The Frisco-Man, January 1912
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THE FRISCO-MAN 49 seriously hurt. The train was stopped and the conductor got back in time to hear the old woman say to her husband, as she sat there in a foot or two of mud: "Yon old fool, I told 3-on you couldn't make it!" Anotlicr illustration is a plain case of ignorance. Not long ago n \roman, taking her first ride on the cars, was on one of the Prisco flyers. When her station was called, she picked up her baby, walked out and jumped off the Past-moving train. Neither u-as hurt, but 1 guess the little intelligence she had was considerably shaken up, for she afterwards said "she 'lowed, when they called her town, it wns time to git off." But if there are some accidents that happen to be ludicrous, tlie majority are so very sad that we beg and implore for some movement to be started to get railroad men to be thinking to do away forever with carelessness. Be so determined to put an end to the mangling and maiming of men that in a very short time railroad accidents will be the rarest thing on record. Let us hope and pray that the time has come Pol. Frisco men to realize how much this safety movement is needed, and that it all de- pends on them to make it a grand -,L iccess. Good luck and speed results for safety first. They Are Not "Spotters." E. W. SEGRAVES. I take great pleasure, as a member of the Safety Committee, in writing through TIIEFiusco-MAX an aiiiclc asking your co-operation in the movement. Many of our employes seein to be under the i~npressionthat thc 1iiember.s of the Safety Committees are spotters, trying to check them in some way nrhich would cause them to lose their positions, and thcy seem to be on the lookout for them. I want to say the conunittees are not looking after conditions that would cause you to lose yo~wjob, but after things which would probably save your life, and are asking your assistance in all cases. If any of us note a condition which would cause injury or loss of life, it is our duty to repair it if possible to do so; if not, me should report it to the proper official. There are niany oP us who note conditions and pass by and say nothing. Let us all get our shoulders to the wheel and give it a pusll; turn a helping hand and get after everything in sight which might cause an accident of any kind. THE FRISCO-MAN 51 - -- - - -- -- - - Safety Movement on the Frisco. E. D. TAEVY. The story is told on old John Coffey, Claims Attorney as Chairman, and the who was roadmaster on the Frisco Assistant General Manager, the two Ilailrond for a number of years, that General Superintendents, Chief En%- at a ~neeti~lgof roadmasters, where ineer, General Superintendent Motive track mork was being discussecl, the Power, Assistant General Superinten- question arose as to nrhat was the dent Motive Power, Inspector Train no st important item in connection and Station Service, Signal Engineer, with ~oodtrack, and old .Tohn es- ancl Superintendent Locomotive Fuel pressed his opinion that "drainage" Service, as committeemen. This was was the most important item. When thought to he the best organization :o asked what was the next most im- direct and carry on the safety work portant item he again said "drainage," on this railroad. when asked what was the next most The committees nwe organized in important item he again said "drain- the month of August, 1911, and the age,'' and on being asked the same work has just started. The results question again he repeated the word up to date have been such as to con- "clloainnge." In other words, old John vince the Central Safety Committee could not be made to say there was that the organization decided upon anything in connection with good n.as the proper one, and that the mea track but "drainage"-it was not only selected to serve on the con~tnitte~:~ the most important thing but every- were the proper men. The results so thing nccorcling to his opinion. far achieved have been most gratify- 11 I should be asked today the best ing and can only be considered as an way to accomplish any certain results indication of the large amount of good in any department on the railroad, 1 to be accomplished by the safety would say "thror~gh the mecliun~ of movement in the months to come. organization." If I was asked what While I do not wish to detract in any was the next most important, I, like way from the work performed by any old John Coffey, would say "organiza- of the sat'ety committees, which has tion" and keep on repeating "organiza- been of esceptionally high character, tion." the credit for the results so far ac- n'hen the Frisco decided to inaugu- complished does not belong entirely rate the snlety movement it followetl with the committees; the men on the that it could only be done through a road, not members of the committees, certain organization, and the organiza- who have reported matters to the tion decided on was divisioll and ter- committees, and who are interested minal commiltees on each division and in the safety mork, are entitled to terminal, composed of the superinten- their full share of credit. dent and a representative from every The safety moven~enthas been in branch of the service on the division existence such a few montl~sthat we or terminal : likewise, shop conlmit- cannot give any intelligent cornpara- tees, with the master mechanic or tive figures of the decreased number shop suyerintentlent as chairman, and oC personal injuries, but with the a representative from practically snfety committees ancl the emp1oyi.s every branch of shop work; ancl a having ever in mind the motto adopted ('entrnl Committee, with the General for the safety n~ovementon the Frisco. 52 THE FRISCO-MAN - - -. - -- the words, "SAFETY FIRST," there Fiscal year 1909-1910. ..58,527 claims. can be no question but what the num- Fiscal year 1910-1911. .54,962 claims. ber of personal injuries on this rail- Decrease 1908-1909 under 1907-1908- road will steadily decrease. 18,515 claims, or 23.1%. A similar movement was started Decrease 1909-1910 under 1907-1908- with respect to claims for loss and 21,758 claim, or 27.1%. damage to freight, on the first day l~f Decrease 1910-1911 under 1907-1908- January, 1909, when a bureau for the 25,323 claims, or 31.5%. investigation of all loss and damage I have not the slightest doubt but claims was established In the office of what through the work of the safety the Superintendent of Transportation, committees and employes of this rail- and when the investigation mas made road who have the interest of their it mas not made so much with refer- fellow-workers, as well as their own ence to the particular claim under in- welfare, at heart, that when three vestigation but more particularly to years have passed the personal determine what caused that claim and injuries on the Frisco will hare to take steps to prevent similar claims decreased much more than 31.5yG. occnring in the future-working under While all employes of the com- the motto of Josh Billings, wlio said pany are interested in the de- that success did not consist in not crease of freight claims filed, which ~llilltingmistakes, but consisted in not means increased prosperity for the making the same mistake twice. The company, the company and its em- freight claim work, while not so thor- ployes are more concerned in a de- oughly organized as the safety work, crease of personal injuries than they has accomplished good results, but not are in damage to freight shipments, in my opinion the results that will because a damage to a shipment of be accomplished by the safety move- freight can in practically all instances ment. In order that you may have be entirely satisfied by a cash pay- some idea of what has been accom- ment, but when a life is snuffed out, plished by the freight claim agitation or a man is crippled, money cannot on this railroad, and through it have compensate. some idea of nrhat is going to be ac- There is another feature in connec- complished by the safety movement tion with the safety movement on this on the Frisco, I give below the num- railroad that I have mentioned last ber of claims filed for loss and damae;o because it is really secondary-the to freight for the fiscal years ending more important feature in connection June 30t11, 1908, 1909, 1910 and 1911, with this movement is to save the and the decrease for each year under employes on this railroad, and the the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1908, traveling public, from death or in- and would direct your attention to juries, but this secondary feature is the fact that after three years' work not without its importance to the em- the freight claims filed against thir, ployes of this railroad, and what I company decreased from 80,285 to 54,- have in mind is the educational benefit 962, a decrease of 25,323 claims, or to be derived by each member of the 31.5q0, and this was accomplished in Central and Division Safety Commit- the face of increased freight receipts tees.