The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-03-27
NOTES AND COMMENTS

It appears from recent report Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission that
the dangers of travel upon railways
have been considerably reduced by the
adoption of block signals, interlocking
switches automatic couplers, yestiDuie
cars and other devices intended to en-
nance the comfort and safety or pas
sengors and employees. The number OF
railway employees killed during last
year within the limits Of the United
aStaes was 1871, and the number IN
jured 25,696, being a decrease OF Il III
the number of employees killed and an
increase Of 2,274 in the number IN
jured. This class includes trainmen,
ewitchmen, fagmen. watchmen ana
)ther persons upon the pay roll OF the
.ailways. The number of passengers
killed during the year was 10 and IN
| jured 2.375, which was decrease COM
pared with the previous year of lo4
killed and $50 injured. The total for
1895 is less, both relatively and abso-
Iutely, than. during any year for wnich
complete statistics are obtainaple.
There was, however, falling off OF 24o
| in number of other persons killed upon
railways during the year and PA in the
| injured. This includes all persons ex
cept employees and passengers VINO
were killed or injured during the year.
1t should be said, however, that the
passenger traffic during 1895 was un-
USUALLY light, and smaller than for any
prdvious year since 1880. 1t is re-
mafkable fact, however, that totai
of G. 1856 persons were killed and 34,I4S
were injured upon the railways OF the
1 United States last year. The largest
number of accidents occurred at high
way crossings. From this cause 800
persons lost their lives, and at railway
!. stations. through carelessness, 3I6 per-
sons were killed. Throughout the
4 United States only forty persons were
killed in collisions during the year and
only 81 were injured; only Al We're
killed by derailment and only 81 were
injured which shows that the larger
part of the fatalities caused by rail-
ways is due to the carelessness OF the
public, and not to the railway man
ayers.
TIE next UNIVERSAL postal congress
will assemble in Washington in May
1897. Invitations will be sent to al
; countries having mail arrangements
The sessions will last two months. ant
the debates will. be conducted IL
French. China and the Orange Fre'
!. State are the only countries of impor
lance that do notsbelong to the Univer
sal Postal Unions they will, however
probably send delegates. The vita
question before the congress will b.
that of payment by one country TO
the transportation of its mails acros
the domains of every other. Ever,
!, grain of weight of mail matter sent b.
e one country across the land or waite
n of another is now scrupulously paid TO
n TO its destination. The settlement o
n the rate of payment causes a vast dea
u of vexatlous work. The payment
u made on the basis of statistics take
s once in three years, covering perio
1
weighs all mails it dispatches to ever
+ point outside its limits. and the coul
e tries to which the mails are respective
t, Iy addressed verify the figures. BIZ
l the system gives rise to so many con
plications and annoyances that 1t is PR
a posed to do away with it altogethe
Some countries, among them the Uni
Z: ed States, seek the total Adjustment
these transit rates and the substitute
:. of an arrangement by which eac
country carries the mails of all othel
It free.
1T Since the present century began II
e penitentiaries of the civilized wor
u have undergone radical transform
ton. Instead of being dens of idlenes
IL as in the time of General Oglethorl
and John Howard, the various prison
i, of Europe and America have been co
e. verified into places of discipline and
Dor. Formerly the object of plisol
III and penitentiaries was to punish, b
II, to-day the object Of these grim ms
re tutions of Justice is not only to puni
but to reform With this latter ob1e
"a in view school has recently been
e. ganized in the Tombs Of New 70
city which bids fair to become p'
manent institution. The New 70
Tribune Is warm in Its Endorsement
,et this educational reform, and speaks
'ul It as one of the most benefieent and Il
,se reaching movements which have be
III. started in the metropolis for yea
VS. When the fact is remembered II
.es hundreds of the young waits are inc
ne cerated in the Tombs each week,
he good effects Of such school can
readily imagined, and there is no dol
me but what it will prove splendid s
re- cess.
as 1t is easy to figure out from the
hu- pervising Inspector Generals rep
re- that person is very much safer WI
lnd travelling on steamboat than WI
engaged in any other form of busin
on. or Measure. OF G00,000,000 journ'
her of tbis sort made last year. he says t
bat only 221 ended in fatal accide
|, | Otherwise stated. the percentages
lat fatalities was .O0000036. That !:
the fraction which conveys no meaning
ess- the mind until it is turned into