The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-11-27
From Tuesdays Daily.


be wiped out. Such was the key
note of the meeting OF the safety
committee Of the Minnesota divisions
of the Chicago and Northwestern rail-
way. held late yesterday at the Man
kato city hall.
Present ut this meeting were the
following: NJ J. Boyle, Winona,
superintendent OF the Minnesota di-
vision. and chairman of the commit
tee: II. J. Wagon, general agent, WI
mona: c. Coleman, master mechanic,
Winona: w. J. jackson. division en-
gineer, Winona; X. Kearney, road
master, Mankato: c. l.. Young, dis
trict claim agent, Huron: ]. G. Perry,
travelling agent. Mankato: j. Deg
nan. road foreman of engines, Vase
ca: p. Copeland, assistant superin'
tendent of the Omaha, st. James:
i. A. Burchell. superintendent OF the
Waseca shops: G.. II. Reedfield, car
foreman. Mankato: A. II. LeonhartZ,
interstate safety appliance inspector,
ST. Paul: j. English, o. Schultz, II.
Harders. o. Dornack, II. ]. Dielke.
W. Z. Johnston, p. II. Pendergast
W. l.. Liebe. w. J. Splitter, c. l..
Harrison. G. II. Zeites. Mr.. Miller, c.
H. Johnson, w. r. Spornitz and Nj.
Presnall.
Some brief, concise and highly
impressive literature was distributed
among those present. One colored
chart showed that during the three
years ending June so, 1914, two
hundred and two employees of the
Chicago and Northwestern had been
killed. OF these 1876 or 9l.6 per
cent were the victims OF little acct
dents that could have been prevented
in less time than IL took to report
them. Seventeen, or ST. per cent,
were killed in collisions or derail-
ments. Many other statistics were
given, all showing the same general
truth. namely, that nearly all the
accidents, i'm which persons have
been killed or injured. could be
readily preventable by the exercise
of due care, and only a small frac-
ton of the accidents are unavoid-
able.
A printed report from r. c. Rich
ards OF Chicago. father of the safety
first movement, and chairman OF
the Central Safety committee of the
Chicago and Northwestern, was dis
tributed. II contained a statement
showing a reduction in the number
of accidents on the Chicago and
Northwestern railway for the fifty.
two months ending October 81, 1914.
as compared with fifty-two months
ending June so, 1910, before safety
first committees were organized. IL
showed $50 fewer persons killed. a
decrease of 23.1 per Cent and TO-
95l fewer persons injured, de-
crease Of 2i.S per cent. This Is the
more striking I'm view of the fact
that the mileage of this system on
June 80. 1914, was S,40S.31, COM
pared with 1884 on June so, 1910.
Chairman Boyle stated that Mr.
Richard would probably address the
meeting OF this committee In Janu'
airy and IL would be indeed inter
esting TO hear what he would have
10 say. There would be instruction
and entertainments as well. That
meeting might be held in Mankato.
May different kinds of unnecessary
risks in the handling of railroad
traffic were enumerated in written
reports that Mr.. Boyle read. Some
spoke of children making use of
the right-of way of the railroad as a
highway and thus endangering their
lives. Others spoke of engineers
failing TO whistle on approaching
railroad, street or road crossings.
Others brought out the fact that
very often employees of shippers and
receivers were injured while working
in or around cars that were being
switched.
Many other interesting points were
brought out I'm the discussion. One
report was of a switchman. who,
after turning the switch for an ap-
preaching engine, ran in front OF II
and over upon the next track. not
noticing the approach Of another en-
CINE on that, as his attention was
fixed on the engine he was serving
The result was that he was killed
The discussion brought out the fact
that this is a very common blunder
on the part of switchmen, and has
resulted In many deaths and injuries
Another point that causes no little
comment was that of elevator men
tying ropes to the iron hand-holds
on freight cars and pulling them
by machiery Ito such positions as
they desired. The result was that
these hand-holds were often much
weakened. rendering them very dan
gerous for future use.
Another bad practice that was dis
Cussed to a considerable extent was
that Of elevators leaving their grain
spouts sticking out from the build
ings instead OF taking them In after
using them. -.... .....
c. l.. Young. Huron, district claim
agent, laid great stress on the enor
nous loss OF life resulting from
trespassing. He showed that dur
ing the last twenty-four years los,
00s persons had been killed and III,
PSI injured, in walking on track.
or dipping on cars, In the United
States. or these 225.266 victims
149,163 were citizens of the locality
where the accidents occurred, these
amounting to sixty-six per cent oI
the total; 3l,0i9 or fourteen per cen,
were children under fourteen years Of
age and 45,054 or twenty per cen
were tramps and hoboes. Thus the
greatest toll OF life came from the
producing class.
Chairman Boyle also emphasized
the danger OF trespassing He alsC
said that any railroad employee motto
ing another engage in any kind OF .
. dangerous practice should report tha
practice at once. The one doinf
the reporting need not be afrait