The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-04-08

vada Railway Company. through its
vice-president Mr.. J. 4. Sexton. has
failed and refused to cooperate with
the Public Service Commission or to
abide by its request to participate in
an investigation of operating and
maintenance conditions and particu-
larly to comply with the Commission's
request to put on work trains and a
force Of trackmen, Immediately fol
/, lowing small washouts on March 1s,
by which repairs could have been
made and passenger, freight, mail
and express service re-established.
While notice has been given by
| Auditor Rice on March goth (ive
days after water run-off began) that
two additional shopmen have been
placed in service for the purpose of
overhauling the motor car, and two
trackmen were employed to watch
the bridges (thus leaving track and
roadway unprotected), and notwith-
standing his further notice of March
21st that one more man was put to
work and work train sent out to re-
pair first bridge south Of Palissde,
these efforts for the reasons herein
before stated are wholly inadequate
and not in compliance with this Com
missions request Of March 18th.
Report is before the Commission
from A. H. johnson, Chairman of the
Traffic Committee of Complainant,
Eureka County Chamber of Com
merce, from Palisade, under date of
March goth hat motor-speeder car
was operated over the line of the Eu-
reka-Nevada Railway from Palisade
to Blackburn and return on March
Is, 10 and 20, and that it would be
possible for speeder to go through to
Eureka by getting by wreck on tim
Der, thus affording mail service be-
tween Palisade and Eureka. This
demonstrates that trackmen could
have been supplied and kept at work
during all of the period from March
18th to date. cribbing up and making
repairs to track and bridges while at
the same time turning water away
and preventing further damage from
| washouts.
In further support of what has
been said herein, there is set forth
below interrogatories and of
record in the hearing at Palisade,
March IT, 1922.
Chrm. Shaughnessy: Now, with a
roaonnohIo pnpnhor Of II ho
tween Palisade and Eureka, would
they be able to take care Of an or
binary snow run-off such as was en-
countered from water on March Is
and 16?
Conductor C. v. Tufts: In my
opinion, they could.
Chrm. Shaughnessy: That Is,
putting them out at various points
along the line?
Con. Tufts: Yes.
Chrm. Shaughnessy: And 1t would
be your opinion that they could pro-
tect the track?
Con. Tufts: Yes, so far that 1t
would not take very long to get it
back in running shape again.
Chrm. Shaughnessy: And do you
think that would be good operating
practice and result in real economy?
Con. Tufts; 1t certainly seems to
me that it would.
Chrm. Shaughnessy: By giving
first hand attention of that kind 1t
would ward off a big washout and
prevent a large investment for re-
construction later on?
Con. Tufts: 1 believe it would.
In striking contrast to the mex
cusable neglect of the Eureka-Ne-
vada Railway Company and as in
dicative of the railroad operating
efficiency exercised on other lines in
meeting washout emergencies refer
ence is made to the fact that the Ne
vada Central Railroad suffered from
washout and derailment on March
18th, 1922. Work train with ma
terials and men were put to work at
once with the result that service was
re-established or March 18th and has
since been continued without inter-
ruptiOn between Battle Mountain and
Austin. In response to the Commits
sion's request, the following wire re-
port from General Manager j. M.
Hiskey on March 23rd. shows the
able and efficient amer in which
his line is being handled in the in
terest of the public service.
Train annulled March Is and
6 account washouts and motor de-
railment. First class mail sent
through by motor-speeder. Wreck
cleared and track made passable
by work train 18th. Service re-
sumed 18th and no Interruptions
since. Present water trouble con-