The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-14

Greatest Danger.
In fact, since the main notes for this
article were taken-the Interstate Com
merce Commission has issued fuller
data showing that you are In no
greater danger OF death from railway
accidents than from freezing to death,
SO long as you are riding on e ticket.
Indeed, the danger to your life from
automobiles is nearly double. from suf-
location over three times. from heat
or sunstroke. nearly four times, from
firearms over four times, from poison
or gas over seven times as great.
1t is the railway employe and the
individual who walks on the railroad
or otherwise trespasses on railway
property who run the death average
from railroad accidents away up In
G. Out of every 3,5oo,0oo railroad
proved to be ticket to the realm
from which no traveller returns. And
one black ticket out of 100000 white
ones Is not so bad a chance In this
lottery which we call life! And ac-
cording to these latest figures OF our
great railway tribunal one-sixth less
victims were killed by the iron horse
last year than in the twelvemonth
before. In fact. fewer tombstones
S1S&s 1S1l III Jus aWdhe OF LHlS monster
last year than in any similar period
since 1909.
Water and IRE Our Worst Foes.
Tho water kills more Of US than
any other accidental agency, except the
iron steed. Out OF every 10o,0eo OF us
Americans. thirteen and half are
killed on the rail and nearly ten and
q half by drowning, not including
suicides.
These census figures include only
drowned persons whose bodies come
under the jurisdiction OF our coroners
PEE ple who go boating and bathing
In our inland waters or along our
coast lines. also those whose corpses
the sea gives up and lays upon our
foaming beaches.
Fire Is ranked next in this census
count Of death perils, and as far as
the general public is concerned this
and Its sister element, water, can
reasonably be classed as our chief
causes Of violent death. In counting
the deaths due to fire are included not
only those sacrificed to the flames
direct, but those due to scalding. Your
danger OF death from fire. or both Of
these forms. Is about four-fifths OF
Your; peril Of dying from water, and
OF course, am addr essing you as the
average American, as must through
out this discourse. More than eight
out OF every 100000 ofus are burned
or scalded to death per annum, but In
the last four years flames have licked
up an average of s26s.00o,00 worth Of
our property per annum, accord
ing to the national board Of UNDER
writer's This fearful tribute in life
and wealth IS being looked into by Fl. |
NJ. Wilson, chief engineer Of the new
80 ~, y 4 ! ,rv,l
our predonlinance of frame houses, as
compared with those Of foreign coun-i
tries. and also upon the faulty con-
struction OF American builders.
.The list OF causes OF ares,' says he.l
us headed by defective chinneys,I
iflues,8 freplaces and heating and light
ing apparatus, all Of them faults OIL
Construction and equipment"
Il Most foreign cities, he ADDS, posi-
lively forbid frame buildings withinl
their limits, and they are few within
whereas the great majority OF our
houses and many Of our factorias and
warehouses are built Of lumber. The
fact that nearly a fourth OF our fires
are reported blythe authorities as OIL
unknown orr GIN" he adds, Indicates
forcibly the listless attitude not only
of the general public toward this
waste, but also OF the men directlySI
charged with protecting property"
Such seedlings do good. aud let there;|
be more such from men who would
reduce your dangers. VII
Great Peril Little suspec ted.
FIX Injuries at BIRTH which the FCan.nssS
Bureau ranks under External vio-
5lence.. Is the next greatest cause , 81
death in hisrcountry, ana It IA mt
g ,tlattering tribute to American sur SUI,
geEy mat ], more Of are annually
killed In this manner than BY trolley
cars or explosive weapons. The IN.
nual death cate Of our 6littla ones ,
fatally hurt while entering the world
! J, mea " seven csc per hundred,
thousand. or Very nearly as great as
that Of persons burned and scalded
e. death (S.a Here, Inc eed, 10 q con-
al y ] n surp ana appalls Us,
:. Wnlcn 9 greater bearing than
We ever Ina 9 ined from the problems
related to the conaarvat Ion q 81 our
Spopula tion. Over 4, 600 title s lives q s