The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-10
North Side News
KEEP OFF TRACKS
q. p. Safety Agent Gives Ad-
vice to All Children.
He Warns Parents of Dangers
in Railroad Yards.

The State Journal has received the
following letter from ]. NJ. Guild,
safety agent for the Union Pacific
railway system with headquarters at
Omaha, in reference to the Gripping
of Mernieva McFarren, 10 years old,
recently in the North Topeka Yards:
ITO the Editor State Journal:
We recently had occasion to investi-
gate case of Mernieva McFarren, age 10,
who sustained loss of left leg due to
being knocked from side of car on which
she was riding while train was moving
thru Topeka yards.
In view of this and other serious acct
dents which have occurred to children,
whether or not the parents of children
residing in Topeka really appreciate the
serious danger that their children place
themselves in when playing about or cross
ing thru railroad yards.
Every year in the United States hun
dreds Of children are killed or MANNED
for life while indulging in this dangerous
practice or while using railroad yards as
thorOfares. This practice is, however, not
INDUCED in by children alone but persons
of mature age also the victims of this
dangerous habit.
II believe you will agree with me that
it will be an impossibility for the raj
road company to so police their. yards
and right-of-way as to take care of all of
the cases of trespassing which occur |
am, therefore,, writing you this letter with
an earnest appeal that such publicity be
given this matter as will encourage par
ents to warn their children in regard TO
the dangers Of using the railroad yards
as a play ground and will discourage the
parents themselves from making public
highway out of railroad tracks and yards
I'm view of many lives that are lost
annually on this account, also the extreme
necessity of conserving the resources OF
this country as regards human life, be
lieve that this is matter which should
warrant particular attention at this time"
Coaches Are Scarce.
Union Pacific officials here an
nounce that it will not be long tefore
the travelling public will be glad tn
get standing room in passenger COACH
es, when making trip. City Pas
senger Agent Frain of the Union Pa
cific asserts that the company IS pre-
pairing to turn over to the government
for the transportation of troops every
available coach. This will mean soon
er or later that the public when 1t
wanders from home will have to be
satisfied with what it can get. Ac-
| cording to present indications II Won I
] get very much.
The u p was originally built as a
military line, and officials point with
some pride to the fact that the road
| is going to live up to its reputation
! in the present emergency. Large ex-
penditures at Riley have been mapped
out, and extensive facilities have al
ready been installed for the quick han
| ding of troops and supplies.
! While the road has completed its
! extensive buying of land in North To-
| peka, the large outlay at Riley means
an indefinite postponement of the pro-
posed building program in North To-
peka, possibly until the end of the
war.
Tuesday at noon all North Topeka
business houses will close for the day.
1t is Topeka day at the State Fair.
The drug stores will close from 1 to