The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-14
1000 RAILROADS. most
EXPENSIVE PASSENGER
Movement on Foot Among Railroads
p Get Laws Calculated to Mimi
nlise Trespassing.
PROBLEM IS DIFFICULT ONE
Watchfulness by Trainmcn WIN Aid
In Saving Hfe.-Wcst Point Urban
ma Promoters Confer with SOUTH
ern OniC1als.

The problem OF the trespasser--tht
hobo and the boy who steals rides OF
railway trains--is discussed in Thu
Rail-oader. published at Roanoke IL
its last issue The Raflroader carries
under the head ITO Stop Trespassing.'
the following editorial:
II n understood q movement is or
foot among a number OF railroads In
this country to urge enactment OF laws
calculated TO minimize trespassing or
railroad property. This leads to the
question. what will be the most eff.
fective iesislation?" This newspaper
- Of the belief that trespassing. hobo.
Ing and similar breaches Of the Law
can be greatly minimized by more
careful vigilance Of the trainmen and
other employees in the service whose
duties 1t may be to watch out for these
Irregularities.
It II we'll enough to talk about en-.
acting laws to stop an evil. We have
. statute, based on the divine law,
prohibiting murder. But this does no,
stop murder. Nor can hoboing and
trespAssing be stopped except by care
! ful watching.
Plain clothes men and secret SER
Vice agents are kept busy apprehend-
Ing trespassers ON railroad property
They are occupied taking In" hoboes.
found on all parts OF our freight and
passenger trains. But the service OF
these officers does not do away with
the practice. The surcst means OF
doing away with It II the strict vigil
lcncs Of trainmen and yardmen. In
the old days. when the "brakey''
twisted the business for the company
with the old hand brakes. he neces-
earfly visited a large portion OF the
train. 80 II can be with the brakey
Of today. The air brake saves him
the old worry But the hobo never
ceases TO worry him.
No law on earth can prevent man
from stealing into q railroad right OF
way and catching q train under GER
tain circumstances. Experienced
trainmen know where these men
usually ride. What will = careful in
spection result In?
AZ to tho hobo. he Is found in two
general ciasses--the element that
means nothing to the world, and run
away boys, who. II they have chance.
often can be developed into good citi-
Gems.
We see an account OF the hobo kill
ed In a wreck. Unidentified. neEH-
gible. without name. without worth,
he passes into the shadow OF death.
ana nOtHlNk IS tHuuEHt hbbul IL IAt
come writer says every man liz loved
somewhere by some one The SNUFF
finc out of life means something TO
a parent or A wife and children, The
hoba may mean small part Of the
worlds activities but ne means
enough to be prevented from run
ming any danger. In this respect the
tra'rmen can assume responsibility
Of lasting good IL they are watchful.
careful and as Interested in this phase
Of railroad problem as they are in
the safety. time and value OF their
trains and their own lives. Laws may
be passed affecting trespa ssing in .
large measure. but II will never be
effective without the greater need OF
the careful trainman-
Under this head. however. II IL not
intended that the trainmen must be
held responsible for hoboing. heca use
he is not. There are many evils ana
malrractices that get by the best OF
peace officers and authorities: bur
whether the roads cause to be en-
acted new laws and regulations or
NOT. the heaviest weapon against no.
boing la vsgilence, and the surest way
of preventing trespassing IL continued
wa.chfulness.
The hobo is the railroads most ex-
pensive and decidedly the most annoy
ing passenger.