Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-06-02

roads of the United Kingdom in
every 4O.9o0,000 journeys, while
one was injured in every 100000. In
1907 the figures were one killed in
every 100000, and one injured in
every 100000.
"Other interesting statistics with
regard to the risks of railroad travel
are given tn the report of the railroad
department of the board of trade. The
total number of passengers and rail-
road employees killed last year was
LILY and the number injured S,S11,
while in the ten previous years there
was an average of 1,160 killed and
6,765 injured. The increase among
the injured was mainly among railroad
employees. The average number of
fatalities to passengers during the
80 years previous to 1907 was nearly
%. These and other figures quoted
for the period take no account Of the
journeys of season ticket holders, and
therefore they slightly exaggerate the
actual risk, as this class of passengers
has materially increased in recent
sSol .. uS auAlUSI Vi passengers
killed in train accidents last year was
IS, of whom IL were accounted for in
the one disaster at Shrewsbury, while
13 railroad employees were killed and
236 injured.
Casualties to passengers during the
movement Of trains, apart from rail-
road accidents. are of course much
more numerous, fact due largely to
the carelessness of the passengers
themselves. The number injured last
year in this manner was 2,132 and the
number killed 102, the average for the
previous ten years peing 1,702 injured
and 121 killed. The apparently large
increase in the number of non-fa,al
accidents to railroad employees apart
from train accidents, Is to be account
ed for by new order of the board
Of trade which now requires informa-
ton of such casualties whenever they
are OF character to cause the in
jured person to remain away from his
ordinary work for whole day. More
over, between 1904 and 1907 the num-
Der of railroad employees has increased
by about 10000. The actual killed last
year was AL and injured 5,577, while
the average in the previous ten years
was 452 killed and 1872 injured.
"The value Of automatic couplings is
proved by the fact that cf the 1S
railroad employees killed and of the
757 injured, in coupling accidents, only
one was killed and one injured in a
case in which the cars had automatic
couplings.
"The nature of the accidents in
which the 102 passengers were killed,
apart from train accidents, was as
follows: Six fell on the track or sta
lion platform and q between the train
and platform in entering or leaving.
Twelve were killed by being struck or
run over after failing off platforms, ten
met their death through crossing the
tracks at stations, 81 fell out of car
riages while the trains were running,
owing almost entirely to the way in
which English passenger coaches are
built, and 16 were killed in other ac-
cidents. Fifty persons were killed last
year and 80 injured while passing over
level crossings, although these are all
carefully watched and guarded by en-
ployes OF the company. The number
Of trespassers killed was 447, including
suicides. and 1873 were injured.
When it is remembered that there
are 23,101 miles Of railroads in the
United Kingdom, and that the total
track mileage of single lines is 39,0Os
without sidings and 1886 with sid
lngs, and that the passenger traffic is
enormous, it is to be seen that the
dangers arising from railroad travel.
Ing in the United Kingdom are indeed
slight"