The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-02-19

an operator who handles train
orders work over nine hours. say ex-
pert trainmen.
Accidents are not caused by the
operators. Neither are they caused
by the failure of operators to do
their duty. With the system in
vogue at this day it would be ex-
tremely difficult for an operator to
In any way be the cause. He could
of course, clear a train for which he
had orders by raising his block sig
nal and obtaining notice from the
rext operator that all was clear, but
In so doing he would know that his
dismissal was as certain as day to
follow night Even with this act
there would be no wreck, as the ope-
rator at the next station would per-
init no train between the two sta
tons without knowing all was clear.
In this way one operator acts as n
check on the other and unless both
act with criminal intent an accident
Is impossible
In the ordinary routine such as
an operator follows, he allows no
train to leave his station without
knowing that the track between his
station and the first Geographic Of
fee following is clear. and at the
same time he receives positive in
structions from the train dispatche:
giving him permission to allow the
train to proceed after the dispatcher
knows that all Geographic orders for
the train have been delivered.
Train dispatehers in but few
eases. 50 few. in fact, that they are
hardly made a matter Of note. have
caused wrecks, and they are worked
eight hours day. Every train on
Its district is directly under the train
iispatcher's care. every operator IS
il his Beck ard call he has the abil-
= of every man down to a fraction.
SHOWS what every engine will do and
yhat the man In charge Of that en-
CINE VIII DO Not wheel turns
Without is permission. not car
eahad un without his having knowl-
dee ct tie fact. every hot box,
avery l=ahy engine. every contrary
move all tend to make his position
re of great nervous strain. and the
arst move made without his per-
mission means that discipline is
lwgy and danger stares him in the
lace
This one man upon whom the rer-
utation eff his division depends
for the rapidty and cheapness with
which il is operated, and who is
called the hub" by H. r. Hanrahan,
% the Illinois Central, works eigh-
hours day. During that eight
hours he never leaves his chair, no
matter how great the needs may be.
The division superintendent. vino
are considered ffrst-class men, are
those who surround themselves with
corp Of train dispatchers that are
the best in their class.
The operator at the way station
does in his twelve hours just about
as much work as the dispatcher does
in half an hour. but the law says the
operator must not work over nine
hours if he is to handle train orders,
while the train dispatcher can and
does work eight
The ruling is as absurd as any that
might be drawn up and shows mex
perience and a lack OF knowledge
that will work an unnecessary hard
ship on the railroad.
Accidents will occur just as long
and just as often as employees in the
train service are allowed 10 deviate
from the rules and regulations as
laid before them in the book of
rules. Trainmen will plead that you
can't live up to the rules. but the
statement is not true one, and the
fact that trainmasters and superin-
tendents allow the rules TO be over
ridden just SO long will accidents oe-