The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-01-18
.TRAINMEN
RESPONSIBLE
This Is Statement Of GoodeIl
Regarding Wrecks

That nine out of every ten railroad
wrecks are caused by the disobedience
of orders on the part of employees was
statement made yesterday afternoon
by superintendent Goodell of the
Northern Pacific railroad before con-
ference of representatives of railroads
operating in North Dakota and the
North Dakota railroad commission
Other railroad men present agreed.
According to Mr.. Goodell nothing
that the state railroad commissioners
can do will at this time assist In the
extensive Investigations being carried
on by the railroads in the matter OF
accidents. "The work." Mr.. GoodeIl
stated. lis being carried on by special
lists and Is making as rapid progress
as can be expected. The investiga-
tons are complete and are bringing out
what the state railroad commissions
want to know"
When the trainmen learn to obey
orders and obey them to the very let
ter, then will the time come for fewer
serious accidents, according to the
railroad men
superintendent GoodeI declared that
practically all causes of head end and
rear end collisions in the history of
raflroading can be attributed to the
dtsobedience of orders on 'he part of
trainmen. we have got 10 deal with
the human equation, he asseverated.
and we cannot prevent men from go
ing to sleep at their posts; they will
do 1t, and there you are"
General superintendent Gruber Of
the Great Northern, when called on
for suggestions as to the prevention
of wrecks, daclared that the speed
crazy public is to a great extent re-
.sponsible for wrecks. He said he fay-
ored slower running time in the win
ter and would like to see the railroad
companies adopt the policy of operat-
ing their trains at less speed during
the winter months.
Business, men want to be hurried
across the country and they expect the
railroads to get them to their desti-
nations in double-quick time, Mr..
Gruber said. Until the public re-
signs itself to slower travelling we are
liable to have wrecks. The public is
going mighty fast these days. 1t de-
mands speed and the railroads are sun
plying the demand
MIR. Potter of the 500 railroad. one
of the country's leading rail experts
discussed the rail problem. He de-
ciared that the 90-pound rails now
used by the railroads are no better
than the 60-pound rails of a few years
ago. The. heavier rails are used. he
says, because of the heavier eouin-
ment now employed.
They are softer, he said. Alpnost anv
rail may have a cancer or nahca.as,s
that will spread after the rail Is Mac.
ed, according to Mr.. Potter. these
defects in the rail cannot be discovT
cred until after the rail has been nsa,1
some time. maybe for a number IF
years.
That 1t is not the intense cold that
world havoc with the rails but thar
, sudden change in the tenaperatiIre
causes the steel to break is the opin-
on Of Mr.. Potter.
A photograph Of the transverse and
1f the rail that caused the racant
Sharon disaster was exhibited at this
conference OF railroaders and railroad
commissioners. The defect is notice
able all through the rail.
Reports Of all collisions occurring in
his state in the past year were gone |
'ver by the commissioners and the
'ailroad men Yesterday afternoon.
a new classification of freight rates |
"a readjustment of all merchant rates
vest Of Chicago, will go into erect |
FEB. 16. This will AFFECT all central
Western states. Before the readjusted
goes into effect a confer
nee of commission experts win he
leld in Des Moines, probably, or at |
orne other central point. At this con- |
erence North Dakota win be repre-
ented by T. A. Little. commission en-
'ert This coming conference came in /
or a share of the discussion at the |
commissioners meeting.