The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-04
BLOCK SYSTEM
FOR RAILWAYS
In View of Fearful Wrecks of
Late, Congress Will BE Asked
to Pass Law.
SUCH SYSTEM MEANS SAFETY
Congressman Without Passes in
Their Pockets May Take Rea-
sonable View OF Matter.
r,.rom our Rexular correspondent. |

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It'rom our Regular Correspondentl
WASHINGTON, ID. c., January 3.-No
subject is discussed In Washington now
with such interest, and none is so gen
orally discussed, as that of proposed legis-
lation requiring the automatic block sys-
tern to be installed on all railroads en-
gagged in interstate traffic, and all roads
operating In the Territories and the Dis
trict of Columbia. Intrastate roads, of
course, could not be brought under the
provisions OF such law.
The accident at Lawyers Va, in which
President Spencer, of the Southern Rail
way. and others were killed a short time
ago; another accident near Danville, In
which four lives were lost, ard the terri
Bile accident at Terra Gotta, within sight
OF the Capitol, Sunday night causing the
loss of over forty lives, have been al
most the sole causes of the excited pub
lie interest in the question of Federal
legislation to prevent loss of life on
railroads.
1t is significant that heretofore the
bulk of legislation has had to do with
the financial side of the subject. The
rate BILL enacted into law last year.
did not contain a single provision cal
cuiated to make life safer. but was os
tensibly designed to correct evils prac-
ticed upon the shipper by the roads in
the matter of -overcharges for service
rendered.
The appalling loss of life resulting from
direct violation of the rules of the block
system has awakened public interest in
favor of Legislation designed to make
travel on railroads less dangerous. All
three of the accidents mentioned above
as moving causes of the demand for
legislation are believed to have resulted
directly from violation of the uniform
rules of the roads which use the block
system. The term Block" as used in
describing this system. means a block
of clear track Sometimes this block
may be only mile in extent, or less;
sometimes 1t may be as much as five
miles, or more. But 1t is agreed that
this extent, much or little, should be
be allowed in this block at time.
Were this rule sacredly observed col
lisions would be impossible. The fact
has been brought out that this rule Is
frequently violated by the railroads COM
panies, especially on single-track roads,
where traffic Is 30 heavy that the man
agement yields to the pressure and al
lows the rules of the block system to
be suspended.
1t is the purpose of those advocating
legislation on the subject to make a
violation of any of the rules of the sys-
TEN of block signalling punishable with
fine and Imprisonment.
For years efforts have been made to
have Congress pass a law making the
use of the system OF block signalling
compulsory, but the influence OF tho
railroads has been strong enough to de-
feat efforts which, in fact, Were more
or less desultory. There are Indications
that the strength of public sentiment,
as aroused by the recent great loss of
life on the railroads, will be strong
enough to force action. Besides. rail-
way influence Is not now so strong in
Congress as 1t was up to twelve months
ago.
Although Congress was not to assem-
bic until the third of the month. it was
remarkable how many members, who
had gone to their homes for the ho-
days, returned to Washington on Monday
and Monday night. All railway passes
expired on the thirty-frst of December,
at midnight. and none may now be is
sued members and Senators under the
provisions of the rate bill. Although
Mr.. Bryce, the new British ambassador,
enumerates railway passes as one method
of bribery to which members and sena-
tors yield, it is not intended to be said
here that they have been thus employed
of late years. Mr.. Bryce wrote twenty
years ago.
But q member of Congress who has
not got railroad pass in his pocket
will not be less likely to vote against
railway interests when those are in con-
flict with the interests of the people gen
orally.
1t may now be said to be almost
probable that Congress will enact this
winter a law to compel railroads to use
the block system, under a heavy penalty.
A Federal law compels the use of air
brakes on all trains. This statute was
opposed most bitterly by the railroad
companies, but after a long fight the
bill was passd. 1t is probable that the
law to compel the general installation
of the block system will also be fought
with the utmost vigor. but 1t Is not be-
lieved that the railroads are in po-
sition to make such vigorous fight
as they were when the safety-appliance
bill was under consideration. or when
the rate bill was in Congress.