The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-20
Kansas Comment
WALKING ON THE TRACKS.

WALKING ON THE TRACKS.
In 1913 there were 497 persons killed
and $50 injured while trespassing ON
the property of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road company. OF the number killed
ESQ were unidentified and most of them
were tramps. Against the practice OF
these gentry in taking to trains or the
ties there IL little use In protesting.
and even with severe application OF
laws when they are apprehended and
getting rid Of them. But when 1t is
pointed out that the other z47 who met
death were useful citizens, IL OF them
women. and that the injured necessar-
lily included a large proportion OF the
same kind. the serious loss to the COM
munity growing out Of railroad treapass
IL apparent. In the long roll of tres
passers killed thus last year were
farmers, bankers. glass workers. car
penters, coachmen. fishermen. laborers.
millworkers, miners, shoemakers, team
sters, coke drawers. and people engag-
ed in other vocations. It il utterly i'm
practicable for the railroads to police
their rights of way, and in this age OF
intelligence It ought not to be neces-
sary to point out the dangers Of track
walking and train jumping. So the
slaughter goes on. the fault not being
with the railroads. but with foolhardy
folk, who, to save little time or suit
their own notions Of convenience, put
themselves in Jeopardy. One factor
initiating against efforts to discourage
ana punish trespassfnE Is found among
local authorities. and particularly
among those in charge Of county
finances in some sections They object
to the expense incurred in maintaining
prisoners committed for invading rail-
road property. and thus there IL en-
couraged feeling that It is perfectly
permissible to use the right Of way or
anything else that is accessible for tho
accommodation OF the public without
let or hindrance. Possibly when atten-
ton is called to the continued and in
creasing sacrifice Of life resulting from
these abuses and the consequent eco
nomic loss some advance In reducing
casualties can be accomplished. The
railroads are doing all they can to rid
themselves OF q nuisance which IL both
expensive and distressing.--PittAbur
Gazette Times.
WANTS AN INCH-TfiICK PIE.
A st. Louis paper has started q new
reform and demands that the minco
pie be made an 'nch thick. We Join
the reformers and urge that there be
a regulation imposed on tho pie
making contingent to the effect that
more space be provided between this
crusts for the filling. In olden times
there were no low-ceiling pies az there
are in these degenerate days. Then the
ceilings were high, letting in lots Of
sunlight, JOY. and glory. One Of these
little low-ceiling pies. with only .
streak Of goodness in them. does not
respond to the unfettered soul. It rep
resents a low and beggard existence.
whether It is mince. apple. blackberry.
or peach: and even IL II II q pumpkin.
1t needs the whole inch to itself. We
have seen pies half an inch thick, and
yet We send thousands Of dollars
abroad to christianize the heather.
and SPEND It In constructing pies with
lofty ceilings. High ceilings induce
lofty aspirations: and 30 an inch pie 10
a sort Of moral reform.-Ohio State
journal