ment of the former number unneces-
sary. The law is generally well OBJ
served, so far as the proportion OF
air brake cars In service is concern
ed, but many of these cars are run
In such defective condition as to be
really imperative in respect to the
use oe the air brake.
The number Of trainmen killed
n coupling accidents during the year
was 27S. and the number OF injured
was 3,441. A large proportion of
hese deaths and injuries were due
% defective equipment, compelling
he men to so between the cars to
.ouple and uncoup1e. and might have
,een avoided had proper attention
,een given to the maintenance of
'afety appliances.
The report contains an exhaustive
discussion of the rate question, the
,urdeu of which IS that laws making
Elective the acts OF the commission
ire imperative.
On this subject the report says in
'art:
I'm the present state OF the law, af-
er careful and often extended fnves-
igation the commission may find a
ate complained against to be un-
easonable and order the carrier to
lesist from charging that rate for
he future, but It cannot find and or
Ter the reasonable rate to be substi7ts