The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-20
TRAIN ACCIDENTS
DUE TO MISTAKES
CONTINUED From First Pago.)

Continued From First Pago)
duties assigned to them from timo TO
time.
This lack OF supervision and inspcc-
ton with respect to matters affecting
tho safety or trains is unexplainablc
when tho careful supervision OF all
matters directly affecting the revenue
Of the roads is considered. Tho auditing
and checking systems used for de-
tecting the dishonesty OF employees arc
inarvcis Of ingenuity ana careful at
tention to detail. but means of deter
mining whether trains are operated in
accordance with the requirements Of
safety and In conformity with tho rules
are almost entirely lacking
Rules should lie Explicit.
I'm previous reports the commission
has recommended legislation requiring
the Standardization OF operating rulcs.
II Is vital to the safe movement Of
trains that rules should be explicit
and uniform In character, so that they
may be easily understood and that
thero may be no doubt as TO their APP
pllcation. To this end Federal legis-
l1t!on Is necessary.
"Dtsobedicnce OF signal Indications
on block -sgnalcd railroads is one OF
the most serious phases OF the acci-
dent situation. Such dlsobediencc Of
ten occurs in connection with the move
ment of Important high-specd passen-
ger trains. and when II results in
collision or dcraiiinent q most dcplor
able casualty list is Its invar!abie ac
compartment. Fourteen OF the nYcs-
tigated accidents which havo occurred
on block -signalcd roads since July ],
1911, were caused by enGinemen run
ming by stop Signals or failing to re-
nuce speed as directed by caution sig
uals In these fourteen accidents los
persons were killed and 81 were in
ij..cd In seven OF these accidents the
oulpablo cnGinemcn themselves were
ldlled.
NO adequate reason can be offered
for these serious lapscs from duty
~ men who In many cases suffer
death US consequence. Frequently
! l. hard even 10 suggest Il plausible
explanation for the diaobc encc OF Sig
nal Indications. That they are dis
obeycd. however - 4 fact. and tho
lives that arr annually sacrificed from
,his cause call loudly for some means
of nrrcstiug it's results. The most dis
rstrous accidents Of this character oc-
cur on roads equipped with modern
sYstcUs OF automatic block signals.
where elaborate precautions 10 pre-
vert accidents tshOrt Of guarding
against the consequences OF signal
Wsobedicnce) have boon taken. Tho
trains involved in these lamcntablc
disasters generally arc operated by
trusted employees Of long experience.
l!ut tho record abundantly proves that
'ven splendid signal equipment aud
admirable discipline. coupled w!,h long
experience and high moral character
on the part OF employees, cannot pre-
vent tho occasional man failures witch
produce such fatal results These facts
are brought 70 the attention q. tho
Congress. WITH tho suggestion TINT
these man failures indicate the ncces-
nty for tho development and perfcc-
uon OF some System Of automatic train
control 10 be used in connection ,v!th
existing signal systems
High speed Also Cause.
High speed was an important con
tributing cause or several serious nc
cdcnts during the past year on many
roads there - no limit TO the speed
80 which passenger trains nre allowed
TO run. Enginencn are thus cncourag-
cd TO run their trains al excessive
speed in an effort to make ny time
lost on schedules that are In many
cases already sufficiently fast for safe
~ such hieh speed IL especially
dansercus ia times ii FOG or storm
when signals can be- seen but q COM
parat!vcly short distance. The maxi
mum allowable speed OF trains on all
roads should be established al a safe
limit, and Il should not be left en-
tircly 10 tho Judgment of cuc.nemen
TO determine whether or not this limit
81 exceeded.
"lnaslnueh as the only purpose Of
!nrestiea,!on,' the report continues, Us
1" learn the true causes OF accidents
20 that such causes may hc eliminated
as fully as practicable il is inan!festly-
impossible for The commission fully to
accomplish such purpose unless en-
powered by law to enforce its rec
concentrations. Furthermore. the com
mission should be authorized 10 conduct
independent LEGATIONS with respect
10 all matters affecting tho sR:ety Of
railway travel the object being 10 pre-
vent accidents rs far AS possible rather
iERn, Is at present. merely 70 point out
the causes OF accidents after their
occurrence There IS particular need
Tor an InvcstiGatlon OF Tho conditions