Strike bulletin. (Clinton, Ill.) 1913-1915, 1914-07-15
WLROADS KILLED 10,15Q.
MOSTLY EMPLOYEES IN
US. LAST YEAR
,scAL INDEMNITY WOULD AMOUNT
TO SOL, l so, 900 IF COLLECTED
.silFN FIRST cHmPAi6R> m VAN
ny ARTHUR SEARS HENNlNC


WASHINGTON. d. C. July l5.-(Spe.
a.l)-lf the railroads of the United States
vse to pay the maximum legal indemnity
4 10000 for each life they took during
II year ending June 80 last they would dis
kr Sl0I. so. 900 to widows. orphans and
sshes dependents OF the victima
n. report railway accidents for the last fiscal
y.ar nov being prepared by the Interstate Com
nero. Commission discusses a death roll of io.i5o
psrsons the gr,at'r- number Of whom were en-
,ey,s During III. period iso goo persons
vsrs injured In railroad accidents.
cOnfronted hy This graphic evidence OF the dead
lines, Of the American railroad the commission has
tseided that radical steps must be taken to achieve
Q greater measur" of safety for employees and for
he travelling public Although the efforts Of the
osanissoh =" far have resulted In some progress
b the direction Of safety first" the improvement
shown by IN. Official figures to be slight For
~ last fiscal year the number of Killed was only
~ less than for the previous year
A Rs.S. Mn 3is.sss D. ss Year.
pssihG the last twenty five years more than 3io.
- persons have been killed on American railros.s
- more than 100000 injured The property loss
~ to wrecks since 1907 totals S52. oee. zoe
The rsssges OF war pale into insignifcance be-
~ 'hese siisht Ihuitaiions OF the destruction OF
human life accompanying the peaceful operations
q osr railroads. said official OF the commits
sion, discussing the forthcoming report
The causes OF death and injury are legion They
ne'sde dersilmens, collisions boiler explosions and
maasirAl accidents to employees
Ihere 10 dreafy monotony In the sameness OF
ne reported cases of these accidents, says a re-
eof' OF the COMMISSION Year after year derAil-
oes,s and collisions du. to Identical causes are
r,sned"
as.s "f Ni~ss.ss are Eosssyes.
Vadsr the present Law. railroads are required to
0p~t e> telegraph To the commission all accidents
10 which human life Is lost There more
psosss Killed Than passengers. many employs los
ms "sH hN.s IN the operation of trains In rail-
nsd Yards In wrecks more passengers than
p'olss ar. Killed There are a surprisingly large
nsmeef 81 trespass.rs killed Amer railroads
,snxers
Inc Interstate Commerce Commission ls doing all
can und-f present laws to prevent accidents
u pf~serlh.s safriy appliances and .nforees the
shi'h limit the hours OF servic. OF train em-
so''s ahd Telegraph operators. This law was
rssa h1 '"hgt,~s when 1t wass hown that many
',s's N"re dnr IN the oVrrworking OF train crews.
"ftA' speed has been developed on American
.oaas i1fihs the last decade. and this speed
.' .'s I" De III difference tn public demand. The
sn' OF trains has increased TO such extent
80 u nas caused terrific wear ON steel rails. not
s'h'andins tn. tnereas. in III. weight and sire
49,, isis len Years ago rails of less than 100
'""s were iafg"b used on American roads
ftsd Des-~ss II Rail.
~" IN" prevailing rail weighs 100 pounds to
~ thfA-siN inches and ON the large systems
main Inc rail weighs ii0 pounds To the yard.
e recent trating before the Interstate COM
-. commission samuel Res. president Of the
s"s,iN ANA system. stated that the fennsylyani
main lines ~ " ' '' " 80
4. 'ae hish sleei 81 trains has developed a defect
A., HhHt Is dangerous. particularly the
i. :, 'ahh"l Ia" detected under present methods
A ~ mAkahE ef IN" rhil or after IL Is completed.
m. HAh fluu1ng at u high speed develops
n,, ''' hha Hlttmattly u deraiiment takes plac"
m aus Jos Ht NE and injury many persons.
n. 80 Us WI ts known as transverse fissuTe
'i' Al 'ai t#llz Tor better mill practice. the
g.. VI tnut~siau say. and thea are nov
$3.50 on . =rfl"= of tests fhat may result IN
States "aNi"e '' '"i's IA the 'h''ed
~.,aeNer a Rrt,k l. reported 10 IN. cnmnIss ion
ma 'hNet'.s ihe l"sa of life Investigation Is
Ii.s, "s lhsi" iefs n possible and a report pub
.,,,l ihis "nls the matter So far the gov
'"ment Is concerned
ss"ps"i~. ignore Reeows M = .assioss
fam ,hins besides publicity, the commission has
for, '' experience. Is necessary to effect n re-
s,s,, epe'Nist 10 large extent the physical op-
N. n m OF railroads This authority would include
ar,.s s'neing Of signals and equipment. the char
4 -, fails compulsory of steel coaches and
in. ,.v OF other precautionary measures. includ-
' regulation Of speed.
Tho Dell Dufe: