The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-12-19
INTERSTATE
COMMERCE
Continued From Page One.

NOIlllueQ from rage One
yest1gated during the year, or nearly
~ per cent of the whole number, were
directly caused by mistakes Of EN-
ployes. These mistakes were Of the
same nature as those noted by the
commission in it's last annual report,
namely, disregard Of fixed signals;
improper tagging; failure to obey
train orders; improper checking of
train register; misunderstanding of
orders; occupying main track on time
OF superior train; block operator all
lowed train to enter occupied block:
dispatcher gave lap order or used inn
proper form order; operator made
mistake in copying order; switch left
open In face Of approaching train:
excessive speed; failure to identify
train that was met.
These errors are exactly the ones
which figure in the causes of train ac-
cidents year after year. Their per-
s~istence. leading always to the same
narrowing results, points inevitably
to the truth of one or the other Of tho
following alternatives: Either a great
majority Of these d%eplorable railroad
disasters are unavoidable or there ex-
lists a Widespread lack of intelligent
and Well-directed effort to minimize
the mistakes Of employees in the oper-
alton Of trains. 1t Is not believed that
all those accidents which are caused
by the mistakes of employees are m
avoidable. 1t is quite true that man
is prone to error, and as long as abso-
lutte reliance is placed upon the hum
an element in the operation Of trains
accidents are bound to occur, but I'M
til it can be shown that all reasonable
and proper measures have been taken
for its prevention no accident can be
n la UGn 10 M 4|~l
"All of the mistakes noted above arc
violations Of simple rules, which
should have been easily understood by
men Of sufficient intelligence to be en-
trusted with the operation of trains.
The evidence is that in the main the
rules are understood, but they are
habttually violated by employees who
are charged with responsibility for the
safe movement Of trains. The evidence
also is that in many cases operating
officers are cognizant Of this habitual
disregard Of rules and no proper steps
are taken to correct the evil. Many
operating officers seem to proceed up
on the theory that their responsibility
ends with the PRONUNCIATION of rules,
apparently overlooking the fact that
no matter how Inherently good a rule
may be, 1t is Of no force unless it IS
obeyed. On very many railroads there
is little OF no system Of inspection or
supervision Of the work Of train-serv-
ice employees SO far as pertains to
those matters which vitality affect
safety. Employees are not examined
on the operating rules except at the
time Of their promotion. and only the
most perfunctory efforts are made to
determine their fitness to perform the
duties assigned to them from time to
tie.
This lack of supervision and in
spection with respect to matters af-
fecting the safety of trains Is unex
plainable when the careful superv1-
sion of all matters directly affecting
the revenue Of the roads is considered.
The auditing and checking systems
used for detecting the dishonesty of
employees r marvels of the ingenui-
ty and careful attention to detail, but
means Of determining whittier trains
are operated in accordance with the
requirements of safety and in con-
formity with the rules r almost en-
tirely lacking. -
"In previous reports the commission
has recommended legislation requir-
ing the Standardization of operating
rules. 1t is vital to the safe move
ment Of trains that rules should be
explicit and uniform in character, SO
that they may be easily understood