| Show METHODS i WRECKS DECREASE Harriman Lines Prove Wisdom Wisdon of Publicity Policy on Accidents FATALITIES ARE FEWER Spirit of Fairness Results in Benefits to All Who Are Concerned I Publicity as a preventive pre of oC railway railway rail rall- Va way accidents has ha been tried by th the Harriman railroads of or the country and arid cold figures show It Is a success In Inasmuch In- In as tho the loss Joss of or life for corresponding corresponding cor cor- responding months has been notably decreased while the business of ot th the roads both freight and passenger ha has increased The only exception In tho Harriman lines is tho the record made b by the Or Oregon gon Railroad and Navigation company which notwithstanding an increase for Jul July of or this year o er Jul July of ot 1907 shows a remarkably low percentage percenta e of or accidents In former years tho the experience o otho of the tho newspapers of or the country In at attempting attempting attempting at- at tempting to get got accurate Information regarding railroad wrecks was that tha the officials refused to give any Information In Information In- In formation and many reports of or accidents accidents ac ac- ac- ac were based on distorted accounts accounts ac no- counts given by excited victims and sometimes tilled filled in with rumors Then the railroads were wore prompt to blame blamo the newspapers for Inaccuracies which the makers of at the paper had tried their thell best to prevent Salt SnIt Lake was no exception to this rule and arid a n change In tho the tone of ot reports on railroad ac accidents accidents ac- ac has taken place since tho the local HarrIman offices be began an furnishing accurate accurate accurate ac ac- ac- ac curate though sometimes meager re reports reports reports re- re ports of or accidents Following Is the tabulated comp compari I- I son for representative montas or Of tao ino last two years of accidents for each cach locomotive miles of travel on tho Harriman lines Pet Pot Jul July 1907 1901 July 1908 Dee Dec Union Pacific 10 10 65 66 Oregon Short Line 26 26 Oregon R. R R. R Na Nay Nav 7 90 Southern P Pacific 50 liO GO I Increase The Tho Railway Age In commenting on the publicity system says sn's 1 0 It has hns helped to Improve the discipline of or and arid Increase operating efficiency thereby reducing ing trig accidents 2 When accidents have happened It has protected the roads against newspaper misrepresentation misrepresentation and the unfair popular hostility hostility hos hoc that such misrepresentation en en- genders The method employed Is as follows fol tol- fol- fol lows When Wrilen an accident o occurs curs that causes large destruction of or property or 01 an any loss Joss of or life lite the superintendent master mechanic and engineer of ot the division on which It has happened go at once to the scene and organize a board of ot Inquiry composed of ot themselves themselves them them- selves and of ot one or more citizens of ot the community They The then make a Il thorough Investigation Tho The division dl engineer and master masler mechanic are al always nl- nl ways Was on the divisional boar boards of In Inquiry inquiry In- In y both because of ot the need for fOl their technical knowledge e and and because It Is desirable that the they shall thresh out In the presence of or their superior officer the the Qu w t the 9 trouble been baa has cau caused ed b by track or or rolling stock The superintendent then can act as an au arbitrator and pet get at the truth Mr Ir enforces Inflexibly the rule that the causo cause of ot the accident must be as as- If It the dl divisional visIonal board of or inquiry reports that It can not find t t-e t e cause It ft Is often sent cent back to tomake tomake tomake make another Investigation If It It fall fail again a second board of Inquiry composed composed composed com com- posed of at the general superintendent the general superintendent of ot motive power and the engineer of at maIntenance maintenance maintenance ance of ot way and one or more citizens of ot the community Is formed and makes another Investigation If f this board reports that It itcan can can not fathom the cause It Is reorganized with the general manager presiding and still another r Investigation Is made In Iii oni only one Instance within the ten years since Mr became vice ice president president president dent of the Southern Pacific Pac has an accident happened In his Jurisdiction the cause of which sooner or later has hiis not been learned and this one took place before the tho present method of Investigation was adopted |
