THE PUBLIC MIND: GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SHOULD EMPLOY MORE RAILROAD OVERSIGHT

To the Editor:

To the people along the railroad tracks throughout our nation, I don't recall the exact date in which the railroads asked the federal government for them to take the federal inspectors off. This was about 1960 to 1975 - these federal inspectors were required to inspect tracks, engines and cars. The company said they could do the job more efficiently. After the federal government took these jobs off, the railroads began to cut car inspections, track, and engine inspections and maintenance employees off. This has given the railroads permission to reduce their work force by 90 percent. The railroads are trying to reduce the train crews to two men per train. I ask the people and cities where these trains operate through, how can the two employees inspect their trains properly?

The contents of the train are 75 percent chemicals of all types. By the train length being what they are anyway, from ~ to 2~ miles in length, how can two employees inspect a train of that length? I ask you another question - every time there is a train wreck, has the company told what caused the wreck? No. Why? Because it reflects back on the railroad for improper maintenance of equipment, both track, engines and cars. These wrecks can be caused by broken rails and flat spots on wheels of cars. This causes a breakdown of brake equipment, which will cause cars to jump tracks. We have had two wrecks within our area in the last five months, one at Randles, Mo., and one at Bell City, Mo. Nationwide, how many?

I think it's time we the people along the railroad throughout the nation force the railroads to reduce the length of trains to not exceed one mile; even a train of that length can block every crossing within the city limits if something should happen. Let's put cabooses back on the end of trains and put men back there to inspect the train.

In this morning's paper, July 22, 1991, at Lakehead, Calif., that wreck spilled 20,000 gallons of toxic herbicide, caused the area to be evacuated and the Sacramento River and Shasta Lake Reservoir to be contaminated. This has been the second time that I know of that this has happened in this area. What if these chemicals had caught fire? I ask all city officials to investigate the possibility of correcting and reducing train lengths, blockage of railroad crossings and forcing railroads to maintain equipment and tracks.

To the elected officers, instead of doing so much for foreign countries, it is high time you begin to do something for the American people. The working conditions in our industries are so hazardous that people who work there have been forced to quit their jobs due to illnesses, and the company refuses to pay their doctors and hospital bills. Why? When each employees pay dues for these benefits or have it in their working agreement with the company, why should the employees have to sue the company to pay these bills?

C.N. Bain

Scott City