The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-28

AYEARL1 everyone is interested OIL
rectly or indirectly in the trans
portation problem in one way or
another. and if we don't travel ourselves
we have friends who do.
Therefore, the published reports from
time to time of the number of person:
lean railways excite considerable pub
lie interest and criticism.
That a soodIy portion of the railway
casualties could be avoided is undoubt-
edly true. For the most part the agSre-
gate of these fatalities and injuries in
f1icted upon the travelling public by the
railroads are made up of numerous iso-
lated cases. and it is only when some
bad wreck occurs in which large num-
Der o: persons are killed or injured that
public interest is especially aroused to
the point of severely criticising the rail-
roads and spasmodically demanding bet
ter protection.
The general idea of the public is that
the railroads are more or less lax in their
effort to provide all possible safeguards
against accidents, but. nevertheless, it is
i very well-known fact that railroad men
are extremely jealous for the safety of
their patrons and are putting safety de-
vices in sevice a. rapidly as they are con-
Ninced that such devices are practicable
Indeed. comparatively few people have
knowledge OF appreciate the almost
constant efforts of the railroads to pro-
vide safety and comfort for their patrons
Their efforts so on in season and out of
season. in good times and in hard times.
One of the latest evidences of the
friendly attitude of the railroads in
adopting appliances to insure every safe
ty and comfort to the traveller is the
development and use of an automatic
train stop. This latest word in safety
has been accomplished on the Chicago
and Eastern Illinois Railroad. and SO
quietly has this work been done that
only few people outside the railroad
world realize that safety appliance min
imizing the pc Utilities Of collisions on
railroads has been successfully developed.
Undoubtedly the railroads have made
mistakes. and there are instances where
they so far disregard public policy as to
invoke severe public and official criti-
csm and reprimand, which has resulted
in many instances in more or less hostile
legislation affecting adversely the inter-
ests OF the railroad and finally the inter-
ests OF the community at large.
But with commendable perseverance
and under conditions which do not al
ways warrant the expenditure, the rail-
roads have not neglected the interest nor
the safety and comfort OF their patrons;
and no where else in the world does the
railroads give more and receive less than
In this country.
To perfect a device that automatically
stops a train in case of danger and prac-
ucally eliminates the possibilities of COL
lisions. and at the same time success
fully meets all the varying operating con-
ditions. calls for the expenditure OF a
great deal OF money and time, together
with unlimited patience and engineering
energy. and the pioneer road in this &C
complishment deserves unstinted praise
This work has been in progress on the
NHlCdBo anu ESsteIH 1illnols continuously
during the past four years. and during
this time railroads from every section of
this country. as we'll as from Canada and
England, have sent representatives from
time TO time TO make inspection and
watch the gradual development of what
has become one OF the most interesting
and commendable factors in the safety of
train operation.
When the Chicago and Eastern Illinois
Railroad was thoroughly satisfied with
the efficiency of the automatic stop the
device was put into regular service and
now its trains. including the finest pas
senser trains. have the benefit Of this
additional protection. and affords a feel
ing OF security and safety to the traveller
which must not only be comforting but
unique.
Ebert Hubbard Amazed After In.
vesfigatisn.
The frst thing The Herald repre-
sentative discovered in his investiga-
ton OF the subject of automatic train
control was that Ebert Hubbard.
originator and editor of the Phillis-
tine. eccentric literary genius. briln-
ant writer and author of many orig
hal masterpieces. who was one Of
those that went to . deep-sea death |
whsa . German submarine sank the