Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-12-15
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Washington, Dec. l5.--Early enlarge
ment of the membership OF the inter-
state commerce commission, with stat
utory power to act thru subdivisions,
and appropriate and adequate" legis-
lation for control over railway capital
; ization were among the import recon-
mendations made to congress in the
commissions annual report.
The commission suggested that 1t
should have authority of law to have
access to the letter files Of carries; that
the use of steel cars in passenger trains
be required and that the use in pas
senger trains of wooden cars between
or in front of steel cars be prohibited.
1t was recommended that the mimi
mum penalty for violations OF the hours
of servicaract be fixed at a fine OF 800
and that provision be made that all
action relating to transportation
charges should be brought within three
years. 1T
For the fiscal year which ended June
so the commission spent s3.a3s,s25, in
Guiding $2,1sl,925 for physical valua-
ton work. It's estimates for the year
which begins July l next, already
have been submitted to congress
The report is largely devoted to pre-
senting the commissions work for the
year, Under physical valuation work 1t
reports that since June there have been
twelve roadway and track parties in
the field in each OF five districts into
which the country has been divided,
and that their total average has been
about 1000 miles per month. By Jan.
i, the report says surveys of nearly
$4,000 miles of railroad will virtually
be completed. The total railroad mile
age of the country is put at 100000,
and the report says that the 200,0
miles left at the beginning of the year
should be surveyed in the four follow
ing years under the present arrange
ment. 2"--Sa
1T is doubtful. it adds, If under the
present organization, work can be
prosecuted more rapidly than il is now
proceeding" pa E'
The commission expresses gratifica-
ton at the decrease In the number Of
collisions, but says that individual in
stances of unsafe operating methods
and violation of rules are still too
numerous" 1t suggests a standardiza-
ton of operating rules to assure safety
OF railway travel, to be obtained thru
tsCeIdI lSSlSlaIlpn. IL SHOWS mat Oe-
raiiTents have been on the increase
and that in 1915 there were 1855 col
nsions and sS4a derailments compared
with 5.042 collisions and 1888 derail-
ments in 1902.
Track conditions which are unsafe
for the operation OF trains at the rate
OF speed permitted are too common"
says the report. In several of the de-
railments investigated the track condi-
tons were found to be as bad as to be
actually unsafe for the passage of
trains even at moderate speed. yet no
special speed>restrfctfons were in force.
and it was common practice for trains
TO be operated at unsafe speed over
such track" go.
The commission suggests the need of
definite Information as to the physical
properties OF wheels. rails and other
materials used in track and equipment
and the strains and stresses they are
required to sustain In service Derail-
ments caused By malicious tamperinR
with track or switches are reported to,
be on the increase and present prob
lem difficult to solve. better policing of
tracks and rigid enforcement of tres-.
pass laws being suggested as remedies.