Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-02-01
New Law Will Go Into
Effect Today on Railroads.
All Cars Must Be Equipped
With Safety Appliances.
inspectors al Various Points Will Stop All
Cars Not So Fitted.

ceiVed instructions which Will go liito
effect today, Feb. l, which will entail
u much added responsibility upon
themselves and their subordinateS and
which, after the slight reaction due TO
the suddennesS of the change Shall
have passed away, will mean great
saving of life on the part of the enl-
pioyes and passengers of the roads as
we'll as greater advantages 10 their
transportation.
The changes are those recommended
by the so-called Safety Appliance Act,
which was adopted April l, 1901, by the
Interstate commerce commission. This
act is to the effect that all car equip
ments relative to coupling appliances
shall conform to 4 certain recognized
standard as outlined in the provisions
OF the act and that all such defective
cars shall be corrected i'll respect to al!
defects as enumerated in the Chicago
Agreement which was really the origin
of the Federal Safety Appliance Act.
The corrections which are to be made
are relative to the height of couplers,
the condition of the cOuplers and the
conditions of the hand holds or uncoup-
ling lever rods attached on the end OF
the side of the cars for the safety ana
convenience of the brakemCn and car
inspectors.
The list of instructions deSignates
that in the case of the \ cOuplerS they
shall be not more than 3112 inches from
the top of the rail to the center of the
line of the coupling shank and in the
case of the Il couplcrs. the latter shall
not be less than 3lh inches from the
above extremes. The defects of the
couplcrs nocessitating the repairing of
the same are those which prevent them
from coupling by impact or from being
uncoupled without the necessity of a
man going between the ends of the cars
for So doing.
These rules, it wil be readily seen,
will eliminate u large part Of the dam
ger to hich the inspect ors are rcgu-
larly exposed and greatly diminish the
loss of life in onc'o the most danger
out employmcnts known to the railroad
service.
If car having any of the above
mentioned defects is delivered to the
Maine Central road. the officials OF the
latter are instructed to refuse to allow
the car to proceed over its line and to
card it to be sent back to the care of
its owners in order that the proper re-
pairs shalt be made. These Instructions
refer especially to the inspectors at the
Junction points and division terminals.
but apply also to stations containing
yards where trains are split up and re-
arranged.
For several years, since thS accepting,
By the Chicago railroads of their agree
mCnt stipul;: ting practically the same
changes, all of the roads of the country
have been following a similar example.
since cars sent to railroads Of which
Chicago is a center have been obliged
to be returned after the freight con-
tanned in them had been transformed
to cars eligible to do business accord
governing the same.
The Federal Safety Appliance Act,
therefore, is the outgrowth of this
agreement ana at the present day is
in force among all Of the large rail-
roads throughout the United States.
the New England Railroad Association
having control of ell Of the important
railroad lines connecting the coastWisc
trade with the states of the interior.
By an agreement binding the contract
responsibilities in the matter. each ROAD
in New England has agreed 10 forfeit
to the New England Association tho
sum of $1,000 in case of it's failure to
abide by the terms agree upon.
TIL" advantages of these changes will
lie felt at once for the reason that the
Maine Central and Boston & Maine
roads have not been able to load cars
for the n. y. G. & II. r. r. r.. the
West Shore Line, \. Y, n. il. & H. the
Central Pacific, the c. K. r. of n. J.
and long list OF other roads having
previously Instituted like changes and
regulations.
Action has already been taken in
Watervi!!G as several new mon have
been employed by Chief Inspector Fred
Elliott to meet the extra demands. Will
linn T.. Withcrell of this city was sent
to Oakland "Wednesday morning to be
i'll readiness today to enforce the rules
on any cars coming from the Somerset
Railway not equipped according to the
required provisions.
AprOpOS to new changes about to go
into effect the interstate commerce
commissioner in closing the interview
with the Journal made the statemcr.l
that the rolling stock of the Maine
Central Railroad stands third today
among the other large roads of the
country III the excellcncy of its equip
meHtS.
Another interesting statement was
also made to the effect that at the pres
ent time about 20 per cent. of the rolling
stock on this railroad was equipped
with airbrakc appliances and within
two months or by the first of April
1906, similar Instructions relating to the
airbrake system will be issued in which
no car will be considered serviceable
unless fully equipped with airbrake
connections. 1t is generally supposed
by the public that all Of the cars drawn
Oh the heavy freight trains are con-
nectcd with the main line or air line
OF the train, but such. however, is not
at present the case, although a certain
percentage of the cars are required to
be thus connected
These changes which are in progress
70 insure better transportation facili-