The Washington herald., 1910-05-29
BY CRYSTAL EASTMAN.

This is tho second Of series Of articles taken
from Miss Eastman's book. Work Accidents and
the law
The railroad history Of Allegheny
County for a year Is a record Of ac-
complishment and efficiency, thrilling in
its magnitude. Each Of the three rivers
is lined on both sides with shining tracks
Stand on some rugged hilltop and count
the cars as they roll in and out Of the
Pittsburg district. Iron ore. 100000 tons
a year, coming down from the Great
Lakes. and countless carloads Of coke and
limestone 10 mix with II in the furnaces:
trains hurryfng out in every direction.
nearly 5000 cars day, loaded with Pitts
burg products. steel rails and plates and
beams and bridges, Westinghouse ma
chinery. And then 100000 tons OF coal.
the output OF Allegheny mines for a year
To the outsider, this is a marvel, this
almost Unbroken succession OF smooth
rolling trains. But the initiated know
how much greater a marvel is accom-
plished in the yards. There are twenty
two Of these great receiving, distribut-
ing. dispatching centers IN the county;
ten immense ones outside the city where
space is unlimited. twelve within the city
boundaries. where the intricate opera
tons are complicated by crowdlng.
Add 10 this enormous freight traffic
the hundreds Of trainIoads OF passengers
that move In and out Of Pittsburg' s
half-dozen downtown depots IN a day,
carrying the East and West through pas
sengers Of one OF the worlds greatest
trunk lines and an army OF commuters,
and we get some idea Of what the rail-
roads mean 10 Allegheny County. The
railroads serve all. from the humblest
10 the most exalted. so constantly. so
faithfully, that they have become 20
society what the power OF motion is 70
the individual.
But our view OF the railroads is not
complete until We 80 % each Of the un-
protected grade crossings, many OF them
four tracked OF more, in Pittsburg and
its environing towns. Here Il Is a tale
OF confusion. terror. and sudden death.
We must also 90 10 the small rough room
In the basement Of the Union station.
where a leather couch waits for its bur
den. never empty for more than a few
hours. We must pass through the rail-
road wards OF the hospitals and see the
injured there. must stand al the gates
Of the hospitals and see the manned and
mutllated go forth 70 meet the commiser-
ating glances the world casts upon q
one-armed man or man with wooden
leg.
Il IS the best American manhood in It's
youth and strength that we sacrifice
daily IN the cause Of transportation. OF
the 125 railroad men, conductors, brake
men. yardulen. &c. killed iu active serv-
Ice In Allegheny County during the year
under consideration, seventy-seven were
under thirty. and only thirteen over forty.
EiEhty-nine were Americans.
Probably the work Of a yard brake
man more continuously and inevitably IN
wolves risk 10 life and limb than any
other trade. unless il be that Of the ac-
robat, in which risk taken is a part Of
the commercial end Itself. The 12-hOUr
working day or night OF yard brake
man IS an almost continuous performance
Of what would be "feats" Of skill and
daring to an ordinary man. The atten-
ton must not flag II he IS TO accomplish
his work and avoid injury
RAHROADERS KILLED ~ ONE YEAR