Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-08-25
SAFETY FIRST" IS
KEYNOTE OF PICNIC
HELOAT FAIRGROUNDS
Over 1900 People Attend
Annual Celebration Held
By Southern Pacific

The Southern Pacific "Safety First
picnic was in full swing today at the
fair grounds with speeches, music
sports, dinners and all Of the attend
ant enjOyments that 20 to make sue
cessful outing. The 1900 people present
were enjoying themselves to the ut
most after the first train arrived at
9:55 this morning. Governor Witty
combe spoke of "Safety First for the
nation and this popular phrase applied
to the nation means national prepared
ness for defense was the governors
declaration. The governor called at
tention to the small standing army and
the sense of security which prevailed
throughout the nation when in reality
the American army as compared with
the armies of Europe would form but
a small corps of the huge fighting
bodies now engaged.
Rev. II. Il. Marshall spoke in behalf
Of the Cherrians and R. j. Clancy, as
sistant to general manager, delivered
the principal address on 'Safety
First" n summing up the data on
the ratio of accidents to passengers
carried Mr.. Clancy said:
"In the year 1913 the Southern Pa
cific Pacific SYSTEM, we made fiji
teen thousand, one hundred and ninety
four efficiency tests on its train and
enginemen, and the percent of eff
ficiency was 80 and Sc one hundredths.
In the year 1914 twenty-three thousand
five hundred and forty.fOur efficiency
tests and the percent of efficiency was
80 and and SO one hundredths, In the
year 1915 thirty-five thousand, three
hundred and seventy.eight efficiency.
tests and the per cent of efficiency was
80 and 93 one hundredths. In the year
1915 we made five thousand eight hun
dred and seventy-nine tests with home
signal, distant signal and train order
signal without single failure showing
one hundred per cent or perfect. A.
cOrralation Of these tests with accident
statistics pertaining to the movement
of passenger trains will explain why it,
Is that n passenger may travel on the
Southern Pacific the equivalent dis.
tance of three hundred and sixty thOus-
and times around the world without
danger of loss of life in train accident.
This is not only a splendid record
for the Southern Pacific as CommonI
Carrier in its relations to the Public
but it is a splendid testimonial to its
train and enginemen who had to do
with the movements of trains, to the
dispatcher who directed train move
ments, to the inspectors and mechanics
who kept the equipment in serviceable
condition, to the division engineer,
roadmaster and section foremen who
kept up the track and to trainmasters.
road foremen of engines and the super.
vising authorities directing train move.
ment.'
Speaking of the relations of the
Southern Pacific to the people of Ore.
gon, Mr.. Clancy said:
"rhe Southern Pacific has east its
lot with you. 1t is here with large in.
vestments and, what is more, with de-
sire to keep step with the onward
progress, approximately 25,OO0 citi.
zens of your state are supported by its
payroll and 1t annually distributes for
labor at various points within your
state, approximately $3,35O,O00. Its
payroll in the city of Portland incmd.
ing the Brooklyn Shops, contains more
than fourteen hundred names and
amounts annually to approximately ST.
40O,0OO. In the city of Salem its pay
roll Sustains one hundred and eighty
six families with an annual disburse.
ment Of more than Sl30,000. In Rose.
burg 1t has three hundred and twenty
employees with payroll of $500 900, and
Ashland one hundred and twenty. five
employees with payroll of $4,000.
IL annually pays into your treasures as
taxes more than 100000. Tt affords
You splendid service and is the medium
through which much of your products
tind their way to market. 10 appreci-
ates your good viii and patronage and
is ever ready to respond to your pro.
gressive needs and requirements. -
After the speaking ball game was
staged between the Brooklyn shops and
the Beaverton shops which was won by
the former 9 to g. The athletic events
began a little after . o'clock this after.
noon after the meuicers had spent an
honr or more in the grove around their
lunch baskets.