The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-08-20
TO PREVENT
R. R. TRESPASS
COMMISSION OFFERS ASSIST.
ANCE TO RAILROADS IN
SAFETY MEASURES-l73
LIVES LOST IN THIS
WAY LAST
YEAR.

PoinSing our that l73 persons lost
their lives last year while trespassing
III railroad tracks or cars, the Rail-
;oai Commiss on has issued a circu
ar TO the railroad companies having
lines traversing the State, asking
their cooperation in establishing
protective measures. The commits
sion regards trespassing on railroad
property one OF the dangerous prac-
tees of the present day.
w. ]. Wood is particularly inter
ested in the subject, being chairman
OF the committee appointed by the
convention of railroad commissioners
from Wisconsin. Illinois, Michigan,
Ohio and Indiana to collect data and
information concerning fatalities of
this kind with a view TO drafting a
model law TO be enacted by the Leg
islatures of the various States.
The circular just issued fellows an
appeal to the press OF Indiana that it
use its inhuenFs toward impressing
the people of the State with the dang
err OF walking on tracks either at pub
lie crossings or elsewhere. The COM
mission wishes to print the word
Danger" in red ink. in tbs. mind OF
every man, woman and child in the
State. The circular to the railroads
follows:
"One hundred and seventy-three
persons were killed while 'trespassing
on the tracks or cars of the railroads
in Indiana during the year ending
June 30, 1908. While the railroads are
not TO be held responsible for these
deaths as they are for accidents re-
sulting from negligence, it is an act
OF humanity and moral, if not a
legal obligation to prevent this loss
so to do. Accident reports for July
and August indicate large increase
in these fatalities, and fatalities at
highway grade crossings
Nine States of the Union make ex.
plicit prescriptions with reference to
walking on railroad ira ks; and three
as all should do, expressly forbid it.
The State of Indiana, Burns 1908,
Sec. 22sO. makes it unlawful only af-
ter warning: "The offense defined by
the statute consists in entering un-
lawfully upon the lands of another
after having been forbidden to 40 So
by the owner or occupant The un-
lawful entry in defiance of the com,
mand of the lawful occupant consti.
tutes the offense." St.te VS. Burns.
Vol. 213. Supreme Court, of Indiana
Page APT.
I'm recent special case in one o.
the large cities of the State, where
railroad tracks were VIGOROUSLY and
daily used by large numbers of citiz-
ems as thoroughfares, the commission
called on the division superintendent
TO take steps under this statute to
abate this practice. We are now ad-
vised by the railroad company "that
warning signs are placed at the prin-
cipal streets. that the mayor has
promised use that he will have police
men placed to notify people that they
are trespassing, and that we do not
feel it necessary for member of the
commission TO come to this city for
the purpose of taking up THIS ques-
ton with these people"
Success and progress in the indi-
vidual case demonstrate that the same
work should be undertaken In order
that like results may be achieved a,
many places in this State.
"This commission is of the opinion
hat a more systematic, general and
determined effort should be made by
the railroad companies and local au.
thorites to keep trespassers off the
tracks. We recommend and direct
that you shall place warning signals.
indicating danger" in red letters, at
such places in towns. cities and coun.
try, and on such bridges and trestles
as are often and repeatedly used by
the public for footways or thorough.
fares We recommend and direct that
you shall seek the cooperation of
local authorities, using this circular,
if advisable, after placing the warn
ings referred to, and that you advise
the commission of the results of your
efforts, to the end that we may use
our official influence to aid you in any
case where local authorities refuse to
enforce the law. You will take this
most important matter up at once
and advise use as indicated herein"