The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-12-16
STEEL CARS REDUCING
NUMBER OF FATALITIES
OF 81 DeralIments Investigated, "a
Either Directly or Indirectly Caused
BY Inferior Track-Many AvoldabIe
Had Restrictions Been Observed.
(By Associated Press.1

Washington, Dec. 16. = Safety
first is the paramount rule Of train
operation suggested by the interstate
commerce commission in it's twenty
sixth annual report submitted today
to Congress. Discussion of disasters
on American railroads during the last
year constitutes an important feature
of the report.
1t is pointed out that many of the
accidents resulting in fatalities might
have been averted by the exercise Of
proper precaution or the employment
of suitable devices and good quip-
ment. Figures given show that of the
total of S,215 derailments during the
year, 1877 were caused by defects Of
roadway and 3,s47 were due to de-
fective equipment This indicates an
increase over the previous year OF
652 in the deraiIments due to bad road
way and 1923 due to bad equipment.
The investigation by the commission
itself of railroad accidents involving
loss of life. the report says, has pro-
ceeded far enough to indicate the need
of more effective measures than thus
far have been taken to secure safety
of railroad travel" While the previ-
Gus suggestions of the commission as
to the adoption by the railroads Of
all-steel, or steel-underframe, cars are
being adopted "as rapidly as conditions
will permit and 'the danger from the
use of unsound cars is gradually dis
appearing" the serious dangers OF de-
fective roadway and the use of un-
sound rails still remain, as a result
of which derailments are likely at any
time to occur. Concerning its inves-
legations, the commission says:
"Of the thirty-one derailments inves-
tigated, fourteen were either directly
or indirectly caused by bad track. In
five of the fourteen cases the derail-
ments would probably have been avoid
ed had existing speed restrictions been
observed: but in all the remaining
cases no adequate speed restrictions
were in force, ano IT, three cases the
track conditions were so obviously un-
safe that derailments were likely to
occur even at low speed. In one Sc
rious derailment an examination oi
the track in the vicinity of the acci
dent disclosed 9O6 rotten ties within
distance of lat rail lengths. Undel
many of the rails there were as many
as eleven bad ties, and under each o
two rails there were twelve ties 81
badly decayed and broken as to b
totally unfit for service. In many o
, these ties the spikes were so loos'
that they were easily removed b,
hand, the wood having no longer an.
holding power. The track in the VI
cinity of this accident was poorly bal
lasted and was unsafe for the pass
age of trains at ordinary speed. Thi
derailment occurred on straight trac
while the train was running abou
thirty miles per hour"
4 The report says that "the most dii
uuieting and perplexing feature in tn
problem Of accident prevention is tn
ct large proportion of train accident
m caused by dereliction of duty by tn
ot employees involved. The commission
y believes that as a rule there are q
1t men that have keener appreciatio
II of their responsibilities than railroa
r trainmen and enginemen," and yet
s. is pointed out that 6S per cent OF th
,r whole number Of accidents investiga
ed were caused by mistakes on tn
part of employees.
= There is disposition In some qua
= ters," continues the report ito chars
= these lamentable errors to failure
= discipline and to hold employees Who'll
= responsible for such failure. This
= a superficial vieiw which contains
= promise Of effective remedy.
= "a remarkable increase in the spe'
= and weight Of trains within rece
= years. and the crowding Of tracks al
. Continued from Page one.l