Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-22

The members of the commission tell
me that the casualties upon English
railways are only about one-fortieth
of the aggregate from the same causes
in this country. which Is q startling
statement. During the year 1905 there
were only six persons killed in COLI
sions and derailments in the United
Kingdom, and 112 injured; while in
year, 10 persons were killed in COLI
sions and derailments and 1865 In
jured.
The railways of the United Kingdom
persons carried. while we killed one
passenger to every 1,957,451 persons
carried. During the five years ending
with 1905 only rs persons were killed
and a9o7. We're injured from collisions
and derailments in the United King
dom, while 1925 were killed and 25.7O5
were injured from similar accidents in
the United States.
Inventions Submitted.
To prevent this awful sacrifice of hui
man life and limb the Congress appro-
priated the sum of $4,000 and directed
the interstate commerce commission to
make actual tests of devices for the au-
tomato control of railway trains and
other precautions for the protection of
the travelling public. Immediately after
the passage of the law last March a
Circular was sent out inventors
to submit suggestions. Up to date draw
ings and specifications of about 800 diff
ferent appliances have been received.
More than one-half of them have been
rejected at glance. because they did
not comply with the terms of the law
About $50 were rejected because they
were impracticable or mechanically de-
fective. About 100 are still under con-
sideration. The greater part of the ap-
pliances submitted have no merit what
ever, but in several cases the commits
sion has returned the drawings and speci-
fications to inventors. pointing out their
defects. suggesting how they may be i'm
proved and recommending that new sets
of drawings and specifications be sub
mitted.
Only three devices of the entire 500
submitted have been considered worthy
of practical tests and the inventors have
been so notified. Arrangements are be-
ing made with railway at Chicago for a
thorough test of one of them. beginning
imme diately, that will cover several
months, in order to ascertain how it
will work under heavy and light traf-
fic and how it will endure winter weather
conditions. The inventor pays the cost of
the installation. 1t is an auxiliary to
the block system. which will automatical-
ly control a train and stop it If the en-
gineer should run by danger signal.
Two Appliances in Operation.
lu Two OlilcT cases Tic inventors nave
already made the installation at their
own expense, with the assistance of rail-
way companies. one in California and
the other in New York, and their devices
are now in ope ration, under the observa-
ton of an expert appointed by the gov
eminent, who will report to the inter-
state commerce commission.
The board Is going on with it's exam
nations. and will install as many de-
vices as are found practicable as rap
idly as possible. in order that they may
have the benefit of the weather test dur
ing the approaching winter. The rail-
way companies are cooperating cordially
They offer every facility desired and
give whatever assistance the COM
mission requires. 1t is difficult to
obtain definite Information. as the in
vestigations are conducted secretly for
obvious reasons, and the results will not
be reported unless they are successful
To protect the inventors and other per-
sons interested, no unfavorable reports
are published, although. if 1t is desired by
the applicant the reasons for the re-
lection of any particular patent will be
explained privately. but not publicly.