The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-15

traffic moving over the line and then
adjust their schedules 70 tho reouire-
ments OF safety undor these aecer-
tained Condi lions. ~ these physical
and traffic conditions are such as 20
forbid tho running OF passenger trains
as such speed as 20 meet the rea-
sOnablo demands ~ tina traveifne-
public. tho road must mako prompt
and speedy Improvement ~ physical
conditions 20 the point where trains
can be operated under schedules
which arc safe. and at the same tira,
reasonably safe- Pending such Inn
provement the schedules should bs
heightened 20 the point Of safety.
Excessive Hours.
1T has been brought 20 the official
attention OF tho commission I'm this
connection that crews on freight
trains arc sometimes permitted 90 be
on duty as much az forty 70 forty
five hours in succession. It IS true
that these excessive hours arc not
compulsory. but rather permissive. but
the fact remains that the danger aris-
INK from this practice IS the same.
whether from the one cause or tho
other. The lives u members u
these train crews are constantly en-
dangered by acts OF omission or fall
ure 70 observe rules which are neces-
sary. not only 20 the public safety.
but 20 the preservation Of their own
lives as well
1T IS impossible 20 consider the
hazards OF passenger travel separate
and apart from the freight service.
since an order for the meeting o~
passing OF a freight train by n pas
senger train must be as rfgidiv oh
served nTr both g.,
ton of lives as II Il We're for the
meeting or passing Of two passenger
trains. Neither public safety nor tho
saIey or train crews can be properly
safesuarded while responsible mem
oerS of these crews either in whole
or in part voluntarily or involuntar.lv.
nave been on duty for periods ereativ
beyond tho limit OF safety.
however conmendahle NAV be the
zefl o; a conductor. engineer or flag
man 70 serve the interests OF his a-,-
ployers' or 20 serve public interests.
or however pardOnabie NAV ho hfs
desire 70 earn as much os brr,.,,
strength Will permit. yet experience
has taught the lesson that ovortaxod
physical endurance has over BEEN
one or the most prolific causes az
disaster
Occasions. It IS true. NAV arise.
such as unavoidable delays Of trains
IN reaching the terminus II n divf-
sion. which require trainnon ~ OK
coed the hours OF safety in order +o
accomplish natural or o~nol ser
vice. but such occasions occur WEI,
sufficient frequency on ven-ree1i-
lated railroads 70 give ample test 20
the powers 81 trainmen for sustained
endurance. without voluntarily and
unreasonahiy overtaxing such powers.
Rules Disregarded.
The rules under which tho Southern
Railway is operated are those OF the
American Railway Association. which
presumably represent the best thought
and experience Of tho day on the Inn
portant subjects OF transportation.
natever may be the projections or
ifnpcrfections OF those rules the OH
servation Of them By the employees OF
The Southern Railway would have GER
tainly prevented tho accident under
investigation. The all-imp0rtant mat
ter. both 90 the railroad itself and
20 the public. is that the operating
rules shall be observed observed not
only by one class 81 operating Off
GERS or employees but by an The
safety OF the public and OF the traln-
men is absolutely dependent upon this
opSrrNan ce or operating rules II IS
therefore. a matter OF vital concern.
and one which should engage the most
serious attention and earnest Thought
OF lawmakers. courts and the whole
body OF our citizenship. particularly
including that great army OF worthy
men. railroad employees and others.
whose vocation subjects them % the
daily hazard Of the rail-
A railroad organization. in its oper-
ating department. consists OF great
number Of units. each unit represent
Ing a responsibility % the public
which cannot be thrust upon another
Be "a unit great or small. 10 must nu
81 appointed place. and unfaninely
sustain the maximum pressure brought
10 bear upon # IN the natural order
or plan OF the organization Human
wisdom has failed TO provide any
scheme which does not involve the
human unit
"our laws have wisely provided
heavy liability in pecuniary damages
and penalties upon the transportation
company Itself for a failure 10 guard
well the H. and limb Of the citizen.
These laws should continue To Dee rig
IDLY enforced. but Dee they enforced
ever SO well. vet they represent at
best only I'm dollars and cents the lives
OF men and women. and give but an
Inadequate commercial return for that
which has been taken. bat cannot Doe