Las Vegas optic., 1912-07-24
RAILROADS DON'T
Use MODERN
DEVICES
NEW YORK MAN SAYS THEY
ARE CARELESS IN PRovlD-
ING FOR SAFETY

necessity Of installing the most mod
ern system of signals that win auto
matically prevent these tgaredies.
said Fred La Croix of np 767 East
ern Parkway. Brooklyn.
Mr. La Croix is nelectrical en-
gineer and the inventor OF an auto
matte stop and cab signal for rail-
roads. Continuing, ne said.
After the Chicago, Burlington Il
Quincy wreck near Chicago on July
Il, The World said editoriaIly:
Again the personal equation miser-
ably failed. Do the existing block
signal systems place a needlessly
great reliance upon this equationy :
Recent experiments in England, and
earlier experiments here, show the
practicability of using electric power
on steam roads to give occupied
block warnings in the locomotive CAB
and shut off power. The railroads
are now greatly on the defensive in
this matter What is the justification
for failing to improve upon these
crude appliances which are so often
proving a false reliance?
The statements by railroad Off.
cials after accidents of this kind that
they are using the most up to date
appliances are not true The pubic
should know that there is an auto
matte device approved by the govern
metn as well as by the public service
commission of this state. The govern
ment is now about to compel the
managers of the big public service
institutions to safeguard their pas
sengers. A bill is is preparation by
Representative Esch of Wisconsin to
compel the railroads to use automatic
stops. There we're three devices
listed and one was approved. / am
receiving letters from lawyers asking
me if am willing to go on the
stand and swear that this device
would have prevented such and such
accidents, as they intend to sue for
damages for their clients who were
in wrecks. A week anor two ago l
called on the signal engineer of one
of the railroads where there has since
been an accident and asked him why
he was not using the most up-to-date
device. He said he had not the per-
sonal influence to get it adopted
The railroads of this country have
refused, and probably will continue
to refuse as long as they can, to in
stall proper safety devices on their
roads. Only a law or overwhelming
public opinion will bring them to
their senses. 1t has been proved
over and over again that the systems
which they use, no matter how elabo-
rate they may be, do not fill the bill
They are all dependent upon quick
action by the engineer, the moment
he realizes his train is in danger.
What is needed is a simple, prac-
tical device that works Automatically
and will do its work whether the en-
gineer is negligent, asleep or dead
Human intelligence and quick wit are
not to be depended on. The mechan-
ical device, when properly installed
and maintained, is the only depend
able thing for the prevention of rail-
way accidents. mean device that
win bring train to dead stop the
instant it gets into the danger zone.
Independent of the man at theNthrot-
tie of the engine, and acting at times
in spite of him when he reasons that
he can safely proceed.
The report of the block signal
train control board of the interstate
commerce commission approving the
automatic train stop and cab signal
of which I have spoken as being the
safest in existence says:
1.-The system covers a railroad cab
signal and automatic train stop of the
intermittent contact rail type in
which electric current generated on
the locomotive normally holds CLOSED
an electric magnetic air valve and
lights an incandescent lamp in the
cab The section of road to be pro
tected is divided into Dlocks and pro
vided with the usual form Of electric
circuit, the track relays controlling {
circuit in which are included shori
contact rails located near the en-
trance Of each block in such wa!
that each train in passing each con
tact rail will have its engine circui
mechanically broken by the engage
ment of the locomotive contact sho,
with the contact rail on the roadway
which operation will at the sans
} time destroy the electrical continuity
of the engine circuit, unless the sans
is restored through a Path including
the contact rail itself and the arma