The Topeka state journal., 1905-11-20
HOW TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS.
Some Important Suggestions ON the
Operation of Trains.

Some Important Suggestions on the
Operation of Trains.
Buffalo. N. Y, Nov. 20.-At a meet
ing of the Central Railroad club here
last week a paper on the cause and
cure of railroad accidents was pre-
sented by J. B. Morford, assistant to
the general manager of the Michigan
Central railroad. It's subject is of such
serious Importance and is from the pen
of railway officer of such long ex-
perience that it inspires a close
analysis of the facts and the authors
Interpretation of them.
By way of suggesting means for the
prevention of accidents, Mr.. Morford
subdivides his paper under several
heads. the more important of which
are as follows:
"First-Use the middle order Cthe
telegraph signaD. Connect it with a
repeater, so that when the telegraph
signal is turned it will write over the
wire to the dispatcher the word
blocked and sign the operators call.
Then the dispatcher positively knows
the signal is out for holding trains, and
can give his order to the operator, con
ductor and engineer. This rule is
given to prevent head on collisions
The author gives also a summary of
the rules which have prevailed on the
Michigan CentraPs Canada division
for twenty-three years and in support
of their efficiency offers a record of
but two butting collisions and no pas
sengers killed during that period.
These rules are:
'tAH orders for the movement of
trains should be addressed to the con
ductor and engineer and written by the
receiving operator on yellow manifold
paper, so arranged that three impress
sions can be taken.
THE conductor addressed must read
the order aloud to operator, and. if
understood, sign it; it will then be re-
peated back over the conductors sig
nature to the person giving it, who,
will, if the order is correctly under
stood, reply (correct), which must be
/ indorsed over. the proper signature
upon the order countersigned by the
receiving operator. and the exact time
/ of receiving the word Complete" Two
impressions of the order, when prop
erly indorsed, will be given to the con-
ductor, who will retain one and give
I the other to the engineer personally
/ and the engineer must read it aloud to
/ him (the conductor) before proceed
/ ing. The other impression will be kent
/ In case there is more than one engine
/ on a train, each engineer must have q
1 copy of such order
Engineers must not receive train
orders from any person excepting the
| conductor of their train.
! I'm asking for train orders. con-
ductors viii give their name and in
itials to operators. Operators, when
1 SSAu1AS bdck tram OEQ0T TO O1SpaIcf1-
ers, viii repeat the address in addition
to the body of the order.
/ Freight conductors will, in al
cases, hand train orders they receive
to rear brakemen and passenger en-
gineers to their firemen, to be read
Engineers of freight trains will hane
their orders to the fireman and head
brakeman for reading.
Second-Adopt the automatic
block signal. Wherever a collision ha:
occurred under automatic block sig
nails it has been shown to have re
suited from disobedience of the sim
plest rule.
''Third-Do away with every facing
point switch possible. At all facing
point switches adopt a mechanical OF
electric semaphore interlocked witt
! the switch