And, first, as in the case of passengers, those caused by collisions.
From the number of collisions on the main track and in yards one would
almost think that the general and fundamental customs and rules on
railroads that "In case of doubt always adopt the safe course," and
that "Speed must always be sacrificed to safety" were seldom observed;
on the contrary, I believe it to be the exception and not the rule,
else the number of accidents resulting from such failure, though many
times what they should be (and as long as men are human we will have
some accidents), would be so much greater in number that people would
be unwilling to travel at all. I believe that in the near future the
number of such cases will be so greatly reduced that the least
thoughtful of us will stand aghast at the record of 1904 and 1905, and
that these fundamental rules and the instructions contained in what
are known as the "Flag Rules" and "Caution Card," will be so strictly
observed and enforced _and that blocking of trains by space_, not
time, intervals will become so general as to practically eliminate
this class of accidents, which are caused:
By failure to watch for and observe block and other signals.
By trains following each other too closely.
By trains following at too high a rate of speed.
By failure to protect trains stopped on the main track.
By cars not being left in to clear at sidings.
By switches being left wrong.