The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-05-24
slaughter by the Railroads.

AZ Aopo hliIeo S,S4O persons and in
jured 76,s53 more, there was gen.
eral feeling Of horror. It was sup
posed that conditions had been un-
favorable, and that improved manage
ment On the part of the railways and
the exercise Of greater care on the
part Of the public would lower the
casualty roll for 1904. But instead
the slaughter .aud manning Of people
has greatly increased. During 1904
at least 1000 persons were killed by
the railways, aud more than 10000
others were Injured.
Are the railways and the people in
different to this terrible sacrifice of
life? This can hardly be supposed;
and yet why was not the fearful
slaughter checked, after the shocking
losses Of 1903? Our railways are
costing US as much in flesh and blood
as an average war would cost-more
than the war with Spain aud the con-
quest of the Philippines cost us.
And yet no general effort was made
by the railways, by the national or
State governments, or by tho people,
to lessen the slaughter. 1t is true
that the railways are always investi-
eating or experimenting with devices
for protecting life and limb, and that
much talk is always heard in legisla-
tive bodies about safeguarding pas
sengers and employees, but nothing is
actually accomplished. Indeed, the
slaughter increases, and we thrust
thousands more under the wheels of
our modern juggernaut.
The latest report of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, covering the
months Of October, November and
December, 1904, and dealing only
with roads that CROSS State borders,
shows an appalling slaughter. Dur,
ing these three months and on these
interstate lines, 951 persons were kill
ed and 14,027 were manned. There
were $3.50 collisions and derailments,
aggsegating financia! loss of 50, ,406,-
600, and killing So passengers and 199
employees; and injuring 1,430 passen-
gers and 1868 employees, making
total of 242 persons killed and 1928
injured in train accidents.
The commission began keeping
record of railway slaughter sixteen
years ago. In that time $4,000 per-
sons have been killed and 100000 in-
jured-a yearly average of 1902 kill.
ed and 43, $50 injured. But this aver
age is reduced by the comparatively
small slaughter Of dozen years ago.
The annual hecatomb has been great
ly increased, until it now averages, as
we see, something like 10000 killed
and $4,000 injured. a,
How does it happen that so many
persons are injrTe,s or killed by our
railways? The commission finds three
chief causes: First, the gross oare-
lessness Of the. generoIpublio; second,
the greed Of the railroad companies
and their managers; and, third, the
carelessness and incompetence of rail-
road employees. e !,
More. than half the persons killed
by the railways are struck BY moving
trains while trying to cross the tracks,
or by falling from OF being injured
while walking on moving trains. The
grade.crossing slays its thousands;
and for this the railway is chiefly
responsible. Qaly one or Two stetes
have taken any preventive action:
Massachusetts alone having anything
like satisfactory, legislation on the
subject.
TIE commission gives the following
list,o causes Of the increase in rail-
way slaughter: Increase Of traffic be-
yond me capacity of railroad equip
ment; the constant and almost crimi-
nal effort of railroad managers to rem
der service beyond their facilities;
compulsory overwerk Of employees
leading to their Indifference and care:
lesspess; roadbeds of insufficient con-
struction for the constantly inoreas-
ing weight Of rolling stock; single
tracks. s. =5
AS to remedies, the commission
suggests: Extension Of the block sys.
tenn Of signals reduction Of the hours
Of labor Of railroad employees; elimi-
nation Of allinexperienced men and
boye 10 the train.dispatching service;
abolition of the train-order system
and substitution therefor Of the cleo.
trio staff system; double tracks. (.
England puts Us to shame in the,
management Of railways, with respect
to the safeguarding of human life. In