The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-04-08
BEFORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION OF NEVADA
Eureka County Chamber of Commerce, Complainant
Vs. Case-7s1
Eureka-Nevada Railway Comp any, Defendant.
Hearing Eureka March Is, 1922
Hearing Palisade March II, 1922
OPINION
e, Complainant,
Case-781
OPINION

and that In the absence of instruc-
tions from Mr.. Sexton he did not feel
that he was authorized to 60 over the
line and explain operating conditions.
etc. Independent investigation was,
therefore, conducted by Chairman
Shaughnessy en- route from Palisade
to Eureka on March 18th and re-
1 turning from Eureka to Palisade on
March 18th including examination of
officers and employees Of Eureka
Nevada Railway Company at PAIL
sade, Nevada, March 18th, 1922.
This investigation disclosed that
the track was inadequately protected
and maintained for adverse weather
conditions; In fact, trackmen so few
since first of year that 1t would not
be possible to even inspect the line
properly; that prior to close OF last
year only one or two trackmen were
employed at Alpha. As " miles south
of Palisade; that one or two track
men were employed at Hay Ranch,
TN miles from Palisade; that three
to four men were maintained at Pal
isade, who did all OF the transferring
from broad to narrow gauge cars and
vice versa covering traffic inter-
changed between the defendant COM
Pacific lines. after which they put In
balance of time working on track at
| different nearby points southbound
| from Palisade. Aside from these
designated points at which the afore-
said number of trackmen were en-
ployed the track between Alpha and
Eureka and such other points as
might need attention from time to
time were taken care Of by two track
men who we're moved from place to
place in an outfit car. II will thus
be noted that the maximum number
employed is a total of 10 men, but
the investigation disclosed that only
two or three men had been employed
since the first of the year. and that,
In fact. on March 18th there was only
one trackman working between Eu-
reka and Hay Ranch. a distance of
approximately 81 miles. Within these
| limits is the station OF Blackburn, 81
| miles from Palisade. where a wash
out occurred and the tank car of the
company's passenger train consisting
of engine. tank car, and coach was
derailed on March 16th. The waters
which caused this washout and other
small washouts between Blackburn
and a point about three miles north
of Blackburn came from melting
snow and was discovered on the prev
ious day between Mineral and Alpha,
about IL or IA miles south of Black
burn. The beginning of this run-off
was reported, and IL a number OF
sectionmen had been available and
placed in the vicinity OF Blackburn
all trouble could have been avoided.
Further and more important i'm
mediately following the report OF
these water conditions, Vice-Presi-
dent Sexton at San Francisco. with
out precedent from the standpoint OF
good railroading, wired Auditor ]. B.
Rice to discharge all of the track and
train and engine employees; In fact,
all employees except two shopmen,
and to suspend service indefinitely
This. Of course, has had the effect of
suspending maintenance operations,
leaving passenger train In ditch at
Blackburn, and leaving grades, tracks
and bridges to the mercy of the wa
ters running OF from melting snow.
What should have been done and
what any other railroad would have
done was to at once employ twenty or
thirty men for about 80 days, at an
expenditure ranging from $4,000 or
$500. and by the use of work train
and motor-speeder car. or by use OF
teams, II necessary, to handle food
and supplies. put this force of men
to work taking care Of the water.
making necessary openings. and crib
bing up tracks and bridges, thus re-
establishing and maintaining service
to the public. and avoiding heavy ex-
penditures, for reconstruction OF
roadway. track and bridges that may
be found necessary as a result OF
closing down the railroad. as afore-
said. 1t cannot be overemphasized
how conservative such efforts and ex-
penditures would be In such an emer-
gency when reference is made to the
washouts which occurred on this line
in 1910. and which cost the company
over $4,000 for reconstruction. No
reasonably adequate attempt has
been made. or is being made. since
the water run-off began. to protect
the company's property and the pub
lie service. and there is. therefore.
nothing that can be said in extenu-
alton Of this inexcusable neglect.
The action taken by vice-President
Sexton is shown below by the inter-
..A .~a-aru m fha hoar.