New Ulm review., 1913-03-19
Railroads Seek
Plan Of Safety
Hope By Legislation To Re-
duce L,ss Of Life Or.
Right Of Way.
More Than Five Thousand
Trespassers Killed In One
Year By Trains.

IN 5sf#s = 49, ~ :.
"A campaign of education along the
line of conservation of human life is
to be conducted along the Minnesota
division Of the Northwestern road as
we'll as ON every division of railway
c0mpanies in the United States 1t
il the object of the railways, accord
ing to Supt. ). w. Doyle, in Winona,
to acquaint the general public with
!. the appalling loss of life due to
their own carelessness in trespassing.
The rght-of-way of the railway
companies belongs to the owners of
the roads just the same as do the
private roads leading to private prop
ssty and tho individual has no more
right to use the one than he has the
other. That 10 the concrete argu-
ulsnt OF those back Of the movement
Who declare the solution alone rests
- legislation prohibiting trespassing
md providing q penalty therefor.
8nch legislation is the only thing
needed to save thousands of lives. 1t
Will cost the public nothing and will
save to 1t the vast economic loss In.
volved in the constant death of its
citizens.
Mr.. Doyle yesterday pointed to fig.
ures made available by the Inter
state Commerce commission to en-
phasize the necessity for immediate
action. During the year ending June
30, 1912, total of 318 passengers and
$685. railway employees were killed.
In the same period 5,434 trespassers
were killed by railway trains Fur
ther there is convincing proof that
these trespassers were principally
workers-not tramps or hoboes.
THE very fact that the railway com.
panies stretch over large territory
and invade even the remote sections
Of the country, is making them a
good medium for the spreading of |
this campaien. The employees of the |
railways will urge the necessity of |
this legislation. which will effectively
keep persons of the, cOmpanies prop |
thousands Of other persons will be.
come acquainted and urge upon the
representatives and senators at Wash.
ington the need Of LEGISLATION of this
nature. Effective work will be done
on the Minnesota division of the
h-Western road which has head.
quarters in Winons. ~.
"This fearful loss of life and limb
can be checked only by the interven.
tion of the law making and the law
enforcing powers" is the slogan. BY
states, the figures show that there
were killed In three years ending
June 30 1912. a total OF 1921 tres.
psasers and 10.073 were injured. Five
Aundred eiehty.two Of the killed were
under eighteen. 6,023 were over eight.
cen and 1916 were non-classified az
to age.
"When you look at the statistics
it Is hardly belieyable that in as high
q civilized country. as ours such
things are permitted" reads 4 state
went anent this matter. But the
and the. parents of these
minors arparentlv take no action to
prevent this fearful roll Of death and
misery that is occurring every day
and everv hour on the railroads or ,
tilia country. .-:.
"The railroads themselves cannot
take any preventative measure for
Ire reason that they have no law
back Of them giving them the right I
Or authority to exclude trespassers
fom their proDerty."
There ia fund Of constructive ar
yument relative to this menacing sit. I
iation prevalent in this country and I
he railroads are prepared to do {
heir share to rednce the enormous
waste Of human life brought about 4
brough the carelessness of the hu. E
mans themselves. The awakening of n
interest and the startling figures un.
will bring thousands of
lreent messages to congress to clotbe
he railways with the power to keep
rom their property. under severe
'enaity provided in federal law, any 81
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