The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-16
RAILROAD NEWS.
Union Pacific Expends Two
Millions for Safety Appliances.
Hartman System Reducing
Casualties to Minimum.
A splendid RECORD
L SPLENDID RECORD.
But Few Accidents Shown in
Annual Report of Road.
other Items of Interest in
Railway Circles.

IL IS OFTEN charged that human life
In the present age, Is held of little value
whenever there is an accident in which
nVes are lost. sensationalists generally
bring Forward the argument that great
employers Of labor do not exercise the
right care for the protection of life.
The annual report of the Union Pacific
railway, shows among other interesting
Things, now great has been the effort
made during the past year to reduce to
the minimum the possibilities of acct
dent and of the destruction Of human
lie and personal injury incident to the
operation OF railways.
During the past year about 81 600, 900
were expended in the installation OF
safety appliances, all for the purpose of
reducing to the lowest possible degree
the chance of accidents. That this ex-
penditure has not been in vain is
shown by the comparative report of the
loss Of life and Of personal injury on
account OF accident. For the year end
ing June 80, 1907, the total number of
employees killed on the Union Pacific
system was Sc, and injured S59, out of
total Of $1,000 employees, and 95 per
cent Of the injuries were very slight.
During the year 1906 63 employees were
killed. During the year ending June 80,
1907, there were but three passengers
killed and 166 injured. In 1906 two pas
sengers were killed and 136 injured.
During 1907 those employed as postal
clerks, express messengers, etc, one
was killed and 80 injured, compared
with 8 killed and Is injured during 1906.
Other persons who lost their lives dur
ing the past year through railroad acct
dents of the system number 35 with in
juries to As, against 46 killed and Is in
jured in 1906. The total killed in all
accidents for the year 1907 was los. The
total injured 1,104, against ia killed and
1888 injured in 1907.
When it is taken into consideration
that the increased business handled by
this company is indicated by increases
of 2.66 per cent in tons of freight car
ried one mile and 1887 per cent in the
passengers carried one mile, 1915 per
cent in the total train mileage and ST
per cent in the total car mileage. the
decrease in the loss of life is remark
able.
The principal train accidents during
the year, include a collision between a
running wild freight car and a freight
train near Cheyenne on August 20, 1906,
in which one engineer was killed, one
fireman and one brakeman injured.
This accident was due to failure to
properly set the brakes in the Cheyenne
yards.
ON September T., 1906. through defect
i've track near Red Buttes, Wyo., a pas
senger train was derailed. One tres
passer beating his way over the line
was killed and another trespasser and
ten passengers Injured.
On October 9, 1906, a passenger train
was derailed by broken rail near Wa
mego, Kan. One conductor and 46 pas
sengers were slightly Injured.
On October 10. 1906, freight trains col
ing of train orders. Two engineers, one
fireman and one brakeman were killed
and two f1remen injured.
On December 3, 1906, one brakeman
was killed in collision between
freight trains near Point of Rocks,
Wyo.
on January 2, 1907, at Brule. Neb.. |
two passenger trains collided, causing |
to seven passengers, four mail clerks |
and four employees. The cause of this !
accident was improper tagging and
control of trains.
On March 25, 1907, through failure to |
observe signals, two freight trains col
lided at Gilmore, Neb. There were no |
persons injured.
On May IS. 1907. freight trains col
liGed at Red nesert, Wyo., due to care
lessness Of an engineer and causing
slight injury to one engineer.
In all the above cases, employees re-
sponsible for the accidents were dis
charged after careful inquiry MADE
into the accidents by special boards
Of inquiry. which have been provided
for during the past year, and which
consist of officials Of the road together
with persons of prominence. integrity
and reputation who may be selected to
Ill a place upon the board.
Carefully compiled statistics, the re-
suit of close inquiries, during the year,
nave supplied basis upon which the
of the road are acting
With a view of reducing accidents to
he minimum. A system of tests was
,sta blished three years ago for the try
ng out of the watchfulness of employees
.elativc to the signaI system These
ests are conducted on all divisions. A
Ichool of instruction. or board Of sx-
miners raises over the system each
Tx months drilling both new and old
employees in the matter Of transporta- X
ION rules so that all may think, know
md act uniformly in the performance
# their respective duties. With an ed
lcational system and with the protec-
i've measures that are employed, it is