New-York tribune., 1907-09-15
AS TO RAILROAD ACCIDENTS.

Concerning thege a close student of railroad
history and operation expresses the opinion that
there more than formerly: that IN iaci IN
comparison to The number Of passenger and ton
miles there are considerably less; but that attcn-
ton is more frequently drawn trivial accidents
and casualties by the daily press.
Another, equally well posted, discussing the ire
qlent comparison-alwavs made TO appear to
our discredit-of railroad casualty list with
that Of Europe thi:tks it very unfair. be
cause, when the long distances traveTsed through
sparsely settled sections, by the trains of this
country are compared with those Of the older
countries, with their necessarily well protected
rights Of way through densely populated
towns cities and districts, and. too. when it IS
considered that. after every safeguard known to
modern railroeding has been adopted. there stu
remains the element Of human fallioility from
which the roads Of country can free themselves
and Of which no tabulator of statistics can hEule
out percenta ges of risk no accurate comparison
cau Dossiblv be made" That this implied refer
cnce 70 the trespasser should weigh in the discus
sion is amply proven by the percentage of ac''-
dents Of this character taken from government r.
ports and quoted in the first article on 'hIS su'J
If vas over 30 per cent
Accidents from failure Of any Of the safety ap-
r,liances we use have been very rare from ''
rneche nicians point Of view one authorl'E sag
u,oet enlpha ticallv: When accidents que ~ -
communication or negative work OF brakes NV
,,,isniacement Of switches, or wrong wofklhS ~
,,'ats occ,7r they are in nearly every case AT
+,ib,,able TO temporary alteration Of NINA oI ~"
+,-a1,aI of sight weakness OF BODY OF tie i"
- EQUATION Another points out that all our
-a;,-o.ds have very careful and rigid systems ol
tsnectior to discover defects before they can
-. da,,aye In some cases. premiums are given
g. ,ta discovery Of defects, by the inspectors II
iVi % - 20 the breakage " any part Of ralr"an
,i,,r,,e,t if more than one or TWO 'lAe lS .,1a
i,,i1ar detail are reported. within a redSo reaia
q a. ,,,;,, investigation is made to ascei 'diii
- ,se and il this cannot be deternihen ~ -
- ,.o,ated defect the whole nunper III 90
-. are invariably renewed Throughout tle ~
,+.b Of equipment TO which they Pertani' "
% ,ords railroads taking no chanoeS oI
sato,i,,a parts; but. instead, are exercising '"'
o.test care 10 avoid all such rlsKS :.
* -a.ards the safety appliances generaiy III
,,se on our railroads one eminent easi -
o,,o,pces. I'VE have the best brake in the "orlu'
60, foreiqn Messenger trains are htted with
.,, high speed brakes, are all of ours
otbar country in the world has any OF l's
f,t trains equipped with automatic brakes
- hos any other country automatic car cou-
piers. ...,. -;o,rols IN
a-ha hest and most reliable automatic sighais III
.,, 1-o,ld are being installed as rapidly as pos
sIhle on our roads
practically, on account OF improved conditiohs
= a,n,iances there is now danger from fire on
Them in case of accident
TIacomotive boiler explosions. when they do
- (Which is seldom solely due TO the neg
-, ~ carelessness OF the men handling the en-
,,as and the list of sufferers therefrom usually
comprises only these men,
Occasionally Incompetent men are 10 be met with
=. rsrrore service. but mostly in the non-operat-
trr dansl trnonts; those IN the operating depart
It's nave 10 90 through long period OF proha-
ton. aud ruch preliminary work. before they are