Evening star., 1928-11-28
Holds Comparatively Few
Accidents Due to Disre-
gard of Rail Signals.
SUGGESTS ELIMINATION
OF GRADE CROSSINGS
Replacement of Wooden Bridges
and Passenger Coaches Also
Is Suggested.
By the Associated Press.

by tns Associated Press.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
has decided to refrain from compelling
railroads to make further installations
of automatic train control devices or
block signals.
Inc decision was announced TODAY in
the course of a report concluding an
investigation into the present status of
automatic signals and devices, and the
statement indicated that the commits
sion considered that safety on railroads
could be promoted by elimination of
grade crossings, the betterment of
bridges and the replacement of wooden
passenger cars.
Three years ago the commission. over
the protest of large number of rail-
ROADS, ordered very extensive inStalla-
control devices intended to autonnati-
cally halt train when a stop signal is
disregarded.
IL mas been shown in this case that
the number of accidents and casualties
winch result from disregard of signal
indications Is relatively small in conn
parlson with those which result from
other causes" the commissions decision
said. I'VE therefore believe that vigor-
GUS efforts to provide adequate protec-
lion against the larger number Of acci-
dents which arise from such causes will
afford greater measure of safety than
requiring by order specia1 efforts to ex-
tend train control installation. For that
reason we have concluded not to require
oy order at the present time further in
stallatlon OF train stop or train control
devices.
THE carriers should be diligent In
their effort to provide adequate pro-
lection against accidents due to grade
crossings, derailments, collisions in ter
r1tory not protected by block signals.
failure of wooden bridges and trestles
and the use of wooden passenger train
cars which have been repeatedly mem
toned In our recommendations to Con-
gress. We shall expect them to under
take the necessary studies and tests to
bring about standardization of designs
and methods of installation Of train
stops and train control devices so that
they may be used in terminal areas and
on joint tracks where trafiic density is
greater"
15,002 Miles of Track Protected.
Under two orders issued By the COM
mission, in 1922 and 1924, the railroads
have complied to an apprecjable extent.
installations required by the two orders
have been made, as of May last, BY
1902 miles of track and 7,345 loco
motives. This comprises all but 8S.7
miles of road, 1872 miles Of track and
so locomotives of the total specific re-
quirements of the two orders. In addi-
ton, 186 locomotives are equipped by
certain carriers for operating over por-
tions of other roads. totaling 545 miles,
in connection with installations of au-
tomato train-control devices on them.
The Southern Railway, operating be-
tween Washington and the South, has
been leader in the movement to install
train control on its lines. Hundreds Of
miles of Southern Railway trackage
have been equipped with train control
devices. The Richmond, Fredericks-
burg & Potomac and the Pennsylvania
Railroad, both operating out Of Wash
ington, as well as the Baltimore q Ohio,
have made installations of train-control
devices on their lines adjacent to the
Capital. In addition to the formal re-
quirementS of the twin orders of the
commission, many railroads have gone
far beyond the orders, voluntary in
stallationS above the requirements Of
the orders totaling 2.841 miles of road.
ASST miles of track and 76S locomo-
tives. Total cost of the complete
installations of 11,238.5 miles Of road,
1888 miles OF track and 1851 loco
motives was S26, 1868, 900.
In direct opposition to the lack of
further requirement by the commission
of train-control installations are fire.
quent accident reports of the bureau
of safety of the commission, which
often state laconically that had train
control been in use on this line
this accident would not have occurred"
Eastman Dissents in Part.
1.-THE problem before us" the COM
mission report said, els to promote
safety, which under any plan suggested
VIII involve tremendous expenditures.
That fact, however, should not be con-
trolling, for the reason that loss of life
or limb Is always an irreparable injury,
to prevent which the utmost efforts
should be exerted It Is, therefore, a
sound principle that expenditures for
the preservation of human life should
be generous and should be so distrib-
uted that the greatest possible measure
OF protection may be afforded"
Commissioner Eastman diSSented in
part from the majority report, declaring
that the railroads in certain instances
having complied with the orders after
unsuecessfully trying to be rid Of COM
pliance, probably not now will UNDER
take any further installation of train
control devices Of their own volition.
The indications are, indeed, to the
contrary" he added.
"A demand for the use of some form
OF automatic train stop or train control
device in steam railroad oDeratioy, has
existed for a good many years. It grew
out of the effect produced upon the
public mind by the terrible railroad
collisions which occur, infrequently it
1t true, but with SUFFICIENT regularity
to prove that entire dependence can.
not be placed upon the human element.
The development and use of such au-
tomato devices, to the extent that they
have been adopted, moreover, have
not been the product of initiative upon
the part of the carriers, but have chief
y resulted from governmental inter-
ference with their affairs, thus paral-
el1ng in many respects the history Of