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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tunga>Bluefield Daily Telegraph<BR>March 6,
1910</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT size=4>BLOCK SYSTEM MAY BE PUT INTO EFFECT</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG>Norfolk and Western to Give Wharnecliffe, Lindsey and
Alnwick Three Shifts of Telegraphers</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=left> As a result of the unfortunate series of
freight wrecks during the past week it was reported yesterday that the Norfolk
and Western has decided to place three shifts of telegraph operators at
Wharnecliffe, Lindsey and Alnwick. While the extra operators will not
prevent wrecks, they will assist the division office to keep track of trains and
in this way materially assist the movement. As it is now, when a train
leaves Jim, near Devon, it is lost until a report is received from it at the
next telegraph office, which is quite a distance away. By putting back the
three tricks the tracks can be closely watched with the result that if a train
goes down, a report can be made on it without waiting for a train hand to walk
to the station to advise the telegraph operator of what has occurred. It
is also possible that an absolute block system may be put into effect, but
nothing along this line has been done as yet. By adopting the absolute
block system, engineers and conductors will be prevented from making fast runs
between points where they have a well ballasted straight track.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> They will be held up until they are advised
that a train has left the block and in the way rear end collisions will be
prevented.</DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT size=6 face=Script>Gordon
Hamilton</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>