Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-03-25

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scented by the in ,erstate commerce
commission covering the number u
railroad casualties for the quarter
ending September Both, 1897, as com
pared with The corresponding period
/ for the previous year, tends to the
conclusion thai something more than
mechanical devices is needed for The
protection Of trains, ii the American
nation is to rid itself OF its unenviable
. reputation in the matter of rain ac-
cidents. Over 23063 people killed or
injured, 4279 collisions and derail-
ments, each showing an increase OIL
over sixteen per cent when compared
with the same period for the pre-ioIs
, year; 13 per cent of the accidents al
l feeling passenger trains; a loss in
property of over three and one halt
millions of dollars; these are facts
that should cause the American peo-
pie to sit up and take notice.
70 Do the railroad corporations desire
that these accidents snail take place,
Or are they so committed to the task
OF paying dividends that they are care
less Of the number Of lives and limbs
sacrificed? Assuredly not. Else why
the untold amount OF money spent
yerly in every form of mechanical de-
vice that the ingenuity of man can
fashion for the more safe operation OIL
trains and the betterment Of equip
ment and track?
Aside from the matter of dollars
and cents involved in train accidents
do we overlook The fact that the puO-
lie service corporations are composed
of mortals of flesh and blood like the
balance of US, and presumably have no
more desire that our lives shall be
placed in jeopardy than we have OF
talking theirs?
No, in the opinion of the writer. who
has some little experience in railroad
work, it is not the lack of mechanical
devices which is responsible for the
greater number of our train accidents.
but the lack of the trained mind be-
hind the gun, as it were.
Where would Dewey have been,
, with all the intricate and marvellous
engines of destruction at his command
{ If his men had not been trained to
shoot.
Where would our armies be if each
man was no, trained to the smallest
detail in the matter of discipline and
| In the knowledge of his duties? Is it
too much to ask that our indus
iaI oh hg,
trained in the mat err OF avoiding
bloodshed Is it not time to make
some inquiry in regard to the fitness
of the men in charge of trains, 4spec-
: tally when our attention is called al
most daily to some terrible train dis
aster, which was caused, not by the
fact of there having been no mechanl-
cal device for the protection OF the
trains, but rather by the very fact OF
its having been there, and too much
reliance having been placed upon it?
The wri' er wishes in on sense to be
interpreted as trying to convey the
impression that modern devices for
the safer operation of trains are value
Hess, because they are of the utmost
value but rather that those devices
are not supplemented, as they should
be, by trained and competent men.
Why should an acknowledged author
ity and trained expert in the railroad
business like james J. Hill make pub
ic the assertion that he was afraid
Itrat each railroad journey he under
took would be his last? Why has
leach man in the train and engins SER
vice, if he will but admit the fact, Il
haunting fear that his turn will be
next? Ask a conductor or an engineer
liz he wants his son to follow in bis
profession and see what his answer
will be.
There is no effect without cause,
and where the cause can be located
the remedy may be applied. The
cause. in my opinion, Is incompetency
in the handling OF trains, and the
remedy is appareat.
theoretically, with the systems Of
dispatchiug trains in vogue on our
modern railroads. supplemented by the
electrical block signals there should
be no failures. But why all these ter
rible collisions with resultant loss OF
life. If these systems are 50 perfect in
conception?
The answer comes straight and true.
Some one not sufficiently trained IN
his duties has failed, But, say you,
it is an understood fact that al rail
roads require their train dispatchers,
conductors and engineers TO pass rigid
examinations before instruseing them
with the care Of trains, This is true
In theory. but not always in fact. Too
many times the responsibility of eN-
aiming men for the handling OF trains
devolves upon officials who have no
practical knowledge of the duties OF
those positions. In too many cases
the cement of personality enters
into the examinations. doubtful candi-
dates being allowed to pass because
they were good brakemen or fremen
and the examining official trusting be
cause Of that fact. that they will SUI
coed in the more responsible position,
The writer has passed the eNamin2-
ton for conductorship on three differ
, L nt railroads. conducted by officials
ty-s,I