The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-10-14
ROADS NOW SAFER
SAYS PERLEY
.euINGTON STATE RAILROAD
INSPECTOR TELLS ABOUT
HIS OFFICE.
ais After Safety of Railroad En-
,,oves and Travelling Public by See
inn That Lines are Equipped With
oroper Safeguards-Railroad Em-
,royes of Great Assistance.

Portland, Or, Oct. S.-"Conservation
g Human Life and Limb is the duty
70 which A. w. Perley, who was in
portland yesterday, is devoting his
limo and talents. Mr.. Perley is the
;nsnoctor of tracks and safety appli-
nrcps for the State Railroad Commits
rion of Washington, and his work is
70 safeguard the lives of the thousands
If railroad employees and passengers
rrbo travel on the railroads of that
state.
Mr. Perley was for more than 20
roars a locomotive engineer in the en-
nlov of the O. R. & N. in Eastern Wash
ington and about four years ago, when
tho office of inspector of tracks and
safety appliances was created by the
washington Legislature, he was given
rho position. He is a commanding fig
ure standing six feet and four inches,
and hears a striking facial resemblance
10 President Taft.
Safety Laws Enforced.
The law gives Mr.. Perley ample au-
tbority to enforce safety appliance reg
Nations, including track repairs, as
we'll as the use of all proper safety APP
nliances on engines and cars. His visit
10 Portland was in connection with a
grade crossing near Vancouver, COM
pIaint having been made by local resi-
dents that the railroad crossing is not
properly safeguarded.
las a result of public supervision
and inspection, conditions have been
vastly improved during the past few
years regarding railroad employees and
the travelling public" said Mr.. Perley.
But there is still room for improve
ment During the year 1909 one rail
road trainman was killed in this cOun-
try every two hours and IA minutes,
and one injured every seven minutes
during the year. Nearly all accidents
we're traceable to defective tracks or
equipment.
Trainman Are Assistants.
Nearly every trainman in the state
Of Washington is a self-appointed as
Sistant to the expert. By reporting bad
conditions of tracks or equipment
speedy improvement is assured, where
as under the old system economy of
operation was generally considered of
first Importance. Expenditures for the
improvement of tracks or purchase OF
safety appliances too often followed
accidents, instead of being made in
time to prevent them.
Before state inspection began, one
railroad in the State of Washington
was expanding $500 per mile per an.
mum for track repairs and was having
frequent accidents. Under the present
system that same corporation has been
spending $4,000 per annum per mile for
repairs, and has not had an accident
On account of defective track in the
past two years. Four years ago the
percentage of defective railroad equip
nent in the State of Washington was
81 per cent. Last year it was only rs
Der cent.
One Of the Interstate Commerce in
Spectors recently told me that four
years ago the railroads of the State OF
Washington were in as bad physical
condition as any in the country, and
mat today they are the best of those
IN any of the 80 states he visits official
" There is not today a safety appli
alce IN use on any railroad in the
United States except what the rail
ioads were forced by law to put on
Last year the railroads paid the
united States government $4,000 II
Anes for using defective equipment. Re
pairs that would have avoided these
lnes would have cost the railroads less
than $780,"
Union Organizations Favored.
inspector Perley is a member OF the
locomotive engineers organization
auu is strong advocate of labor union
examinations. But he does not believe
~ - 'ne closed shop" idea. He thinks
.aOor unions should be SO conducted q
" impress their value on all laborine
en' and that no laborer should Dt
IOieeo or coerced into joining union
= Tue state of Washington Mr.. Periey
4. frequently invited to deliver "a
~ before Improvement clubs, CIV
organizations, chambers OF com
s nsice and tle like, on the subject g
salety appliance regulations. He 4
S is. talked of for governor OF Wash
aa s.on' but declares he is not 2 candl
ST. .ne railroad Organizations OF TN
loa OF Oregon will present to the mex
at slslature bill providing for the cre
suon of an Office similar to that he'll
", Inspector Perley in the state Q