The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-09
State Railroad Commission
Says Incompetent Men
Are Hired.
HOURS ALSO TOO LONG
Board Gives Governor Stokes
Long List of Recent Fatal
tiles, Outlining the Causes
and Remedies for Saving
Life and Property.
Especial to the Evening start


TRENTON, Jan. 9.-Incompetent
tower men are scored by the State
Railroad Commission in its report to
Governor Stokes. The board claims
that the low pay these men receive, and
the long hours they work, necessarily
have to be secured. The commission
is also of the opinion that the tracks
are not sufficiently patrolled and in
spected.
The commission says that a better
Safeguarding of crossings, closer at
tention to the condition of traffic and
equipment, more intelligent service by
watchmen, and more frequent inspec-
lions, particularly of bridges and their
approaches, will certainly result in a
reduction of the number of accidents.
The report says in part:
The necessary protection of Cross
ings by the elevation or depression OF
tracks. by gates, or, in less dangerous
situations, by watchmen and flags, is
a subject of great Importance, one upon
which the board has collected a large
amount of information. While the con-
dition of trackage Is probably, in Ln1s
OtdL6 at least, the MINOR CAUSE u HUI
dents, it seems that as a rule the tracks
are not sufficiently often patrolled and
inspected. fer our inspectors work has
resulted in the discovery of many ae-
fects which are noted in their reports.
1T has been shown that men EN-
ployed in watch overs in this State
are in some instances not sufficiently
intelligent for this purpose, their wages
amounting to but H.20 per day for which
they are expected to work long hours.
Such conditions ten to the employ
ment of incompetent men, as was
demonstrated by an investigation to
ascertain why the gates were not low
cred at an important crossing on one OF
our principal railroads, a car?
rage with several occupants barely
escaped being struck by a swift train.
This investigation resulted in finding
a stupid 81 .20-per-day Italian asleep in
his tower.
LAS TO the matter of bridges, our tn
spector has found several instances
where it has been found advisabl3 to
rccommend that bridges be entirely re-
built.
The board has construed the re-
quirement that every railroad shall
give immediate notice of an accident,
to mean that the accident shall be i'm
mediately reported by telegraph and
directly thereafter more fully in detail
and explanatory, by letter, and this
has been required of the railroad COM
panies.
Reports of accidents of a serious ma
ture were referred to one of the in
spectors for investigation and reports
of these Investigations were submitted
ito the board, with the recommended
ton of the inspector, if any, as to
what shonld be done by the railroad
companies to prevent similar accidents
in the future. Copies of these reports
containing the Inspectors recommen-
dations have been sent to the railroad
companies. These have been followed
up by the board and in general the
aTAnalof iNnA hnun hnpn Qh0nfan -
In some instances the matter has not
yet been finally closed"
The report shows from July 20 Il
December / the total of S06 casualties
which resulted in the death of los per
sons, and injury of 1913. OF those killed
AZ were railroad employees, Z were
passengers and 40 were neither. Forty
one persons of the latter class were
killed while trespassing on railroad
property. OF the injured 10 were EN-
ployees, 45 were passengers and s.
wer neither, of whom % were injured
while trespassing.
Collisions were responsible for thu
death of two employees and the in
jury of foul passengers, 10 employees
and three others. Crossing the tract
at highways caused the death of ont
employee and seven others, while on
employee and 20 others were injured
in the same manner. The injury O
four passengers and six employees wal
caused by derailments, while foul EN-
ployees were killed and n injured a
bridges and tunnels. The striking O.
persons by locomotives or cars was re
] sponsible for the death of one passen
ger, twenty-five employees and Mint
others. The same cause injured rs EN-.
ployees and six others.
Getting on and off trains was respon'
sible for the death Of five passenger
and one other, while q passengers.
employees and two other persons wer'
injured. While coupling or %uncouplinl
cars three employees were killed ant
five others injured. Other causes un'
classified resulted in the death Of on
passenger, seven employees and ont
other person, and the injury to 10 pas
sengers, 20 employees and three others