The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-06-15

gate Is an appreclaDae one. On bne
Chesapeake @ Ohio many transpassers
are annually killed or seriously in
ljmed, a large percentage of whom are
Migrants. On the Pennsylvania, for
the var ending June 30, 1906, 546 per-
sons were killed; many we're not va
lgrants, but persons using the RAILROAD
as a highway. On the Lake Shore &
michigan Central, from 1902 to 1906,
Inclusive, 500 transpassers were killed
land 1888 we're injured. The direct cost
Ito railroads comes in the stopping OF
TRAINS when vagrants are injured.
Railroads frequently convey injured
Migrants to the nearest hospital,
where hospital expenses are frequently
guaranteed by the railroads, because
of unwillngness If the towns to meet
the bills, and OF burial expenses when
necessary.
The Chicago & Northwestern Rail,
road spends several thousands of dol
lars annually. The New York Central
Lines west of Buffalo on the other
hand estimates their direct cost as
fairly small, occurring only when
there are peculiar circumstances, such
as small child, or where the tres
passer is caught on a bridge. Cases
of trespassers cause the railroads, how
ever great deal of trouble in inves-
,tigation.
The cost to society of injured va
grants Is in tIe end enormous, be-
cause vagrants frequently are rem
ldered incapable of doing any further
work, and in consequence go to tramp
ling or begging, spending their time
between the road, the almshouse and
the faLl. Every charitable eochety
knows of many instances of persons
permanently MANNED by railroads who
until the end of their lives will be
largely dependent rpon the public. be-
ing maintained either by individuals
or by institutions for the support of
the INDECENT,
Few railroads maintain system
Iof railroad policing. The Pennsylvan-
la is probably as well pollced as any
American road, but nevertheless is
able to arrest only small number of
the trespassers that at all times are
Illegally using the Pennsylvanl.ts
tracks. On the Lake Shore Railroad
there are watchmen and special agents
who patrol the large yards. ride the
freight trains and some of the pas
senger trains. They find it impossi-
BILE to even undertakes to regulate
trespassing; arrests at their hands
mean absolutely nothing, the trespas-
sers being released with possibly
few exceptions. On the Chesapeake
& Ohio at certain points along the
line. through the cooperation OF the
police authorities of towns and cities,
vagrants ere put to work on rock
piles, or at other hard labor Rail-
roads running out of New York have
in general special officers at termin-
ais mad at the larger cities along the
road.
The railroads make varied suggest
ions looking TO a reduction OF the H.
slegal use OF railroads by vagrants.
Vice-President Van Etten Of the Bos-
ton & Albany states that present laws
prohibiting trespassing on railroads
and stating rides on trains should
be strictly enforced. THE laws should
follow the English practice; all tres
Ipasslng on railroad property should be
absolutely forbidden, and it should Re
the duty Of law officers TO patrol
the tracks and 10 arrest everybody
found trespassing thereon. There is
danger of serious accident whenever
an airbrake is suddenly applied in
emergencies, which is what an engln-
eer will do, when HE sees a man on
the track, who is likely to be run
lover"
Vice-President Besler of the Cen
tral Railroad OF New Jersey states
that confinement for short period
would not stop vagrants, but If en-
fordlng this law municipalities would
be free from vagrant annoyance.
Vice-President Kennedy of THE Cum
berland Valley Railroad thinks that
there Is good deal of mistaken
sympathy expressed for the average
tramp, who is leach upon human
ty, and should be so regarded and
treated. In rural districts large per
centage of farmers do not refuse va
grants either food or shelter, fearing
ltnat II they do 30 the tramps will re-
turn and burn their barns" ''From
my personal experience" writes Mr..
Kennedy, 81 find that the average
tramp Is coward, and as soon as he
Is met with determined opposition, he
Twill disappear"
President Underwood of the Erie
believe that we should have laws
making 1t a misdemeanor for persons
10 be found on the premises of a
railroad company unless they are
there FOR business reasons.
The Lehigh Valley Railroad reports
that there is legislation in the States
Through which the railroad runs,
furnishing tramps, etc, but that there
is nothing specially applicable in the
laws OF New York, New Jersey and
Ipann0vlUanta nrnhihdtfn fno, ilIaoaI train