The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-12

SpOnEf D1iffy Tor what the off1csrs or
employees of the railroad do or omit.
bat recalling that railroad empioye
whose careiessness causes an acci-
dent il in the public Interest, sub
5ect TO discipline which affects hts
livelihood. 1t il probably Tair to say
that a large proportion of these ac-
cidents happened solely through the
carelessness OF the drivers OF auto
mobiles, or their lack of experience
In dealing with vehicles al high speed
There are among them also well au-
thentscatsd cases of deliberate as
sum ption of risk by the drivers OF
automobiles from pure love of excite
ment and speed. evidenced by racing
with trains and seeking the thrill OF
narrow escape. Our enginemen re-
port such occurrences daily. II for
tunately they are without fatal con-
sequences In the great ma jority OF
cases, they are always paid for by
heavy strain on the nerves of all con-
cerned. particularly those OF the To-
connective engineer. who maintains
speed from duty and not for fun. 1t
Ia not too much 10 CLAIM for the To-
connective engineer a. larger equipment
OF experience and greater habit OF
Iprecaution than the average automo-
bile driver. AS a class. the locomotive
sentative men of long experiences In
meeting and avoiding risks. for theirs
Ia dangerous occupation. Their
every effort of character, of instruc-
ton and of interest ia avoid an ac-
cident. Most of the accident TO auto
mobiles at railway grade crossings
could be avoided If there was the same
restraint OF experience and intention
at the wheel OF the automobile as at
the throttle OF the locomotive.
Companies Foot Bill.
IT does not suffice the public I'm any
moral sense that the fund made up
of the revenues collected by the rail-
road is usually made to. respond In
damages for consequences OF such ac-
cidents. Suicide to collect life In
surance has never been deemed hon
orabie. white no one would deliberately
sell the life of a mother or wife. son
or brother, for money. on the other
hand. the collection of damages out
Of railroad revenues, as o punishment
for an avoidable accident, when there
can be no real compensation, Ia an
economic waste: II Furnishes the pub
lie more than 1t Furnishes the stock
holders. as ii deprives the public by
exactly the amount OF the damages
OF the ability of the railroad to pro-
for the use or convenience and safety
OF the public. Given the progressive
policy OF Southern Railway Company
to make such improvements to the
extent OF It's ability, 1t il OF interest to
note that, In the last year q dividend
was paid by the Company, $50 cents
of every dollar Of revenue collected
from the public went In payment OF
damages OF all kinds. practically the
same amount, 3.ss cents. went to the
stockholders, while only thirteen hum
dredths of one cent of each dollar OF
revenue could be applied on permanent
improvements. Such other Improve
ments an were made we're necessarily
charged to new capital. thereby in
creasing the demands on the fund
in which the public, has 20 vital an
interest 1t would be the pleasure OF
the management always to apply as
much az the revenues on permanent
improvements as on dividends, IL that
was possible. There, IL then, q basis
OF interest as well as OF morals for
between the public and
the railroads to prevent the occurrences
lot these tragedies.
Asks Public's Co-opeEAtion.
with ! deep sense Of the. responsi-
Ebiiity or management Ia this matter
and pledging this Company 10 do
everything In Its poHar which Is rea-
sonAbie and consistent with the func-
items for which II WAs chqxteFed,
appeal to- the public generally for
sucia ro-0parafion In avoiding these
serious and distressing Academia. In
practically all cases they Gan be. ana
In most cases are. readily and easily
avoided by the automobile driver act
Ing upon the familiar warning to
90