The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1909-02-06

~SAO
observations are made while perform
ing their work on engines and trains,
and while they may not be substan-
tiated always by the usual technical
and theoretical deductions that are
common to the Office, they are given
with practical knowledge of what
equipment, speeds, tonnage and right
of way will do, and what safely can
be done with them.
The track is an important feature
}that is not given the attention it de-
serves. The one hundred pound rail
has been in use for several years, the
standard tie has not been increased in
size, but engines, cars and train tons
have increased almost double in
weight since the one hundred pound
rail became the standard. The limited
trains have increased their speeds
with few additional appliances being
added for their safety.
| The complaints are numerous to
the effect that track maintenance is a
lost art. On some roads the section
foreman no longer has the right to
say when tie is unsafe. That work
is done by an inspector who, usually,
does not inspect There are miles
and miles of track patrolled by a fore
man and one man, there are miles of
it that are practically left without at
tention for a certain period of the
year; that, too, during the worst sea-
son, while over all Of this track mile
age there is being rushed the heaviest
freight and passenger business this
country has ever known
Engines and cars have been made
larger and heavier, the tonnage has
been doubled in the past ten years,
but the track is about the same as it
was when it cared for lighter equip
ment and less speed rate per mile.
The recent statement that steel rails
were made with defects that were
certain to result in disaster is as yet
unchallenged. The railway managers
here and there are coming to the
front and saying that there is too
much demand or equipment; that tom
mage and speeds are excessive and
yet, they keep going the death pace
Nothing, it appears. short of govern
ment interference and the payment of
heavy indemnity will ever bring them
to halt.
There are many faulty rules and
practices in train operation, particu.
larly, on single track lines, that ought
to be corrected. There are many
times when the employe is thrown on
: his own resources, and must depend
on his judgment. It is impossible to
apply the half thousand regular and
special rules now in vogue without
, causing confusion in the understand
J ing of some of them.
The block system is another neces-
, sary adjunct to safer operation. Wheu
: it is installed, if it is to do its work,
it must be with the understanding that
it is put there to be observed. Where
, AOAAAO00S oS0Au 1OI I'D StI1CL OUSOIV-
: ance, and will not tolerate violations
! of rule, there are no violations and
the system is reasonably safe. No
2 equipment is absolutely safe, whether
4 purely automtaic or operated in part
: by human agency and machinery
t But the block system will make trair
e operation safer than it is without 1t
t which will make it worth while
There are net enough employees
Y properly to inspect engines, cars and
0 track Railways have economy ir
t operation reduced to dangerous sci
l. ence. There is not superfuous mar
g in the service; there are too few fol
e Continued on page s.