Apparently, RPG Maker 3 doesn't read the switches by the order of placement but by their physical position in the dungeons! That would have been good info. for the manual.

You can test it out for yourself, and I'm sure you'll see what I mean. It'll only take about ten minutes to create and test.

I created a new 20 block dungeon in the dungeon editor, and placed my switches in this order. The numbers indicate the order of placement. The Xs indicate empty spaces.

X X X X 3
X 2 X X X
4 X X 1 X
X X X X X

Okay, then I went to layout mode and created 4 auto events in that dungeon, one to be turned on by each switch.
AUTO EVENT 1
2 modes
MODE 1
auto
trigger - switch 1 on
Event code
Message Display - "1"
Modify Mode - to mode 2
MODE 2
touch
Event Code
blank

AUTO EVENT 2
2 modes
MODE 1
auto
trigger - switch 2 on
Event code
Message Display - "2"
Modify Mode - to mode 2
MODE 2
touch
Event Code
blank


AUTO EVENT 3
2 modes
MODE 1
auto
trigger - switch 3 on
Event code
Message Display - "3"
Modify Mode - to mode 2
MODE 2
touch
Event Code
blank

AUTO EVENT 4
2 modes
MODE 1
auto
trigger - switch 4 on
Event code
Message Display - "4"
Modify Mode - to mode 2
MODE 2
touch
Event Code
blank

Okay, now I when I flip each switch I will see a number corresponding to the switch that the computer sees being turned on. So, I testplay, and remember
this is the order of placement of the switches in the dungeon editor:
X X X X 3
X 2 X X X
4 X X 1 X
X X X X X

In testplay, these are the switches that the computer reads being turned on

X X X X 1
X 2 X X X
3 X X 4 X
X X X X X

So, then, I go back to the dungeon editor and erase the previously placed switches and put down new ones in this order.

4 X X X X
3 X X X X
2 X X X X
1 X X X X

In testplay, these are the switches that the computer reads being turned on

1 X X X X
2 X X X X
3 X X X X
4 X X X X

So, then, I go back to the dungeon editor and erase the previously placed switches and put down new ones in this order.

X 4 3 2 1
X X X X X
X X X X X
X X X X X

In testplay, these are the switches that the computer reads being turned on

X 1 2 3 4
X X X X X
X X X X X
X X X X X

So, in game play/test play, the computer is reading the switches not in the order that they were placed in the dungeon editor, but by their physical position in the dungeon, starting in the northwest corner of the dungeon and reading east and going down until the southeast corner of the dungeon.
Hope this can help future creators.

And thanks to Zero Down at the Pavilionboards for his previous posts and messages which encouraged me to post this thread.

Please feel free to submit any thoughts or comments.
Pagerron

I wonder why they have you number the switches, then.