Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-04-26


to the figures of the commission, we
shall never know 1t is quite I'M
necessary that we should conjecture
with regard 10 it, The CHASTITY array
represented by the figures before us
is enough. Ii imposes upon us obi
cations from which there is no escape
These thousands are killed and Grip
pied annually by corporations. These
corporations were created by the state
They are chartered to conduct business
as common carriers, in the performance
of which under existing conditions
death and injury result to so many
thousands annually. The state is in
agency which it has empowered and
set in operation shall conduct its bust.
ness with every reasonable precaution
for the safety and protection of the
public, and of the servants and en-
ployes of the corporations, as well.
The injury or death of an employe
caused by the carelessness of a fell
low servant. is quite certain to carry
with it injury and death to the travel
ing public. The disaster resulting
from defective engines, cars, tracks,
switches, and appliances, due to the
negligence of an official or his eager.
ness TO push tTaffic and swell divi-
bends regardless of consequences may
possibly wreck trains where the list
of killed and injured is limited to
railway employees alone. Yet it is Ger.
tain that any statute which imposes
upon the corporation requirements en-.
forcing greater diligence upon Of
ficials and employees, is, of itself, a
very great protection to the public.
Comparison With England.
England has a little over $4,000
miles of railway. England has, there
fore. about one-tenth of the railway
mileage of the United States. Her
passenger trains in 1903 travelled less
than one-half the total mileage which
the passenger train in this country
travelled English railroads, however
carried twice as many passengers as
were carried by the railroads of the
United States during that year. II
will thus be seen that the English
trains were much more heavily loaded
and followed each other much more
closely in order to handle on her limit.
ed trackage the passe lger traffic for
1908.
1T is an accepted rule that &C
cidents increase in some measure with
the density of traffic. The density OF
the English traffic compared win
that of this country is as six to one
But, Notwithstanding the fact that
England hauled twice as many pas
sengers with a train mileage less than
half as great as ours, and did the
work with only $4,000 miles OF TRACK,
she killed and injured in 1903 only
one-tenth of the number killed and in
jured by the railroads OF this &C ntry
for that year. England permit cry
few grade crossings. She requi. the
use of the block system and other
safety devices and appliances very
generally. The English law also re.
quires the immediate report OF all rail.
way accidents to the government by
the railway company itself. Upon
such report the scene of the accident
is visited by a government inspector,
witnesses are examined, and a
thorough investigation made. Such
investigation is followed by a public
report and made the subject of regula'
tions to reach and correct the abuse
or negligence causing the accident,
In its latest report the interstate
commerce commission urges upon cor
gress the necessity FOR thorough in
vestigation of railway accidents by
federal authorities, so that proper
remedies may pc decided upon and
introduced for the protection of the
public.