Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-02-01
NO SUCH THING
AS SAFE PLACE
Insurance Statistics Show Surprising
FactS-Accidents in Homes Ont.
number Any Other Glass.

number Any Other Glass.
| Based upon the returns of compa-
MES which pay accident claims, it
| appears that home is the most un-
sale place in the world, while the
ocean steamship is the safest. This
conclusion. however, must not be
taken without analyzing the statis-
TICS and considering the fact that
nome is the place where most people
spend the greater part of their lives.
One of the accident insurance COM
panies operating throughout the
| United States reported that in 1912
the number of claims paid for acct
dents happening to policy holders at
their homes was $3.50. Claims paid
to pedestrians totaled 2,486, the next
highest number on the list. which
| would indicate that it is almost as
dangerous to 60 walking as to stay
at home. The same year 1873 per-
sons injured when travelling drew ac-
cident insurance from this company.
Railroad travel was responsible for
nearly all these accidents, these in
cident to water travel being compar-
atively few.
Years ago somebody remarked that
| it was much safer to cross the At
lantic Ocean in steamship than to
walk across Broadway in New York
when street traffic is lively. Casualty
statistics are said to attest the truth
of this statement. Several long-ex-
perienced casualty companies or &C
cident insurance concerns, Interview
ed for the Post-Dispatch Sunday Mag
azine, declared without hesitation tn.
ocean voyaging is by far the safest
mode of travelling. They base their
conclusion upon statistics.
The facetious person who once re-
marked that it is hardly safe to be
alive would eliminate the hardly"
/ If he were to revise his remark today.
Experts in life and accident insur-
ance will tell you that the automo-
bile has made life in civilized COM
munities a much more uncertain mat
ter than it was before the horseless
carriage came. Insurance statistics
show that the automobile menace is
the most serious one confronting CIV
ilization today, in its relation to the
personal safety of the individual who
ventures away from home.
Twenty-Five per cent of the aggre-
gate paid on accident policies by one
of the largest casualty companies in
the United States last year was for
accidents due to automobiles. The
st. Louis manager of this concern
has recent letter from headquarters
in which it is stated that the automo-
bile hazard is the greatest with which
insurance men have to deal and that
it is cutting down the earnings of the
company so that it has become SER
ious problem from a business stand
point.
Comparison between railroad and
water travel as to casualties makes
the water look inviting, despite the
trepidation of many timid folks who
frequently ride o ntrains, but are
afraid to go aboard boat. Figures
recently published show that In the "a
years ending in October. 1912, the
number of lives lost on railroads In
the United States reached the tre-
mendous total of 1856, 037. in the same
period 1.395.61S persons were injur-
ed on the railroad OF the United
States. This means that for every
day during the "a years 181 persons
were killed or injured, nearly eight
an hour, over every seven minutes, in
railroad operation in this country.
On the other side Of the ocean 1t
is declared that the safest place in
the world is a seat in railway train
in England. They manage their rail-
ways better than we do in the United
States. With one-te1th our mileage
but with many times our density Of
passenger travel. England has rec
cord Of fifteen months without losing
life in a train accident Parlia-
ment .compels the adoption Of the
block system everywhere. Al Off.
cial supervision Is maintained in
England which has no parallel here.
British Board OF Trade figures foz
1912 show that there was but one
fatality on British railways for each
es 100000 passengers carried during
the year. II you must ride on trains
ana desire safety, 60 to Dngland.
According to Fred A. Bishop. pres
=. A. -.