The Mount Holly news., 1916-11-28
Avoid Danger.

| ANOlQ Od1KCT.
AS part of campaign to teach chill
dren the dangers of taking 'sshort cut"
over railroads, playing on the tracks or
using railroad rights of way, bridges
and trestles as highways, the Pennsyl-
vania railroad system has issued an
illustrated calendar especially designed
to appeal to young folks. The calen-
dar is intended particularly for the use
in school rooms and will be supplied
for that purpose throughout the cities,
towns and country districts served by
the Pennsylvania lines, both east and
west of Pittsburgh.
A picture at the top of the calendar
shows typical crowd of children, just
out of school, hurrying across the
tracks near the school yard. They are
taking the dangerous short CUT, de-
spite warning signs. They could walk
to a nearby bridge which would mean
safety, but that would require a few
more steps. One boy is seen stumbling
on the track in front of an approach
ing train. Another is indulging in the
dangerous sport of balancing on the
rails. Beneath the picture is this
legend: Every year more than 5000
American boys, girls and grown folks
who take such risks as these throw
their lives away. Don't you be one of
them"
On the first sheet of the calendar is
printed this explanation of the purpose
for which it is issued: 1.-THE Pennsyl-
vania Railroad system is doing all in
its power to reduce the loss of life which
results from trespassing on railroad
tracks; yet on it's lines, alone, there is a
man, woman or child killed, while
trespassing, for nearly every day of the
year.
"On the railroads of the United
States, as whole, an average of Is
people are killed each day while walk
ing on the tracks, where they have no
right to walk. This has been called
the most needless waste of life in
America. About an equal amount of
people are MANNED daily from the
same cause, many of them permanent
ly.
"a large portion of the killed and
injured are children. The country
cannot afford loss of this Sort
The calendar starts with November,
to cover the remaining weeks of 1916,
and is complete for the year 1917. An
extra sheet inserted before the opening
of the New Year urges these resolu-
tions:
II will do my part to end the dark
record of railroad trespassing in this
country. will avoid the danger of
using railroad tracks for highways and
short cuts. / will stop, look and listen
at railroad crossings. l will endeavor
to persuade others from recklessly in
viting danger"
Every month of the calendar tells a
brief lesson of the dangers and extent
of trespassing on railroads, and of the
efforts Of the company to end it. One
shows that in single year 1897 people |
were sent to Jail and 2,4SS were fined
for trespassing on the Pennsylvania I
Railroad.
Four important warnings are: Don't |
steal rides, and don't jump on and of |
trains while they are moving. Thous-
ands of boys, and older people, too,
have been killed and manned that |
way. Never go under or around the |
safety gates at a railroad crossing
when they are down. There is no way |
to save people who won't take warn
ings. A short cut across the tracks |
may save you a hundred steps-and |
cost you leg or an arm or your life. |
Don't take this chance. Don't use
railroad bridges and trestles for short |
cuts. You can never tell when a train |
may come, even if you think you
know the regular ones"