New-York tribune., 1907-01-05
THE EFFICACY OF BLOCK SIGNALS.

Mr.. James J. Hill is credited with having
said that he never feels safe When uaFeliihs oi
railroads. even though they are eQulppeo wiz
block signals because as he asserts, IT Is mat
fer of common knowledge that two or three
trains are often found in the same DiocK- Ane
statement was evidently not intended TO Apply
to the Great Northern alone, but to other lines
In this country as well, and was so unquaiF
fed that it might be supposed that Ar. Hlll III
tended to suggest that the practice referred 10
was universal From the number OF denla1s
which have been elected by the publication OF
his remarks it is already apparent tnat sucn
is not the case. Vice-President and Generai
Manager Smith declares that trains are not
allowed to run past q danger slgnal on he
New York Central. Similar announcements
have been made by officers Of the Erie ana
Burlington systems. Only few days ago IL
was reported that the Chicago & Northwest
ern put a watch on its engineers last year, and
dismissed ten men for diSregarding signals
If the inquiry were pushed far enough, no
doubt 1t would be found that the policy Of
many roads Is Identical with that pursued by
these few.
Though Mr.. Hilrs imputaion, If he was accu-
rately reported, was much too general and COM
prehensve, it has considerable basis In fact
Several American railways permit engineers to
proceed with their trains under control If,
NOhiO
momentary pause On other roads, If reputa-
BILE technical journals are not mistaken, en-
gineers sometimes wifully disregard a signal
and take risks which have not been distinctly
authorized. If their action is not attended with
disastrous consequences it may remain un-
known to their employers, but even though re-
ported, 1t Is not lnfrequently tolerated. At least
three distinct policies then, are in vogue In
this country-strict prohibition permission to
cIr- oI P%or e.
halt, and taclt encouragement of continuing
at reduced speed without any stop at all.
For the direct or indirect granting OF discre-
tionary power TO engineers there is at least
one excuse, though concerning its adequacy
there must be q wide difference of opinion.
With a clear track ahead. the making up of
lost time is welcomed by both the public and
the railway superintendent, and in like man
ner the latter If not the former will sometimes
sanction passing a signal which indicates that
the track is not yet clear. The engineer of
following train. having seen signal after sig.
nal change from danger" TO safety" Is able
to estimate pretty accurately how far ahead
OF him the other train Is. If he knows the road
well and the weather is favorable, be may Ieel
that he is only performing his duty In anticI.
pating some OF these changes by few seconds
HIS employers may take the same view of
the matter. also.
An engineer might take such chances with
out harm month after month, and then be
treated 10 tragic surprise The only absolute
assurance Of safety lies in watching and heed
ing signals For this reason the Interstate Com
merce Commission has repeatedly advocat ted
Legislation making the adoption OF block sig
nails by all the railways in the United States
compulsory. The requirement would do much
good no doubt because these devices have al
ready made travel safer. Their largest useful.
ness will not be attained, however, until an
gineers are instructed to respect them moro
strictly than they do now