Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-09-26

roads OF tho United States In the past
ten years, and up to this time Of 1910
that 1893 have been killed and injur-
ed in railroad accidents.
| Here we have the general manager
Of only enc line acknowledging what is
necessary for their road to do, or he Is
attempting to justify an increase in the
present railroad rates. But the start
ling feet remains that there has not
been but very little attempted by the
railroads in making it safe to life and
| limb in the interest of their employees,
or of the travelling public. This con-
dition Of affairs called out the follow
| ing remark which at one time was
given expression to by the interstate
| commerce commission. That the acct
dents are a worldwide reproach to
the railroad profession" w. L. Park
further stated that out Of the $4,000
miles Of railroads in the United States
only about 1929 miles of automatic
signals had been installed. only one
third OF which is west of the Missouri
river. leaving approximately 100000
miles that are indiffefently or not pro-
tected.
Now in the light Of such statements
by railroad managers isn't it about
time to call halt on hogs and the ex-
ploitation Of hog trains" and do some
thing for humanity? Would it not be
far more beneficial, even in a CONNER
cial sense If not humane one, II the
railroads would inaugurate a campaign
the object OF which would be the pro-
lection of life and prevention of accl-
dent? Why in this twentieth century
OF achievem ents they have not solved
the problem OF decent or healthful-ven-
tilation of railroad coaches. Safety
appliances have been discussed and
urged, that the employee might be bet
ter protected when operating the
trains. While some little progress has
been made these great corporations are
very negligent. And with our own
state officials eyes being blinded by
commercialism. why would 1t not be
good plan, now that there is no hog
cholera in the state, to drop the hog
and take an interest liz the child, the
future citizen?
The legislature should pass enact
ments that would empower the state
board OF health with authority to con-
troll contagious and epidemic disease
by whatsoever manner by the board
seems proper, placing at their disposal
sufficient appropriations to carry this
l.
always had the best of us on appro-
priations for when was there ever a
limit placed on expenditures Of money
to investigate hogs cholera or swine
plague? 1t Is all right to breed fine
strains of hogs. and keep disease from
the hogpen, but do not, pray. allow
| the hog to root it's way into the house
driving thoughts of danger from di-
sease to the children entirely from
| your mind You may be elbowing your
way thru the crowd that awaits the
hog train" the little "curly head that
was holding onto the second board OF
the yard fence when you left might be-
come paralyzed soon after your depart
ure and may never walk again. In
| fantile paralysis is stealing it's way
mysteriously across the state, too. but
TO signal bell is ringing. no special
schedule OF towns is written, but 1t
blights life here and takes one there,
| while the state board OF health has no
power of control or appropriation to
investigate Perhaps the reader may
have been one Of the members OF the
legislature who curtailed by his vote.
the usefulness OF the state board IN
Just such emergency; Il SO, 1t seems
| too bad to leave you alone with your
conscience The last legislature seem :
ed to think it was not necessary to dis
infect premises where there were cases
! OF tuberculosis, leaving one OF the most
prolific sources of scattering the d.
sease unrestricted. Let's swing the
pendulum of protection toward the
home, forgetting for the present to be
entirely Influenced by commercial
1885, w. s. DEvINE.