Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-09-28
Walking on Railroad Tracks.

(From Safety Committee, Grand Trunk Ry)
During the six months ended June
3Oth, 1915, thirty eight 1857 persons were
killed and thirty-four (34) persons were
injured on the Grand Trunk Railway
while trespsssing on it's property. All
but small percentage of such persons
were citizens of the communities in
which they were killed and injured
business men, laborers, and people gen.
orally using the Company's tracks and
yards as walk ways for their Own con-
venience.
The experience of the Grand Trunk in
this respect during this period of time is
typical of the experience of all roads In
the United States year in and year out,
as shown by the fact that about $500
persons are killed and about the same
number injured every year while tres
passing on railways. In fact, more than
so percent Of all persons killed on rail
ways from all causes are trespassers.
II $500 persons should be killed In one
accident, people would be Mortified and
would rise as one man determined to
prevent similar occurrence, yet, here IL
a practice, unnecessary and preventable,
which every year kills and Injuries more
than twice as many persons as the tt
tantic, Empress of Ireland, Lusltania,
Iroquois, and Eastland disasters com
bined, and yet we are doing practically
nothing 10 prevent it. Are we logical
or merely sentimental? Do we really
value human life and try earnestly and
persistently to conserve 1t, or do We
merely rise to fitful action when some
great horror stirs our sentiments and
passionsp
Railways have been compelled to
spend millions of dollars for the protec'
ton OF the public in the elevation Of
tracks, construction of gates, maintain
ing watchmen at highway crossings an6
in supplying modern equipment, ano
yet, from this one cause of trespassing
and that an entirely unnecessary cause
more persons are killed and injured thar
from all other causes combined and moi
a hand is raised TO stay the slaughter
In your state, we regret to say, not suff
cient interest has been aroused to secure
the enactment of any law to prevent un
authorized persons from walking on rail
way tracks and consequently this whole
sale slaughter which railways are power
less to prevent, continues with the indif
ference and, it might be almost said
with the oonnivauce of the public.
Aside from the protection to life ant
limb which would result from the enact
meut and enforcement Of an adequate
law against trespassing on railway
tracks, there are other considerations oil
great importance involved in this prob
lem. The presence Of persons on tracks
especially in great numbers, detracts at
tention of engineers on approaching
trains from the performance Of theil
proper duties, the injuries and deaths
which they witness, and the narrow es
capes from same, place upon them ar
unnecessary mental strain all of which
jeopardizes to material extent the safe
ty OF the travelling public.
We hear a great deal about the tramp
problem. II walking along railway
tracks and unlawful riding on trains
were stopped, the tramp problem woult
be, to a considerable extent, eliminated
Railways are compelled each year te
submit to losses totalling millions Of dol
lars from pilfering and this burden, lik'
others placed upon common carriers
must be borne indirectly by the public
The enactmen and enforcement Of sucf
law would materially reduce this bur
den.
The solution Of this problem requires
az most problems do, the education oil
public sentiment to the point where th'
necessity for decisive action will be ap
preciated, and we venture to call this in
70 nation to your attention in the belle
that the public interest involved maker
it proper subject for your serious con
sideration and in the hope that you may
| find it consistent to exert your effort
tn-o rdu O pyopar eolnfion