The Washington times., 1907-02-24
WOULD ENFORCE
BLOCK SIGNALS
Interstate Commerce Com
mission Recommends I'm
mediate installation.
System Proved Safe and
Economical, Especially in
England.
Terra Gotta and Southern
Wrecks Due to Lax
Operation.

Recommending that the block signal
system be made compulsory on all rail
road lines handling passengers. that its
installation be required in the shortest
time adequate for the manufacture and
erection Of the appliances. ard that the
Government assume by LAW general
supervision Of such arrangements and
appliances. the Interstate Commerce
Commission made its preliminary report
to Congress on the operations of the
block signal system on American rail-
roads yesterday afternoon.
The commission demands that It be
given general powers over the opera
ton of railroads. with reference to these
appliances and the conduct OF trains,
and authority to investigate accidents.
IT declares that excessive hours of ser
vice have in many cases been respon-
sible for wrecks. overworSed employees
being unable TO stand the strain OF their
taxing labOrs.
English Roads Safer.
Comparing American and English
roads. it finds that American lines have
an immensely greater number Of acct
the block signal system works far more
effectively in England than here. and
believes that most Of the responsibility
for this difference lies in the fact that
I'm the responsible positions OF signal
men and operators American roads en-
ploy inexperienced boys, while English
lines have skilled, mature. and expert
men.
Tho communication saws that until 1901
little progress was made in this coun-
try toward installing the block system.
But after that it became rapid because
of the increasing density of traffic necCs-
stating the operation OF more trains
on single track roads. and making 1t
more difficult. safely, 10 operate them
by the orders of dispatchers alone. The
commission observes, however, that
some railroad managers have so long
delayed to install these devices that they
have finally been moved to it only by
the statistics which prove to them that
the expense Of propertv lost and dam
age suits on account OF people killed
was greater than the economy effected
by doing without the system.
At present 4S,74S miles of road in this
country are equipped with the block
system. of which 6,S29 is automatic.
Nearly every important road has more
or less block equipment, demonstrating
that the managers are IN substantial
accord as 20 the utility of the system.
Installation OF the telegraph block sys-
tenn is inexpensive. About $50 a mile for
a telegraph wire and SO for each signal
covers this.
Block Signals Economical.
The commission concludes that the
block signal represents large ultimate
economy from the standpoint of traffic
alone. because It greatly increases the
capacity Of a road. Trains controlled
by operators ana the timetable alone
cannot safely be run within an interval
OF at least five minutes; while with the
block system an interval OF two min
utes IS entirely safe. The invarlabIe
rule is that the system has effected
great economy in life and IN the num-
her OF accidents. One road reported that
IL saved 45 per cent of its expenses for
collisions. despite the fact that there
nd been a very large Increase IN traf-
ic.
The automatic block system IS recog-
niZed as the best. and il is superSeding
the telegraph block system on some lines
where the latter has been in effect many
years. Under this system mistakes OF
engine men constitute the most promin-
ent fault Under the telegraph block
system errors OF englnemen are rarer.
but do sometimes occur. The faults of
enginemen with automatic signals can
be corrected by discipline
The commission recommends that the
use Of the block system be enforced
on all passenger lines. and that not
more than three or four years be al
lowed in which to establish it. That
there be a law authorizing official in
vestigauon of accidents. and that in
vestigation by official tests of automatic
appliances for the control of trains be
authorized by law. with sufficient APP
preparation to conduct the tests Re
ferring to the recent Terra Gotta wreck:
Terra Gotta Wreck.
This collision occurred on a line
equipped with block signals. The cir
cumstances attending 1t were such that
the whole question Of management Of
trains at high speed was brought promi-
nently before the public. including COM
parison Of the block system with other
methods. The commission. therefore. in
stituted inquiry into the case, as well as
into the collision which. in November
on the Southern railway, caused the
death OF President Samuel Spencer. The
investigations have proceeded far
enough to show that the fault in these
cases IS not of the system, but of laxity
in operating them. Collisions from SINH
lar causes occurred many times before
and these causes have had fun consider
alton IN the present report. The block
signal system remains superior TO any
other. both theoretically and by the test
OF experience 1t IS the intention OF the
commission 10 submit a further report
covering these matters"
Among other features discussed in this
connection is the fact that a large pro-
portion or accidents in this country have
been caused by the excessively long
hours that trainmen or dispatchers have
been required to work, and also II is
noted that altogether too large A pro-
portion OF very youthful and ineXDe-
rienced men are employed al low wages
as signal men and operators.
Robinson Mada EpD;1na~