The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-03-16

.i.I..af 4if-1-s-s- +
will entirely abolish the present sys-
tenn OF train dispatching; and what We
believe to be of more Importance, at
least for immediate adoption, Is the
use Of passenger cars, to be construct
ed of steel. which, therefore will pre-
vent both the collapsing of the car in
| event of collision, and its subsequent
destruction by fire. which is usually
| incidental to such an accident.
The members of the Travellers Pro
tective association appreciate the fact
that certain percentage of accidents
| in the operation Of our extensive rail-
road system is unavoidable. Partic
ularly is this true when in addition to
| the natural hazard is added that incl
| dent to haSty or over economical con-
struction of rOadbeds and bridges, and
the operation of fast trains by men
not familiar with the peculiaritieS of
the curves and grades over which they
are running-aS it is apparent to every
one that it is impossible to elevate the
| outside rail of a curve SO as to suit all
! speeds-but there is one class Of acct
dents for which there is not. and new
er can be an excuse, and that IS col
| lision, either rear or butting.
| Since it is apparent that the railroad
! companies cannot discipline their en-
| ployes as to prevent accidents of this
nature, it does not seem inappropriate
| TO insist that they shall at least, spare
no expense to minimize the effect of
the accidents which they cannot avoid
| BY far the greatest loss of life from
| collisions is due either to the splinter
| ing of the cars Or to their Collapsing
in such way as to make impossible
the scape of the inmates. who are fire.
quently burned alive in the fires which
in most cases follow such accidents.
In this way recently nearly an entire
train load of passengers on a limited
flyer were killed, and only their char
red bodies left as evidence. In anoth-
er case, where a train was being oper-
ated at high speed in a subway, the
cars were derailed and dragged for a
considerable distance, thrashing back
and forth between the stone walls Of
the subway, until their former occu-
pants were strewn the entire distance,
unrecognizable as humanity, and the
cars themselves totally demolished
With fireproof cars the first accident
would have been much less fatal, and
with cars having greater resistance
the loss from the second accident
would have been materially reduced.
w hot ho ha1
be equipped with steel passenger cars
we do not believe that we are asking
anything which is unnecessary, impos
sible, or even difficult for the rail
road companies to grant. An exam
!, ination of the figures given, demon
strates that during the year 1906 the
railroad companies sustained a direct
loss from collisions of over $5,OO0Oo
and in 1907 a direct loss from tht
same source Of over 100000; while
. the aggregate of killed for the two
years is over LOO aud the aggregdt,
of the injured over 11nlo-facts whicl
: would seem to render unnecessary fur
Their argument as to the increased econ
omy Of operation of their property i
they should comply with the law pro
hibiting the use of any but steel equip
: ment for passenger cars.
The number of passenger cars nov
in use on the railroads Of this countr!
is somewhat over 1900. A law com
c polling the railroad companies wheI
= purchasing new equipment, TO pur
chase steel cars, and allowing then
L ten years in which to entirely dispos
>, Of all the present equipment woult
= hardly be considered as drastic or i'm
posing an undue hardship upon srea
| transportation lines. whose aggregat
Z. gross revenue today is approximate.
\ 1000 0G.0oO per annum. while III
benefit both to the railroad companie
Il and the travelling public would b
. larger in proportion than any possib,
GiAadNaujaGe.
The record Of the Travellers Protect
. i've association proves that its polio
has always been free from Railroad
phobia." for VIC have stood consjsten'
= y for a square deal in which the RAJ
u road company should have It's shar,
10 It's contention now is that the best il
tJere>t Of the railroad requires a II
Guciion in the terrible list of fatal
& ties and in securing this reductio
~ that the mere question Of funds Shout
not be permitted to stand.
:, The chairman of the national raj
/! road committee has fur three veal
" urged the need OF legislation haviu
for its object action Of the kind ind
Gated here, and Fhr T. p. a. believin