Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-10
ance could not be placed by trainmen ana
other signal operators on the same division.
Violation of Rule 81.

ance could not be placed by trainmen and
other signal operators on the same division.
Violation of Rule 81.
Engineer B. l.. Vermillion and Conductor
George w. Neagle of train No. 65. for
violation of rule No p of the aforesaid
rules, in that, having received and accepted
an improper double green signal at Silver
Spring before $50 pm. they failed TO
report the same to the superintendent, con-
trary to the provision of the said rule.
Engineer Harry H. Hildebrand and Con-
ductor Frank F. Hoffneir of extra 2l2o,
for violating rule Is of the rules govern
ing the use of block signals, in that, nav
ing received and accepted a douole-sreen
signal at Silver Spring. they proceeded at
speed to Terra Gotta, thereby failing 70
observe the caution prescribed by said
rule.
Assistant Train Dispatcher T. F. Dent
for violation of rule No. ia of the rules
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany for the government of the operating
department. in that he failed by pre-.
cautionary orders to properly safeguard
212O; and, Furthermore by his failure TO
require operators on the Metropolitan
branch to transmit proper train reports
after the departure of each train; also, for
his failure to enforce the rule for5idding
operators to close their offices before re-
ceiving from him, the said Dent, the usuai
good night clearance order.
'-Trainmaster j. w. Kelly, jr., for pro-
Mitigating a schedule for week days which
trainmen are required to use for their
guidance on all days of the week, and
which was impossible for train NO % TO
make on Sundays, thereby adding confusion
and danger to the movement of trains on
the Metropolitan branch
Sufficient Protection Lacking.
THE jury is of the opinion, on the evil
Tod ipuIeSt that the
manual block SYSTEM at present oper-
ated on the Metropolitan branch of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad does not af-
ford sufficient protection to the lives and
property of its patrons: that the wages palo
to operators and signalmen are not large
enough to secure the services or competent
and reliable men. We find that the prac-
tice of closing block signal stations for the
day between the hours of $50 and O'Clock
in the evening is not conducive to the SAFE
ty of traffic. and we recommend that an
block signal stations be kept operative
twenty-four hours a day, and that no add
tonal duties aside from working the sig
nails and attending to teleSraphlc duties De
imposed upon operators.
1--WE recommend more rigid Inspection
of timepieces in use by operators and tram
men, and also a uniform compulsory RUE
for the comparison by trainmen and others
charged with the responsibility OF operating
trains with clocks known and designated
as standard time
I'm witness whereof. as well as the afore-
said coroner as the jurors aforesaid. have
to the inuuistion put their hands and seals
on the day and year aforesaid, and at the
place aforesaid.
(Signed
OSCAR ]. RICKETTS,.
GEORGE ]. MUELLER. Jr,
ANDREW ]. SANFORD,
JOSEPH H. BRADY,
JOHN w. BEALL,
&c w WEAVER
Impaneled in Another Case.
The Jury was empanelled by Coroner
hewitt December 90, 1906. to sit at an in
quest over the body of Arthur Chamber
lain, who died a.; the result of injuries re-
ceived December Is, when he was struck
by trolley car on Delaware avenue north
east. The inquiry In that case was com
pleted December 81, and the jurymen were
Immediately requested to serve the coroner
in connection with the investigation INTO
the disaster at Terra Gotta.
MI. Macfarland's Views.
Commissioner Macfarland upon hearing
the verdict said:
1T is a good verdict. Pending the inquest
have not felt at liberty to make any
comment upon the merits of the case, but l
feel free now to say that the facts dis
closed. while they upset some theories put
forth in the excitement of the calamity,
show clearly that both the system and
individuals operating it were blameworthy:
The coroner's jury having to the extent OF
its verdict fixed the responsibility in this
particular case, it is for the United States
district attorney to take further steps look
ing to criminal prosecution
The coroner, the official representative
of the District government in such mat
ters did his duty with thoroughness, I'M
partially and good Judgment, and he had
the assistance of everybody whose help he
commissioners aside all
other engagements and spent every day OF
the week at the inquest, doing their regu-
lar work between its sessions and CO.
operating with the coroner by suggesting
questions and otherwise, with the aid OF
the corporation counsel. The representa-
tives of the United States district attorney
and counsel for the railroad company and
the railroad men also suggested questions,
and the jurors brought out by their ques-
lions interesting information. All phases
of the subject were, therefore, fuily COW
government were utilized to get to the
bottom of the case and in this connection
the excellent work of the police department
should be mentioned.
Amendments of the Laws.
THE Commissioners We're DESTROYS not
only to see the responsibility for the ter
rible accident fixed, but to secure data
which would furnish basis for amend
ments of the laws that would tend to pre-
vent such accidents in the future.
Without attempting at the moment to
mention all the things which the investiga-
ton developed as necessary, ii may be said
that it was clearly shown that all block
system signal stations should be open
throughout the twenty-four hours and in
charge of competent men, performing no
other duty, working in eight-hour shifts
after efficient examination and under close |
supervision which would require them to
report their presence at frequent intervals
to the supervising officer In addition the
block signal stations should be so con-
nected electrically all roads, as in the
case on some of the roads, not including
the Baltimore and Ohio, that two given |
stations most cooperate simultaneously |
before train can enter the block which |
they govern. Under this method, first used |
in England, the operator at the farther
station, by an electrical device, opens the
way for the train at the station which 1t
must pass to enter the block All clocks
in block signal stations should be electrl- !
cally regulated by standard time. The hu-
man element cannot be eliminated, but 1t
should be minimized to the utmost.
Government Examination.
Locomotive engineers might well be re-
CURED to pass a government examination
and frequent government inspection on the
principle of the examinations now held by
the government for engineers of steam YES