Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-01-21
DEATH TOLL
1886 people Met Death on Pennsy's
Tracks BY Walking or Crossing
Same During Pas. Ten Years

Trespassng on Pennsylvania Rail
read Systems property In violation OF
the law has caused the deaths VI 1896
people approximately two a day
since January /, 1900. In the same
time 1888 people have been injured as
a result OF trespassing. These facts
are brought out in the records up 10
January /, 1911.
In 1907, when 916 people were Kill
ed while trespassing on Pennsylvania
Railroad property, the management oil
that company inaugurated a campaign
to educate the public to the dangers
of trespassing. The cooperation OF
city and county authorities was invit-
ed, and wide publicity was given to
the efforts the company was making
to put an end to this evil which was
annually costing so many people their
lives. As a result of the efforts Of It's
officers and employees, the number OF
trespassers killed on the Pennsylvania
Railroad In 1908 was 743, a reduction
OF 173, or more than Is per ce1t The
railroads activities in this direction
were redoubled in 1909 and again was
the death roll for trespassing reduced
10 633, or about 10 per cent There
has been a reduction Of &c per cent.
in the last four years, as records for
1910 just completed show that $50
deaths resulted from trespassing on
Pennsylvania Railroad property.
In waging war on trespassing, the
Pennsylvania management has posted
its right Of way with signs warning
people against using railroad tracks
rs thoroughfares. Division officers
have co.operated with their local
newspapers in giving publicity to the
awful results Of trespassing. The gen
eral managers Of the different lines OF
the system have been unceasng IN ]
calling to the attention of their staff
officers the cessity for showing the
public that while it is a rare occur !
renee that passengengers on trains
suffer any injury, it is equally true
that thousands of people trespassing
on railroad property in violation Of
the law are killed every year, or are
MANNED for life
Having succeeded in decreasing the !
practice Of trespassing on its lines. /
the Pennsylvania system Is now pre-
paring to conduct an evea more ag- |
gressive campaign during 1911. Tracks |
will be reposted with warning notices,
the enactment of stringent laws will |
L. faA i -affi 10 - nd
rloys Of the railroad system will be |
asked to lend his assistance to de- !
crease still further the number Of
deaths resulting from trespassing on
property of the Pennsylvania system, |
including the Pennsylvania railroad
Island railroad Cumberland Valley
railroad. Baltimore Chesapeake & At
lantic railway, Maryland, Delaware &
Virginia railway. Pennsylvania lines
west of Pittsburg, Vanda!ia railroad,
and the Grand Rapids & Indiana rail-
way.
The renew and dligent efforts the
Pennsylvania railroad is making to
stop trespassing will be measurably
influential, the management believes,
IN arousing the public to realization
that in railroad accidents it is the in
diyiduai who loses his life, than which
there can be no greater sacrifice. Dis
cussilg yesterday the dangers of
trespassiug, an officer cf the Pennsyl-
vana said: The railroads may be
penalized by payments in money, but
the individuals or citizens penalty is
the supreme one of life, which, mani
festly. is the highest duty Of the State
to protect by such legislation as VIII
tend to prevent trespassing on rail-
roads. Probably the public is indiffer-
ent because each individual thinks he
viii not be hurt, but among the 9th
or moral awake nines that are taking
place, perhaps the meaning of this
great sacrifice of life can be brought
home