The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-12

Now, what IL beiue done TO prevent
these railroad accidents and the resulting
death and injury? The Interstate Com
mercc Commission II apparently doing
everything II can under present laws in
the way of prevention.
Great speed has been developed OF
American railroads during the last dec
ade and the speed seems 20 be IN def
crence to public demand. The weight OF
trains has increased TO such an eN-
tent that IL has caused terrific wear on
steel rails. Notwithstanding the increase
In tho weight and size OF the rails Ten
years ago rails of less than 100 pounds
were largely used on our roads.
Now the prevailing rail weighs 100
pounds to every thirty-siX inches and on
the larger systems the main line rails
weigh ITO pounds to the yard In the
recent hearing before the Interstate Com
merce Commission Samuel Rca, president
Of the Pennsylvania system, said that tho
time had come when the PENNSYLVANIA
was making plans for laying l2j pound
rails on its main lines.
Whenever wreck is reported TO the
| commission which involves the loss Of
| life an investigation IL made by inspec-
| tors If possible and report made and
published and this seems to end the mat
| ter OF course with its limited number
of inspectors the commission cannot in
vestigate every wreck and loss of life
Something besides publicity in tho
| opinlon of the commission Is necessary,
and II has recommended that II receive
authority 10 n large extent over the
physical operation OF railroads This au-
| thority would include the prescribing ot
| signals and equipment. the character OF
rails. compulsory use Of steel coaches and
! a variety Of other precautionary meas
ures, including the regulation of speed.
| The high speed OF trains has developed
[ dof..t rails that il dangerous.
| ticulnrly in that the defect cannot he
| detected under present methods in the
| making of the rail or after II is COM
plcted Use of the rail by the heavy trains
! running at q high speed develops the
defect, and ultimately n d"railment takes
| place that causes loss OF life ana injury
| 10 many persons.
This defect IL what is known as trans
verse assure. and It's elimination calls
for better mill practice, the experts OF
the commission say. and they are now ell
gagged in series OF tests with steel rails
that may result I'm revolutionizing tho
| making OF rails in tho United States.
Derallments and collisions are response
BILE by far for the large loss Of life and
injury 10 persons, and these generally IN
conjunction with high speed
1T Is Of course extremely difficult II
not impossible, to say absolutely what is
n safe limit for the speed OF trains, says
y report of the commission with heavy
rails. well maintained tracks and road
| way. properly spaced signals and tracks
kent clear of slow trains, high speed
trains can be run with comparative
safety. But the effort to maintain th'
schedules of these fast trains and L.
bring them in on time creates an unde
sirable mental condition and increases
the chances of mistakes by employees.
This mental condition, this desire Il
bring the fast train In on time at al
hazards, leads to the disobedience ol
many rules, and such dsobedience Il
often winlSed at by the very officials who's
duty II IL To enforce the rules. Train
mon are thus encouraged to take dan
rerous chances. knowing that II they
come through without accident their in
fraction of the rules will he ignored
II thus happens that most OF the accl
dents to high speed trains are direct
caused by the failure of some employee
10 perform his duty"
Summarizing tho situation, n report q
1 tho commission says
"No specific cure for these disasters cal
, he offered, for none IL at hand. ES
, pcrience has shown, however, that tn
number aud severity of railway acct
danis can he materially reduced by IN
, Introduction Of methods and appliance
which are entirely practicable. and II
ma ri icula rlv encouraging to note that ther
. has recently occurred a general awakenin
among railroad managers and rdllWa
tratnmen's organizations which has led
7 A well organized movement or the NOR
n prominent railroads Of the country 10 oh
/ tain greater safety"