Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 May 1909 — MURE TIME FOR BLOCK SYSTEMS [ARTICLE]

MURE TIME FOR BLOCK SYSTEMS

Commission to Be Lenient , With Some of the Roads. RESPITE CLAUSE IN LAW Case of Each Line Will Be Taken Up In Order and a Decision Made After Hearing Is Held-Some of the Cor* poratlons Have Complied With the Act Already—Other Are Making a Plea of Reduced Earnings. Indianapolis, May 4.—The question of compelling all railroads where the gross earnings a mile a year are J 7.500 or more, to equip their lines in Indiana with some form of block system, is to be settled by conferences with in dividual roads. This is the decision reached by the railroad commission of Indiana. By an act of the general assembly ol 1907, all railroads earning >7,500 or more a year are required to have their roads in the state equipped with such systems by July 1/ of this year, although the same act gives the railroad commission power to grant the roads an additional twelve months in which to satisfy its requirements, provided that good and sufficient cause can be given for asking the additional time. A number of the roads have met th 6 requirements and- the commission has accepted the block systems they have put in use. Because of the slump in railway earnings during the last two years, however, various other roads have asked for an extension of time, and the commission is inclined not to push them too vigorously. Instead of making a general order giving all roads the benefit of the additional twelve months, the commission thought best to take up each case separately as filed, and such an order was made.