The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-25
TRESPASSING MORE
FATAL THAN BATTLE
In Ten Years 5O.O25 Invaders
of Railroad Rights Of Way
Are Killed.
YEARLY AVERAGE 1000

Statistics compiled by the New York.
New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Company show the heavy loss Of life
each year through trespass on the tracks
Of the different railroad systems IN this
country and how greatly the yearly
deaths exceed those abroad. The fatali-
ties In "A single year. In 1919. were b.55s,
or more than were killed IN the battle
Of bull Run From 1901 to 1910 the
persons killed in this country through
trespassing on the railroad tracks num-
bered 50.025, while the injured totalled
53.427, some of these being MANNED for
life.
The circular issued by the New Haven
says that II Is not so much affected by
the genus hobo as some other roads III
this country are. yet IN the last three
years ii2 persons have been killed and
3ai injured while trespassing on the
company's property. In the majority 81
! cas- SEES the persons killed or injured were
not tramps but persons who were using
the railroads right OF way as a public
| highway. generally to make short cut,
or young boys or men seeking to steal
rides on freight trains.
In 1871? i5o persons falling under
| the class of trespassers on the New
| Haven right Of way were killed and los
injured In 1919 I72 were killed and $50
| injured. and in 1914 lis were killed and
las injured. During these years the
| New Haven and other roads Of the coun-
| try have been making efforts to end IN"
| trespasslng evil and avert the loss or
life. but seemingly without success
The heaviest loss of life is taken in
| the summer. the mortality rising rom
the spring months with the tempera-
ture. For example, In the month OF
January II this year on the New
! Haven's line four ,respassers were killed
in February eight. In March hfteen. "A
gain of almost 100 per cent. In month
These figures form striking contrasts
when compared with the losses OF w"
through trespass on railroad property
In other Countries. In Great bfltalh
between 1891 and 1910 only a.3it per
sons were killed and 1915 injured
Great Britain. however, takes strong
legal means to prevent loss OF life
through trespsss on her railroads
rights OF way. as is shown 10y the New
Haven's statement, which says:
'If you walk along railroad In Eng
land believing you can thereby SO" 'he
country better or get home more quickly
you are arrested and taken before a
local magistrate. who fines YOU Slo
In Canada you can he fined M TO $50
and imprisoned for two months. and
there too, the law is strictly enforced
In France unless YOU have "A permit
YOU cannot walk the tracks without
great danger of being fined and even
Jailed. In Germany tho penalties range
up to s25.
have thus far followed the example OF
these European countries In havini
laws forbiddng such use of railroad
property These States are Maine. Ne"
Hampshire. Massachusetts. Rhode Is
land. New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin
Virginia. Delaware. Georgia. Missouri
Minnesota and Washington. The penal
ties prescribed range all the way from
81 fine and ten days in Jail in Maine
to $500 fine and year In jail II
New York.
, I'm one town III Connecticut. where
the New Havcn's tracks were per
sistently crossed nj number of points
as "A short cut. the railroad erected {
p standard wire fence in addition To put
: ting up warning signs. This fence Wa
torn down as fast as II was put M
l Finally. unable for this reason to keel
. the fence in repair so that it nigh
serve it's purpose. the railroad ATTEMPTED
I to erect other barriers They were re
2 moved in a similar manner tho last ON
V being torn down tho very next da'
. after IL was put IN.
What makes the problem an cspe
. Cially serious one for New England !
I ! the very large contribution which In
Q justrial workers make annually 10 thi
I death toll. Probably no other railrol
Q in proportion to it's length has 50 man
G industries located clos" to tho rai!rua
u tracks as the New Haven. I'm man
2 cases the employees of these establish
n ments elect To use the right of way 4,
= a highway To and from their homes i
i disregard of all warning signs. To ahat
y this evil tho railroad has taken the MAJ
ter up directly with tho heads of thes
concerns and has asked for their CooI
Grafton. |, nas also asked school supc'
intcndents TO caution their pupils OF II
danger of walking or playing on or nes
"A the railroad tracks