Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1907-06-20
POOR RAILS AND
TIES ARE IN USE
Missouri Pacific First Road to be
Investigated But Movement Will
Extend Over Entire Country
bad State of Affairs
Alleged.

Kansas City, Mo-, June 20.-The
railroad employees of the United
states propose to force the roads to
rectify a large number of evils in
track and equipment which now ex-
list. The endangering of thousands OF
lives every day is the reason for their
decided attitude.
Formal complaints, instigated by
the National Union of Railway Track
men. and signed by ]. 1. sheppard,
secretary of the organization. were
mailed today to the board of railroad
commissioners of Kansas and to the
state board of railroad and ware
house commissioners of Missouri.
The complaints are practically
identical. That filed for Missouri,
however, mentions specifically the
condition of the track on the bluff
near Boonville.
While the complaints are directed
against only the Missouri Pacific
railroad 1t is stated that the organi-
zation intends filing complaints
against other railroads until a gem
eral campaign is in progress in the
whole country against the evils COM
planned of.
Too Few Inspectors. it Saws.
The formal complaint names the
various lines controlled by the Mis-
souri, Pacific in Kansas and Missouri.
1t then sets out that the company
has not Tar a number of employed
on its lines sufficient number of
men to perform the work of keeping
its railroad tracks in safe condition
for the handling of trains; that not
enough material has been furnished
with which to make necessary repairs
on the track.
For convenience In doing the work
railway tracks are divided into sec
tions on an average length OF about
CaNT ...l. .a..s n.
In order properly to perform the Ia
Dor of keeping the tracks in repair
there should be employed on each OF
these sections a foreman to supervise
the work, and from seven to twelve
section laborers on each seclon.
Track walkers should also be employ
ed day and night.
Dangerous Condition.
The complaint further alleges that
by its long continued practice of not
furnishing sufficient material TO keep
its tracks in repair, IL has in use
on a large portion of its lines of
railway in the states of Kansas and
Missouri, rotten and decayed ties and
old worn out rails.
Instead of employing the proper
number of men on each section 1t
has on a majority of its sections only
foreman and one to two men. It
day or night. AS the result of these
conditions, says the complaint. the
Missouri Pacific Is operating its trains
over tracks that are extremely dan
gerous, and unfit for the transport
tatlon of passengers with reasonable
safety.
Speed Reduction Asked.
The complainant prays that an in
vestigation at once be made as to
the truth of the complaint, that an
inspection of the tracks of the COM
pany complained of be forthwith
made, and that the railroad COM
pany be compelled. by order of the
commissioners, to place its tracks in
safe condition for the transportation
of passengers. .
The complaint further asks that
while the repairs are being made
the railroad company be compelled
to have its tracks properly patrolled
both day and night. -
Pending the completion OF these
repairs the complaint asks that the
railroad also be required to move its
trains over the defective tracks COM
planned Of at such rate of speed as
viii no longer endanger the lives of
the trainmen or of the passengers.
Photos OF Bad Track.
To emphasize the poor condition
OF the tracks of the Missouri Pacific,
the complainant presents, as exhibits
In connection with the charges filed,
several photos of defective rails and
ties taken at dangerous points ON
that road.
These photos show ties, split and
rorted, with spikes barely retaining
their hold I'm the decayed wood,
while the rails are Joined at points
between widely separated ties, and
In many cases the joint irons are
broken and the bolts severed