Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-04-25

present total net capitalization. The
object Soneht Is 10 protect passcn-
gers and employees. The number OF
railway passengers killed during the
last ten years vas 4,S40. There was
no' q single year OF the ten years
when the number OF tFespassers kill
ed did not exceed the total nUmbe.
Of passengers killed in all OF thu
ten years. Furthermore. the number
OF employees killed during this period
Is twO-thirds as great as the num-
Der OF tresrassers. Indeed, the num-
Der OF trespassers killed has con-
siderl5ly exceeded the total mum.
Der OF all other classes of persons.
inducing employees, passengers.
those meeting death at highway
crossings, etc. If a wreck should take
place tomorrow. in which fourteen
people should die, the news OF II
would be widely printed over the
country. Now, II the average for the
last zen years is still holding good.
fourteen people we're killed yesterday
while tresspassing on the railways.
whose deaths we're wholly unaeces-
sary. and under proper laws might
have been avoided. Fourteen were
killed To-Day; and fourteen will be
killed tomorrow: and yet chiefly be-
cause these fourteen people who are
killed daily meet their deaths in four
teen different places, almost no pub
lie notice is taken nor concern mani.
tested. The railroads are constantly
making efforts TO keep the publ.
from trespassing upon rights OF way
where danger Of death and injury is
always present, but without public
support through passage OF adequate
laws. and firm enforcement OF them.
these terrible statistics show how
futile the efforts Of RAILWAYS are.
Lawmakers and commissions are
Justified In imposing On the railways
reasonable regulations TO promote
public safety But does II not seem
that one OF the most important and
necessary means of safety lies in the
regulation OF the public in this in.
discriminate use OF railroad premi-
SEES and that for this purpose public
authorities should give attention TO
and take action regarding the main
cause OF fatal accidents on railways?
This main cause, as the figures :
have given show is that people per-
sist, as the Interstate Commerce Com
mission SAYS In its latest accident bull
letin. in trespassing on the property
OF the railways. principally while
walking on the tracks or stealing
rides on trains and they persist IN
doing so because proper laws 70 pre-
vent this sort Of intrusion on railway
property are not passed. and courts
and police officers do not enforce
such laws where they exist
Trespassing on railway property.
which is almost universal In the Unit
ed States. Is a cause Of great trouble
and expense To the railways. II is
constantly necessary for trainmeu to
stop trains 10 put off people who are
stealing rides or TO keep from run
ming down those who are walking on
the tracks Oftentimes trainmen be
come involved in fights with tres
pagsers and are injured or killed by
them. The tramps who infes' rail
way tracks yards cars and right o.
way start fires which DESTROY prop
ertv OF great aggregate value and
commit depredations upon railway
property and that of the public en-
trusted 70 carriers for transpOrta-
ton. Trespassers often NEEDLE with
switches or signal lirhts. or put oh
structions on the track in such a wav
as 10 cause serious train accidents
For these reasons the railways aud
their patrons are entitled to have
laws passed and enforced which will
stop this almost uniycrsay practice.
Finally. trcspassing ought 10 De- abol-
ished for the protection OF those who
participate in Il. II II is worth while
Tor the railways to spend millions OF
dollars for block signals to stop col
lisioEs, when the total number OF
personals annually killed In collis-
ions is only about 100 Is il no.
worth while for the governments To
take some action 20 stop the evil o.
trespassing which costs an average n
over 1900 lives annually
All that is necessary to rtor II IS
to recognize the fact that the prom.
erty Of railways. excepting places pro-
viied for pTblc use, can never d.
otherwise than a place of danger for
those WAC have no business on il and
10 pass and enforce laws for the puY.
ishment Of those who intrude Eron r.
This is done IN foreign countries. and
Is one OF he main reasons why the
number Of fatalities On foreign rail
wars Is less In proportion than on
the railways of the United States
Representatives OF the railways re-
peatedly hav" appeared before legis
latures to ask LEGISLATION dealing
with this subject. and innumerable
tines they have had trespassers ar
restee. But little progress seems 10
have been made in securing TIE pas
sage and enforcement OF proper laws