Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-12-20
SAFETY, THE PARAMOUNT RULE
FOR RAILROADS TO FOLLOW


Commerce Commissions annual report in which
safety is insisted upon the paramount rule for
train operation. There are countries where rail
road accidents are exceedingly rare; and, though
this is the of general record in the Uni
ted States. there here some few lines or systems
that go from year to year without accident OF
serious character or consequence. 1t would seem
evident then, that such showing can be made uni
form, If all carriers observe, are compelled to
observe, certain precautions which many of them
now ignore
The Commissions report sets forth the appalling
facts that in the United States this year there
have been one hundred and eighty thousand, one
hundred and twenty casualties on steam railroads
that ten thousand five hundred and eighty-hve per-
sons were killed and hundred and sxty-nine
thousand, FIVE hundred and thirty-eight injured.
This record represents increase of one hundred
and eightynine in fatalities and of nineteen thou
sand, three hundred and seventy-nine in accidents
over the preceding ewelve months.
Had all these deaths and injuries befallen from
single disaster such that of the Titanic, the ma
ton would have been overwhelmed and public senti
ment would have demanded drastic reform In
train operations, just it demanded far-reaching
reforms in the matter of liners But the TACT
that more than ten thousand lives were sacrlnceo
in the course of year instead of in the course OF
an hour and that this tragic loss distributed
dramatic event in wise lghtens the common dis
tress that was entailed lessons the responsibility
which somewhere ano somehow was shirked
Il is Just as imperative that Congress enact ade-
quate laws prevent continuance of such record
as it was for Congress to probe the wreck of the
Titanic and to prescribe more stringent rules for
the safety of steamship passengers
The Commission points out that many of the
railroad accidents it Investigated could have been
of dina anti mr.
use of protective devices or in number of cases. by
the proper upkeep of tracks and equipment. OF the
eight thousand two hundred and fifteen derailments
during the year, one thousand, eight hundred and
seventyseven were caused the Commission states by
defective roadways and three thousand, eight hun
dred and forty-seven by defective equipment And
the report adds with poignant suggestiveness, that
investigations already begun have proceeded far
enough to indicate the need of more effective meas
than thus far have been taken TO secure saIet
of railroad travel"
To see that such measures are prescribed and
that the means for their enforcement made am
ple is one of the most important duties resting
upon Congress.
In one serious derailment, the Commissions in
ouiry showed that in the vicinity of the accident
there we're nine hundred and six roton ties within
a distance of one hundred and forty-seven rail
lengths Such negligence on the part of railroad
continues there wer> as many eleven bad ties
and under each of rails there were twelve ties
SO badly decayed and broken to be totally unfit
for service In many of these ties the spikes were
so loose they were easily removed. by hand, the
wood no longer having any holding power" What
a commentary is this upon the management of that
particular road! What demand for thoroughgoing
and speedy legislation in behalf of public safety!
A public service corporation that touches the
Of Wits lIx
railroad can find no excuse and should find toll
erance when it neglects obvious and simple safe
guards against peril to human life.
If it is important that a railroad deal justly
with the public as regards rates and kindred mat
tiers, it is infinitely important that it deal
Justly and cautiously with the safety and the lives
of its passengers.
Foresighted and really progressive railroads real
ize this truth and 1t is gratifying to note that in
own section many of them acting accordingly.
But the evidence adduced by the Interstate Com
merce Commission makes it clear that in numer-
Gus instances there is apparently wanton and
certainly criminal disregard of the rulec OF safety
in train operations.
Both the federal and the State government,
where the latter has Jurisdiction should take these
conditions vigorously in hand and see to it that the
terrible record to which the Commission has called
notice is reduced.
There is no doubt about Woodrow Wilson's ability
to speak out when the occasion demands.
promise is something you should keep when
you give it.
The win of the people has disheartened many
candidate
PROETTT ECC CCPTIRC