Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-03
An Elastic Block system.

The first session of the coroner's jury now
investigating the Terra Gotta wreck proves
to have been highly important in that it
developed a fact which possibly lies at the
bottom of the trouble. 1t was disclosed by
the testimony of Superintendent Hobbs that
the block system on the Metropolitan
branch of the B. and 0. Is of an elastic
character, and a suspicion Immediately
arises whether this condition Is not prime
factor in permitting the collision of Sunday
The block station at Silver Spring Is
operated continuously. That at Takoma is
operated only twelve hours daily. opening
at $50 am and closing at $50 pm. That
at University Is closed at pm. Thus
from $50 to I each evening the track from
Silver Spring to University Is regarded as
single block and from Z In the evening
until. presumably. $50 in the morning the
track from Silver Spring to Rhode Island
avenue is considered as one block while
from $50 am. to 6:30 pm. there are two
blocks and from $50 am. to pm. three
blocks in the same length of track. This
readjustment, 1t is claimed effected to
afford a better control of trains during the
hours of heavier traffic, between $50 am.
and $50 pm.
Engine 2120, drawing the dead-head train
the hour at which that point ceased to be
block station. Under the rules of the
road an engineer on seeing no signals at
block station must stop. but when a sta
ton ceases to be block station all lights
are extingushed and the engineer Is not
required to stop. having right of way to the
next block station.
1t calls for no acuteness of reasoning to
detect here grave possibility of mistake
on the part of an engineer. The margin
of one minute is very slight indeed, and
despite the frequent inspection Of watches
an engineer may mistake the time. He
may think the block station closed when 1t
is not and regard the absence of signals
as a warrant to proceed, or he may be
right in his time and the operator wrong.
1t does not especially matter in the
higher aspect of this case whether Engineer
Hildebrand saw or, did not see the red
light, whether or not it was displayed.
or whether in fact, he had reason to
think the Takoma station closed and
the block below it clear. The truth
is disclosed that on this line at
least the block system is loose, uncertain
and unsafe. The main virtue of that sys-
tenn Is certainty. when it measures up to
its full possibilities, with capable men in
charge of its operation and with the rail-
roads rules strictly enforced. The moment
1t is made elastic, fer whatever reasons.
for facility of operation for economy
alone. it loses it's value and, as this case
clearly attests. contributes rather to the
danger than to the security of travellers.
One of the most frequently uttered accu-
sations against the railroad corporations In
connection with the numerous disasters
that stamp our railway system as unsafe
is that they work their tower men too
long and pay them too little. Here is
plain case in point. For the sake of
small saving the services of two operators
are cut off each night on the city end of
an important system, leading to confusion
and as this case strongly suggests, to
wholesale slaughter.
Superintendent Hobbs explains that under
the Maryland law the signal operators in
that state are worked only eight hours a
day. That is good law. 1t entails three
shifts of crews and, as far as possible in
sures that the men may be at all times
in good condition to discharge their re-
sponsible duties But the moment the Dis
trict line is crossed the employee in charge
of the station at Takoma is kept on duty
twelve hours and. apparently, the in
charge at University is held at his post
for twelve and one-half hours. Here is
chance for Congress to do some effective
reformatOry work.