tested, 6,033.

New

2,262

188

24

VI. ACCIDENTS AND COMPLAINTS.

The office of the Commission is kept open from 8 a. m. to 11 p. m. every day of the year, principally in order that reports of accidents may be made promptly and an inspector sent to investigate and report in all serious cases, as required by law. An engineer is also on call and a photographer may be obtained if necessary. Through this corps of men, definite information is obtained about all serious accidents, which may be made the basis of an order in case the Commission considers that one should be issued, looking toward the prevention of such accidents in the future. Nearly 300 railway accidents were investigated by the employees of the Commission between July 1st and December 31st.

Railway Accident Reports. In the first weeks of the existence of the Commission, written reports of accidents were made in the form prescribed by the former Railroad Commissioners. The procedure as now laid down by an order of the Commission (Order No. 1) prescribes the method of reporting accidents and the classes of accidents to be reported by telephone. It requires that notice shall be given by telephone immediately after the happening of the accident (or if the accident happens between 11 p. m. and 8 a. m., then at 8 a. m. of the following day) in case it falls within one of the following classes:

1. Accident resulting in death or serious injury to persons; 2. Collision resulting in serious damage to cars;

3. Derailment of elevated or subway trains or railroad passenger trains; or

4. Serious interference with or stoppage of traffic.

The average of time between the occurrence of accidents of the sort referred to in this order and the report of them by companies to the Commission has been one hour and thirty-five minutes. This does not satisfy the requirements.

Such notice is required to be followed by a written statement addressed and mailed to the Commission, as soon as possible, or at least within three days thereafter, the written statement to contain the following information:

(a) The name of the corporation owning the road.

(b) The name of the corporation leasing or operating the road.

(c) The date and hour of the accident.

(d) The precise location of the accident.

(e) The number and description of the car involved in the accident.

(f) The names and places of residence of employees in any way connected with the occurrence.

(g) The names and addresses of passengers or other persons killed or injured.

(h) The names and residences of employees killed or injured, and the extent of the injury.

(i) The circumstances attending and the supposed cause of the accident, with the names and residences of all witnesses who saw the accident or can give any facts in reference to the same.

The order also requires a written notice of every accident of whatever character happening upon any lines of railroad within its jurisdiction, which notice must be mailed to the Commission within forty (40) days after the accident, and must consist of a classification according to their nature of all accidents, including those reported by telephone.

The statistics for the six months just passed are given in the following tables. During July the companies made reports upon the forms of the Railroad Commissioners and the returns were far from complete. This accounts for the very great difference between July and each of the other five months.