New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-04
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
pREvENT1oNsoF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Suggestion ofithe Use of Roman Candles for
Signalling.
10 the Editor onTherTribune.

To the Editor of'ThefTribune.
Sir: 4 Rochester paper to-day quotes your re-
cent editorial on Fatal. Railway Accidents.
wherein Day Allen Wiley is cited authority for
a very unfavorable comparison of accidents on
American railways with those English lines.
AS Mr. Wiley attributes the bad pre-eminence
OF American roads IN the matter of slaughter, to
the rear-end collision. I tempted to relate
bit Of history. apropos OF the subject, of an in
ventors efforts TO secure trial for very cheap
plan TO prevent either tai-end" collisions or those
OF the 'head-oI.s' variety His proposal was TO
provide every passenger car, locomotive and rail-
road ernploye ON a train with Roman candles of
the sef-ightiDg kind those that can be set on IRE
BY percussion or pulling Off cap. Then, if from
any cause il became desirable to- signal from the
train either back or forward. of the trainmen,
the engineer. cJndlgctoR fireman or brakeman need
only set his Roman carIIle burning. and the reb2s
Il would shoot the, air would give succession
Of flashes that must be visible for mile or more
from the point where the signal was burning. This
safety device could ttgs evident be used on NOV
ing train. bv man who might under the present
system be .sent back cor forward 10 flag train
expected Its adxanttl age over the. feeble light of
dim hand lantern the sole dependence of most
railroads for stopping an approaching train. IL
obvious The man ordered 10 go back and set a
torpe6o could disGlauge the candle from his train
before Il had slowed down TO let him of; the fire
balls would ascend hu ndreds of feet and be as
spicuous as fash OF lightning they could be seen
on q curve, n q, exiting. over hill or from amid
often intervene 10 hide the hand lantern at the
critical moment. - candle could be made that, in
addition 10 its light. would give a noise from each
frebau and thus III ere world be two senses warned.
n close pinch the candle might be aimed at a
locomotive or car. IS lnens nave at times smashed
their lantern against the engine, and that would
employ third nse by which 10 tell of danger
ahead The Roman candle. signal would not depend
for its efficacy tlte fidelity, vigilance endurance
or good luck Of one -nan:!for any of the train
crew. even passenger could set il in operation
instantly. assuming that the provided
with The signals in view for use, with the emer-
gency brake. Il vUuld De moCe effective by night
than by day, and THAI IS when danger is be
feared On g railroad
As expenditure Of s. would provide a liberal
stock Of signals for tas finest train the world it
would be ridiculous 20 take into account the cost
Ct introducing the Blea any railroad system.
Nevertheless. for some unexplained reason, the
protector has never teen able interest any Of the
great railroad cOTuElRnltzs IN The plan They
pend millions -o- bio x system equipment that does
not protect aalnst he class Of accidents for
which Roman candles Is practically nfaible pre-
veLfive. TIE wife Of N5ce-President Erb of the
Pere Marquette road lost her life IN collision on
road provided WITH The block system, near this
city. last fail ana Ialf a CDzen passengers were
burned TO death on = block system railroad near
EttsbUrg MONKS ago. aCh case an acct
Gent happened tlar could COtIbe sgnalled By wire
but could have been - the Ronl;in candle scheme
IN Ihe collision - This vicinity there must have
been appalling 81 ghter of passengers had nor
conductor ct-aLCed an electric lamp in mis-
pocket W-tcE ne mad presence OF mind fash and