The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-07-05
sLlEER,s COOP SENSE.

In recent issue of The Gate City
we quoted some admirable advice Civ
en- by Mr.. II. ]. Slifer, general man
ager of the Chicago Great Western
railway, to the employees OF that COM
pany. The same circular discusses in
thoughtful vein the killing of live
stock on the right of way Manager
Siifer points out that the road is loser
and no one is gamer by this slaugh-
ter. He rightly holds that often the
farmer is partly to blame but he holds
railroad employees equally responsible
and urges more carefulness. In con-
clusion he points out that live stock
are dividend producers to the rail-
road and the killing of cattle. sheep,
| hogs or horses is therefore a loss to
1.-The road in more ways than one. Mr..
Slifer addresses the letter to engi-
neers, maintenance of way men, and
Istation employees and says:
Last year the Chicago Great West
ern spent on an average of $49.39 per
day in settlement of claims for live
stock killed on right-of-way, or tosal
of S1S,02S.S4
Who profited by the expenditure of
! this money?
The farmer? No, If his claim was
ian honest and conscientious one, he
was simply paid for what he lost
| the animal was replaced. Nothing adj
ded to his wealth.
The Company? Decidedly no! On
| the contrary the company sustained
loss-or waste. Something was paid
4 for, which was not received; money
thrown away which might have been
used to better advantage.
Enginemen? Assuredly no! In
many instances they ran the risk of
killing an innocent animal and depriv-
ing the owner of his property.
4 NJ. of w. men? Certainly not! On
the other hand, they had the addition
al work of removing the carcasses
and explaining how it happened that
the animals We're upon the right-of-
way.
Station employees? No. Many would
say: This is none of our business"
but is this so?
i Then who in the world did benefit
by the payment of this large sum of
money? No one. What good was
accomplished TO humanity as whole
or TO an individual? None whatever.
Who was responsible for the accL
; dents resulting in this loss?
The farmers? Perhaps in some cas-
es. They may have been careless
about farm crraassing gates-not seeing
, that they were closed at all times
when not in use. or in other ways
: enabling live stock to get upon the
rightof-way.
Enginemen? Not always, but fire.
quently.
NJ. of w. men? Some of you may
have been careless at times.
Station employees? You are not ex-
2 empt, and perhaps had hand in it.
The remedy: Farmers could dc
much to help us out of this predica-
, ment, but We Of course, have no con
: troll over their actions
Englnemen might avoid many an
: accident personal injury, damage to
. equipment, or claim, By a eau
u tious; by a closer scrutiny the
roadway where live stock are apt to
be found; by generous use of whistle
a when necessary, (there are no whistle
>. ordinances where cattle roam): by
a bringing trains to a stop rather than
!. taking chances by approaching too
closely or rapidly. Many a confused
u steer once driven from the rails and
confined to the narrow limits of the
Iflsht.of-way Will return to the track
IS When the train approaches or run
e on TO a trestle or cattle guard, there
10 TO meet its fate.
lie NJ OF w men should ser. that cattle
guards and wing fences are kent in
!. good condition; also right.of-way
y fences. See that farm crossing gates
= are kept closed when not in use: II
At habltually let open, call farmers, at.
r tention to it in polite and courteous
IS manner. instruct your men; you may
t. nave class of employees who do moi
:. fully understand the importance 81
p these matters.
Station employees: Don't say, this