The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-12-17
Points Out That Many ef the Railroad
Accidents Resulting IN Fatalities
Might Have Been Averted.

WASHINGTON. Dec. Safety
FIRST Is the paramount rule OF train
operation suggested by the Interstate
Commerce Commission in it, twenty
sixth ANIMAL report submitted today
TO Congress. Discussion Of disasters
on American railroads during the last
year constitutes an impor ant feature
OF the report
IL Is pointed out that many OF the
accidents resulting IN fatalities might
have been averted by the exercise OF
proper precaution OF the employment
OF suitable devices and good equip
ment. Figures given show that OF the
total OF s.2l5 derailments during the
year. 1877 were caused by defects OF
roadway and 3.S47 were due to defec-
tive equipment This indicates an in
crease over the previous year OF 652
In the derailments due to bad roadway
and 1923 due to bad equipment.
The investigation by the Commits
sion itself OF railroad accidents in
volying loss OF life. the report says.
has proceeded far enough to indicate
the need of more effective measures
than thus far have been taken TO Sc
cure safety OF railroad travel" While
the previous suggestions OF the Com
mission as TO the adoption by the
railroads OF allsteel. or steelunder-
frame. cars are being adopted as
rapidly as conditions will permit" aud
the danger from the use OF unsound
cars IL gradually disappearing" the
serious dangers OF defective roadway
and the use OF unsound rails still re-
main. as a result OF which derailmens<
are likely az any time TO occur. Con
corning It's Investigations, the Com
mission says:
Derallment Probes
"Of the n derailments investigated
u wee either directly or Indirectly
caused by bad track. In of these
IL cases the dcrailments would prob
ably have been avoided had existing
speed RESTRICTIONS been observed but
In all the remaining cases no ade-
puate speed restrictions were in force.
and I'm : cases the track conditions
were so obviously unsafe that dcrail-
ments were likely TO occur even at
low speed. In one serious derailment
an examination of the track in the Vi
entity OF the accident disclosed gO6
rotten ties within distance OF I47
rail lengths. Under many Of The rails
there were as many as II bad ties.
and under each Of two rails there
we're l. ties 20 badly decayed and
broken as To be- totally unfit for ser
vice. In many Of these ties the
spikes were so loose that they were
easily removed by hand the wood hay
Ing no longer and holding power The
track In the vicinity Of this accident
was poorly ballasted and wa unsafe
Tor the passage or trains at ordinary
speed. This dcrailmcnt occurred on
straight track while the train was
running about 30 miles pc hour"
The report SAYS that the most dis
Quoting and pcrpleXing feature in the
problem OF accident prevention Is the
large proportion Of train accidents
caused by dercliCtion OF duty nv tho
employees involved. The commission
believes that as a rule there are no
men that have kecuc- appreciation
or their responsibilities than railroad
b trainmen and cuglucmen." and go IL
, IS pointed out that 81 Ucr cent of the
whole number OF accidents fnvesti.
gated were caused by mistakes on the
part OF employees
There Is q disposition In some
r quarters. continues the report. TO
charge these lameniahln errors 20 fail
! urc ~ discipline and tp hold ,mploves
wholly responsible for such failtlre
4 This Is superficial view which con
tains no prom 20 OF effective remedy.
Speed Trains.
y r'inafNHl.l" Increase IN tho
speed and weight of trains within rc-
= cent wears. ana tho isotvdirr al tricks
and terminals caused bv the mu,.-
mtnt ui Hr Dr"rmos-lr ENLARGED vol
4 nm" OF traffic. have greatly Increased
h tho duties and responsibilities ~
irain s"r'i'". employees and mutt
= piled Oh" 'hIr-.e of error On their
part. N"fwifhef4utIur these. added
duties and ~ possibilities which th,
conditions Of fupdr.1 raiIrnadin. have.
imposed upon smplDt.ss the methods
~ disriTi %" and REGULATIONS salruIaf
20 &C. iu-ur. safety Ir train np.rifiou
ffH..