REPORT OF MR. HOWE OX RAILWAY SWITCHES, ETC. 491
RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS.
BY ELMER P. HOWE.
Group-
The frequent recurrence of railroad accidents caused by misplaced switches, or by deceptive signals, has made the problem of their construction and management of great importance, and on its exact and certain solution depends the safety of the travelling public, and the avoidance of great pecuniary loss to the railroad companies.
The electric-bell systems and telegraphic communications adopted almost universally in Europe, and to some extent in this country, regulate the departure of trains, and serve to inform the conductor as to the condition of the track he is to traverse. They thus diminish the chances of collision. Their value, however, is between stations, as they do not afford security while entering or passing through places where there are many branches and crossings.. To guard these, semaphore arms and suspended balls are used, which, in their various positions, denote the state of the track. On roads where the traffic is limited, they can be watched by one man, and a tolerable degree of security is afforded. As tracks are multiplied, and as at terminal stations the number of trains and shifting locomotives is larger, the general oversight is more difficult, and there is greater probability of mistakes arising from the forgetfulness or incapacity of signal-men. Moreover, with the increase of traffic more employes are necessary; an objection of great weight in this country. The desideratum is, then, to have all the signals and switches under the immediate supervision of one man, with as few assistants as possible, and to have machinery so arranged