The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-10-22

they display concerning avoidable
risks to passengers and train crews
The efficiency in favorable conditions
OF the elevated block signal system is
accurately read by the swiftly pass
ing engineer. When one considers the
damages that must be paid on account
OF such wrecks as those at Ellsworth
and at Eddington. 1t would seem to
be true economy to attempt to elimin-
ate them bv at least testing one Oh
more of these devices for engine-cab
signals that are being presented for a
trial.
or the inventions that have sought
recognition In the Pittsburg field only
one is now definitely recalled by local
ratlroaders, though several others are
hazily remembered. This was de.
vice thought out by A. c. Miller. for
merly chief dispatcher with the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy rail-
road. In his interviews with local
operating officials Mr.. Miller lain
stress on the fact that great deal is
left to chance. and that too much re-
lance is placed on the human brain
working at high tension. The signals,
he claimed. are not clear enough, and
they are not forced on the attention
of the engineer; the train orders can
be. and sometimes are. misinterpreted.
and when such is the case there Is no
satisfactory check. There ought to be
something in the cab. argued Inventor
Miller. that will call the engineer
when mistake has been made, and
II it will also tell him definitely when
the conditions are all right, why, so
much the better. The engineer at all
times does the best he can under ex-
listing conditions An accident may
be attributed to his carelessness, but
when one stops to think that the en-
gineer's own life depends upon his
own care and watchfulness it must he
conceded that. speaking generally, he
does the best that is possible within
human limitations. The object Of these
cab signals Is to relieve the strain
on the engineer and to enable him to
do better with less effort Every rail-
roader on might turn" in any of the
local yards knows the difficulties in
the way of moving passenger trains on
schedule time in the thick of fog at
the early morning hours in the river
valleys, through which the Pittsburg
railroads run. Near the terminal sta
tons men with lanterns have to be
posted to wave signals to the en-
gineers who cannot possible see the
set signals in passing. Every delay
to passenger train is expensive be-
cause 1t involves the laying out of
freights and as mere measure of
economy the new idea ought to appeal
to operating officials.
The Block System.
A description of one of these avail
able inventions will answer for a de-
scription OF all, for they differ only
slightly as to mechanism and detail.
In applying the device the track is
partitioned off into spaces. or "blocks"
each three-quarters of mile in
length To each one of these blocks
there is applied an electrical appa-
ratus consisting of induction coils and
switches which are in electrical con-
tact with the rails. These, In turn,
are connected with a dynamo current
OF fixed strength. In the cab of the
engine there is an electrical contri-
vance almost the same as that used
on the track. except that two incan
descent lamps. a red one and a white
one. are placed in the circuit. Con-
nection between the rails and the en-
CINE cab is made through the axles
of the wheels On the locomotive. Int
each of these blocks of track the
dynamo pours certain amount of
current. When train enters on.
OF the blocks some of the current is
transferred to the apparatus in the