The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-20
.B|G INCREASE IN
DEATHS | IN. WRECKS [: /. !. 6
Interstate Commerce Commission
Recommends Block Signal to
Lessen Danger Oil Railways.
REGULATION Req FREIGHT r. {: GIL RATES 4 Z;
Quotes President and Urges Ac-
ton by CongressRailway
Statistics for Year.
Interstate Commerce Commission,
REGULATION FREIGHT RATES
tpy Associated Press3

WASHINGTON p. c., December Ia.
The eighteenth annual report OF the IN
tcrstate Commerce Commission has been
transmitted to Congress.
Tile article In the report on railroad
accidents opens with a table giving tho
principal totals for the years ending
June 80. 1902 1903, 1aot There were 1925
employees injured and 1857 killed In 1905
as compared with 33,7ll injured and IBIS
killed in 1862. Tie figures for 1903 are
Intermediate between those for 1907 and
1901. In 1904 there were s,O17 passengers III
jurcd and 400 killed; in 1902, 6o& In!
jured and 1903 killed; in 1903 there were
5G,973 injured and 32l killed. Tho increase
in the number OF deaths Of passengers N
train accidents in 1904 compared WIFI l9oS
is 81 1-a per cent. The fact that mere
during the year is lnentioned,s win Inc
statement that notes concerning the
causes OF these accidents Will pc Iound
in the appendix to the report me num-
accidents eight OF which were collisions,
Is about 90 per cent. Of. the total NUMBER
killed in ali tho train accidents OF the
year, which comprise over 6, oU collslons
and 800 derailments. Although there has
been earnest discussion of the subject IN
tho very magnitude Of the Questions IN
3volfed appcars to nave produced some
confusion, and in the multitude Of causes
assigned the real question in many cases
has been lost sight OF. The paramount a.La re-
5quirement. ns pointed out In the last an
tnual report, Is an cffectiv n 'p sure LOT OF
the prevention of collisions s. u.
The Block Signal.
The block signal cures faults due -, 70
mistakes III reading time, failures OF time
pieces. rlscalculntio ions of speed, q nesiect
or lazinessS of employees. and nu1nperiess
other faults familiar with those Who reau
a final objection has beer mentioned that
unless IL large number OF new stations
arc Ecsta blished trains may be delayed AZ
stations waiting for preceding trains 70
clear the block section ah read. The only
ADEQUATE remedy. If traffic is active, is to
divide tho long section IL two. In some
tcascs perr1issive signalling Is often re-
sorted to for delayed trains but the gen
tcral EansWer TO this, and to all objections,
doing ali kinds OF business, on which the
block system has been intelligently aP-
Piled and been in use for years past.
The Commission further recommend
that tte report of accidents In the q 1Tiluai.
reports to he Comm should be abol-
ishedf and that the law be made to re-
.ouire the monthly reports OF accidents :: 70
cover All classes Of accid tents. The diff
scultyEin obtaining reports from all COM
paries within tho time prescribed by law
Il; mentioned. The extent OF these omls.
sIons m ay be inferred from the fact that
sixty-four roads admitted having omltted
toGreport accidents after their at tention
had been called 70 them by the Commits
sion These omissions amounted 70
total OF 100 deaths and 226 injuries during
the year ending June 3d. 1901. Suits have
been brought aga inst a. number OF rail-
road companies for failure to comply
with the Law. The great Increase IN tine
number Of train accidents during the year
has led to widespread discussion, and the
causes assigned for various Academia
have been numerous and con1ictlng ~.
s Among those mentioned are laxity Of
discipline, long hours Of labor, employ
ment of inexperienced men. overtaxlng
the facilities of handling business, IN
tf1uence fSlabor uniOnsS and many others.
Tho fact that there exists SO wide a. d.
versity OF opinion on this important sub
l1ect and a careful examination Of the
reports sent in by the railway con-
3Ianies covering the more serious accl-
dents suggests that II the public Is to
be supplied with full and accurate tnfor-
nation concerning the causes Of such ac-
cidents the facts ought To be made the
subject of Impartial Investigation on be-
Lalf of the government, and various rea-
song for such investigation5o OF railway ac-
cidents by the government are set forth
in the report. n VI h
Regulation of Rates.
Apart from the question Of railway acci-