Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-29
More Than 10000 Persons Lose
Their Lives In Twelve Months.
CASUALTIES ALWAYS INCREASING
First peflnate Statistics Gathered by
the Government ore Now Available
Interstate Commerce Commission.
erTaYks on the situation.

!, 3 WARRINGTON ID. c.. Jan. 2S.-'It
is an appalling fact that more than
ton thousand people are killed and
In excess of 100,vv. are injured every
year on American railways" said an
Official OF the interstate commerce
commission, in commenting on the
latest accident, bulletin issued by tho
commission,
"Think of IT. continued tho official.
the number of people killed on raj.
roads in single year would make
mp the population of good.sized city
and. II all the casualties nro included,
the number would equal the popula.
tion of what Is considered large
city, every man, woman and child In
IL II must be borne In mind, too,
that these figures do not include
grade crossing accidents 10 trespas
sers or accidents In railway shops,
hut merely accidents to trainmen and
passengers. The total number OF
caSuelties of all sorts on railways is
far In excess of the figures have
given. Just as sure as We are sitting
here, you can figure that more than
ten thousand persons now alive and
we'll Will be killed on the railroads
of this country during the coming
Year and, just as definitely. you can
figure more than one hundred thou
sand more will be injured General
Sherman once said that War Is he'll"
II that Is true. how are we to charac
terize raiiroading?"
Statistics collected and sabulatod
by the interstate commerce commits.
sion indicate that casualties on the
railways of the country are increas
ing at an alarming rate. In 1888. 81
2S2 persons were killed and 25,SSS
were injured. Those are the first
definite statistics gathered by the
government Since that time, from
year to year, there has been a steady
increase both in the number killed
and the number injured. until, for the
year ended June 80 1906. the number
of killed aggregated 1868, and the
number injured. s7,7O6. The total
number killed in that year was 915
greater than for the corresponding
period the year before.
While the statistics for the fiscal
year OF 1907 have not been complied
yet, 1t is certain they will show a
startling increase over those of 1906,
the number killed exceeding 1000.
II the present rate of casualties Is
maintained throughout the fiscal year
of 1908, this year will surpass any
previous year In history of the coun.
try in the number and fatality Of
railroad casualties. The first quarter
OF this year-July, August and Sep.
tember-show an increase of 1877 in
the number killed over the CORES
ponding quarter of 1907. and an in
crease of S,o56 in the number OF in
1ured. 81
Thus far the interstate commerce
commission has made no attempt to
discover the reasons for the enormous
! Increase In railroad casualties. Most
OF the railroads of the country en-.
ploy every practical device for the
prevention of accidents. but despite
their care the increase continues. 1t
IS q very serious problem with rail.
way officials, 40 the destruction nt
property, as well es os life, Is iucyeas.
phflog the last yesr nearly $780,
- ea,:p,s t;l 3 ,iIpDl s;t,