D. W. Dalmann, operator and leverman, injured Aug. 12, at Hampton; was in interlocking plant throwing distant signal, when chain connecting lever with counterbalance weight broke and he was thrown to the floor. Stanley Lord, freight brakeman, injured at Rembrandt, May 20; was unloading freight from a car; the skid which was being used was broken off at one end, causing it to slip, and allowing Lord and the boxes to fall to the ground, injuring Lord. ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE FLOORS, PLATFORMS, ETC. Another class of accidents which might also be avoided is that caused by defective floors and platforms in roundhouses and at stations, the failure to keep tools in repair, lack of light, and failure to properly secure lights on switches. While, fortunately, they are not so great in number, yet they go to swell the total, as well as the expense, and ought to be cut out, as they could be with proper care and supervision. L. N. Corbey, brakeman, injured at Calton, Nov. 28; went into coal shed to get coal for caboose. In coming out he stepped on a broken board in the floor of coal shed and sprained his left knee and left hand. H. L. Minturn, injured at Acworth, Jan. 16, while running to throw a switch, he ran into a three-throw switch upon which there was no light. Jacob Paley, boiler-maker helper, injured July 11, at Hinsdale; was striking punch knocking out rivet; the punch came off the handle and struck him in the eye. A. D. Yarrow, injured April 3, at Alberon, while throwing switch near roundhouse, the switch light fell and struck him on the head. Albert Kaufmann, machinist helper, injured July 6, at Hamburg; was in roundhouse working near dynamo belt, which became unlaced and loose end of belt came round and struck him on the left arm. ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY OBSTRUCTIONS Next in order, I wish to call your attention to accidents caused by overhead obstructions, drawbars, lumber, poles, cinders, and other obstructions left too near the rail, holes and trenches left uncovered, and failure to block guard-rails and frogs, etc. Everybody is or should be familiar with Rules 45 and 49, which require blocking of frogs and guard-rails and a clear space of six feet from the rail, and yet one would sometimes think, from the appearance of some yards, side tracks and switches, that the rules, like the midnight closing ordinance, were dead letters. It, however, is the intention and desire of the managements that they, like all other rules, should be enforced, and no one is so much interested in that enforcement as the train and yard men, who work in the yards and on side tracks and switches. If they had been observed, or if their non-observance had been reported by the men who must have known of their violation, none of the following accidents would have occurred: