Evening journal., 1909-07-02
HOW EXPLOSIVES
MUST BE SHIPPED
Pennsylvania R. R. Issues
Bulletin to Shippers on
The Subject

As a further step toward adding TO
the safety of railroad operations, the
lines comprising the American Railway
Association and operating 246,172 miles
OF line i'm the United States, Canada
and Mexico, put into effect yesterday
revised rules for the transportation of
infiammable articles and acids. These
are complimentary to the rules of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, ef-
fective April 1S. 1909, for the transpor-
tation os explosives. The Pennsylvania
Railroad Company has had these rules
printed and distributed, with instruc-
tions that every employe concerned
must obtain copy of them and be gov
erned accordingly.
These regulations for the transporta-
tion Of dangerous articles have been
formulated by Col. B. w. Dunn, II. s.
A. Chief Inspector of the Bureau for
the Safe Transportation of Explosives
for the American Railway Association,
and are based upon an Act of Congress
approved May 30. 1908, and they are
designed to emphasize the dual respon-
sibility, in the interest of public safety.
that rests upon the shipper and the
carrier.
The particular purpose is that the
shipper shall know the true character
istics of his shipment and familiarize
/ himself with the requirements of tho
regulations in order that he may inform
the carrier by use of prescribed certi-
hcates and labels.
The Importance Of the regulations
may be realized from the fact that
there are in this country more than
$50 factories, the combined product of
which in the course of year is over
500.O00.O00 lbs. of explosives. In 1895 a
single railroad transported over 81 900,
600 lbs. Of explosives and used for this
purpose 10000 cars.
Since the bureau referred to began
its operations, there has been very
little trouble from the transportation
Of explosives in the United States. and
it is believed that when the work of
the bureau has been fully developed. the
danger from this source win have been
lreduced to a. minimum.
The thoroughness with which this
campaign for safety has been pursued
may be indicated by the fact that spec
ial supervision is given not only to the
transportation of powder dynamite and
other heavy explosives. but IL is now
provided that special care shall be pur-
sued in the handling of any material
that gives off inflammable vapor at oi
below a temperature Of so deg. Fahren-
heit; materials subject TO spontan-
eous combustion; materials other thar
acids that are liable to cause acct
dents by friction, concussion. absorp-
tion of moisture. contact with organic
matter and otherwise. Special rules
also govern the handling Of compress.
ed gases of liquids. as well as a list
Of eight of the more virulent acids and
corrosive compounds
It is stipulated that every article o
a hazardous character when offere,
for shipment must bear a prescribe,
label to indicate to the railroad en-
ployes the method Of handling TO
example, TO case holding inflammabl
} liquids, shippers must attach a rec
label containing the following legend
/ Notice TO employees Caution keel
away from fire, stoves, radiators
lighted matches lanterns and direc
b sunlight Any leaking packages mus
be removed to a safe place. Shippe
) has certified on his shipping order L
, compliance with all regulations tina
= apply to this package"
For infammables generally. there i
yellow label with the following in
structions
Notice TO Railway Employees: eau
tion. keep fire and lights away. swee
up and remove carefully contents o