Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-12-17
SAFETY FIRST"
FOR RAILROADS
WOULD RESTRICT POWERS
OF THE PROPOSED CON-
MISSION.
ANNUAL REPORT IS MADE
RELIEVES BUSINESS SHOULD BE
sELF-REGULATING TO THE
GREATEST EXTENT POS
SIBLE.
By Associated Press.

By Associated fress.
WASHINGTON. d. c.. Dec. l6.-
Safety first is the paramount RUE
OF train operation suggested by the
Interstate Commerce Commission In
it's twenty-sixth annual report sub
mitted today to Congress. Discus
sion of disasters on American rail-
roads during the last year consu-
tutes an important feature OF the
report.
II is pointed out that many oil the
accidents resulting In fatalities
might have been averted by the eX-
ercise of proper precaution or the
employment of suitable devises ana
good equipment. Figues given SHOW
that of the total OF s21j derailments
during the year, 1877 were caused
bv defects of roadway and SSiI were
due to defective equipment This IN
dicates an increase over the preyi-
ous wear OF $50 In the derailmehts
due to bad roadway and lOZ5 que
TO bad equipment
The investigation by the commis-
sion itself OF railroad accidents IN
volvlng loss OF life, the report says'
..has proceeded far enough to lndl-
cate the need OF more eftectNe hea-
sures than thus far have been taken
20 secure safety OF railroad traVel.
while the previous suggestions o.
the Commission as to the adopuo,
nv the railroads OF all-steei' or steer
rnderframe. cars are being adopteh
"as rapidly as conditions VIII pe'
init" and "the danger from me use
~ unsound cars Is gradually disap-
nearing" the serious dangers OF ne'
fec,ive roadway and the use OF un-
sound rails still remain, as result
80 which derallments are likely AZ
any time to occur Concerning "S
Investigations. the Commission says
"Of the 81 derailments inyestieai
ea "A were either directly or indl-
ractlv caused by bad track. In OF
these Il cases the derallmeh -
would probably have been aVolueu
bad existing speed restrictions been
observed. hut IN all the remaining
oases No adequate speed restrictions
wore in force, and In cases 'ie
track conditions were so obviously
u,safa that derailments we're lSeH
IN occur even at low speed IN oh'
serious derailment an eNamina'loi'
~ the track In the vicinity OF ,"'
accident disclosed 9O6 rotten ues
,rt,bir n distance OF 1i7 rail lengths
rnder many OF the rails there Was
as many as II bad ties and uhuel %
each OF . rails there we're IL t'e'
90 badly decayed and broken as 10
no totally unfit for service. In mah'
% these ties the spikes we're so loos'
that they we're easily removed y.
hand the wood having no lohge'
anv holding power. The track In th'
,,ic,ni,v NJ this accident was poorly
hallasted and was unsafe for the pas
sage of trains at ordinary speeu
This derailment occurred on stralsh'
,-act while the train was runniht
about 30 miles per hour
The report says that the mos
disauieting and perpleXing leatuI'
IN the problem OF accident preVen
,ion Is the large proportion OF trali
accidents caused by dereliction o
dutv by the employees involved. I'M
commission believes that as rui'
there are no men that have a Keen
or appropriation OF their respohsioi'
tiles than railroad trainmen and en-
ginemen." and vet II Is pointed on
that G9 per cent OF the whole mum
her OF accidents Investigated "er'
caused bv mistakes on the part o
employees.
There Is a disposition In som
ouarters." continues the report. U
charge these lamentable errors q
failure This Is a superficial vie'
which contains no promise OF effec
tive remedy.
"A remarkable increase in IN
speed and weight OF trains within re
cent years. and the crowding o
OF tracks and terminals caused b
the movement OF an enormously en-
larged volume OF traffic. have great
lv increased the duties and respor
slbilities OF train service employe
and multiplied the chances OF erro
on their mart Notwlthstandin
these added duties and responsible
ties which the conditions OF moder
railroadlng have imposed upon en-
ployes. the methods Of disciplin
and regulations calculated TO insur
safety in train operation have n
NAMED practically unchanged.