Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-18

ing from "the deadly grade crossing"
to the American speed mania" He
VIII not lay stress on the fact that one
reason for the large casualty list in
the United States is that there are a
great many more railroads. a vastly
greater mileage and a vastly greater
traffic in this country than in any other.
Chairman McChord. however, unlike
the amateur reformer, makes no sweep
ing declaration. but out of long years
OF patient study, through investigation
and wide fund of personal knowledge,
attributes the terrible roll of dead and
injured not to one but to many causes.
He does not believe that railroads kill
and injure people for the fun of the
thing, nor entirely as result of mis-
taken notions of economy. But he does
believe that, by adequate laws. proper
enforcement # them, cooperation by
all the personnel of railway organiza-
tions and by the individual citizen
schooling himself into the habit of
carefulness, a great saving in human
life can be worked.
The individual citizen?" you ask in
surprise. Yes. just that Here is Chair
man McChord's explanations:
During the year 1914. our statistics
show that 1o.302 persons were killed by
1882 injured. This is decrease un-
der 1913 of 6S2 in the number of killed
and of 1886 in the number of in
jured.
An analysis of these figures shows
that Of the number killed 3,253 were
employees. 2S5 passengers and 6.17S
other acknowledgements and non
trespassers; showing decrease under
1918 Of ASS employees killed, of 1913 pas
sengers killed and IS other persons
killed OF the persons injured 1922
were employees. 1921 passengers and
1899 other persons These figures
show a decrease under 1913 of 6.205 in
juries to employees. of 1,4Is to pas
0f % 10Th
while. of course, this indicates
gratifying reduction in the gross, do
not lose sight of that classified ton
other persons You will note that more
than SIS per cent of those killed were
neither passengers nor employees of the
railroads.
The statistical record for all the
years for which this commission pos
sesses statistics, has run constantly in
just about this proportion. Trespass
upon railroad tracks is prolific cause
of fatal accident
public attention has been conferred
ior many years on the question of aboI-
ishing grade crossings While, of
course. IL is desirable that all possible
precautions should be taken for the
prevention of accidents at highway
CIoeSiHS IL ID nevertheless true that the
highway crossing casualties are ex-
tremely few as compared with those
occurring at other points along the
track. And by far the greater number
OF casualties at other points along the
track have trespassers as their victims.
The casualties to non-trespassers at
other points along the track are SO
comparatively few in number that they
may safely be left out of consideration
II is probable that practically all of
them occur to persons engaged in load
ing or unloading cars in railroad
yards. and 1t is doubtful that persons
engaged in such work can be sur
rounded with additional safeguards
When 1t Is considered, however, that
more than half of the fatal accidents
on railroads in this country occur to
persons who have no right upon rail-
road promises, 1t becomes apparent
that there is fertile field for reform
in the method Of dealing with tres
paesers. Vigorous measures should be
undertaken to make people understand
that railroad tracks cannot be used as
footwalks with impunity."
Parenthetically, 1t might be remark
ed that Mr.. McChord for years has
been agttating along these lines, and
has created considerable Of a senti-
ment in the country In favor Of state