Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-12-15
Inter State Commerce ComnIss.
Ions Statistics Show Great IN.
crease Over Former Years.
SOME DECREASE IN CRASHES
Brakes and carelessness Cause for
Much Damage to Property-TotaI
Of Collisions and Deraiments for
Quarter Treated Was s.1o3, With
Loss of $2,a73,s24.

e.
In reporting total Of 933 persons
killed and lG,004 injured during the
second quarter of 1906 in its re-
Gently published accident bulletin the
Interstate Commerce Commission
declares that the number Is less than
in the last preceding quarter, but
more than in corresponding quar-
ter of 1905 'In considering train
accidents alone. however" says the
report there is IL gratifying diminu-
ton both in passengers killed and
employees killed, compared with eItn-
er of the two earlier quarters men
toned
For the year ended June, 80, 1906,
however, the commissions figures
show great increases In the total
death roll OF passengers and en-
ployes over the year of 1906, 1904
and 1908. AS will be seen in the
accompanying table. total of 4.295
passengers and employees we're killed
in this year 3,79S in 1905, 3,7S7 I'm
1904 and 1854 in 1903. However
the total of deaths of passengers
alone was less in 1906 than in any
year since 1903, comparing thus:-
1906, AS; 1905. 537; 1904, 400
Great Increase in Injured.
There is ii great increase of in
jurcd in the last report over the
preceding three years. There were
1l,lS5 passengers hurt In 1906, GIFTS
in train accidents and 4,I07 from
other causes. In 1905 there were
lO,0A0, in 1904 SOFT and in 1913
6,913. The commission makes no
statement as to cause for the in.
crease whether it is due to growing
business, efforts to attain in greater
speed or increased carlessness of
employees, but there are several in
teresting notes in explanation OF
accidents which are tabuated.
From these it would appear that
the railway brake, both air and hand,
is responsible for many accidents.
Brakes did not work" is note In
many. while the accidental turning
or air brake cocks caused several
bad deraiIments.
Larger Number of Collisions.
The total number of collisions and
derailments in the quarter ended
June 80, 1906, was 3l03 Q,5SS col.
lisions and l,515 derailments), of
which 173 collisions and 153 lie.
railments affected passenger trains.
The damage to cars engines and
roadway by these accidents amount.
ed to S2,373,92i. Derailmeints due
TO defects OF equipment. 6G4: TO
negligence of tranmen ana signal
men. 81; unforeseen obstruction of
track. 62; malicious obstruction Of
track, II. and to miscellaneous
causes, 1874.
Carelessness Responsible.
Carelessness in the use of block
signals, carelessness in reading or
ders on single track lines and care
iessness of conductors and brakemen
on the trains caused a great many
accidents. 1t is noticeable that In
thirty prominent train accidents in
The quarter covered by the report
the engine driver was at fault lust
once. and that was a case in which
Il man of twenty-seven years exper.
fence ran by an automatic signal.
In great detail are given the
cause of accidents to employees in
coupling and uncoupllng cars. Sixty.
eight men were killed in accidents
OF this sort and S13 injured.