The Mena weekly star., 1919-05-08
GRADE CROSSINGS
 DEADLY MENACE
Carelessness on Part of Auto Drivers Results in Great Loss of Life Railroads Putting Forth Special
 Effort for No Accident Month.

For the length of railroad, Polk county has many grade crossings, and most of these are on it's most travelled highway. A good many of these crossings are what might well be chased as dangerous" where the view either one way or both is ob- structed to the ordinary driver of car or horse vehicle. And yet this coun- ty has been exceptionally fortunate in it's small number of grade crossing accidents.
 Following is, in part, letter sent oue by the Kansas City Southern railroad, as we'll as roads in the Southwest division of railroads as or- ganized under government control:
 "The month of May has been desig- mated by the Safety Section of the United States Railroad Administra- tion as No Accident" month on all federally controlled railroads in the entire Southwestern Region. The casualties on American railroads show an annual toll of approximately 10,- 900 persons killed and 100000 injured, not including minor accidents, and as this loss of life and limb can, with the cooperation of the public and the employees of the railroads, be gre ltly reduced, the "No Accident" campaign. during the month of May is merely one of the many steps that are being taken to eliminate the preventable ae- cidents.
 Automobile road crossing acci- dents are growing more and more common, and the number of resulting deaths and injuries is appalling. The daily toll of deaths and injuries thru out the United States deserves more than a passing thought on the part of the public at large, the railroads and the various State Legislatures. One can scarcely pick up a newspaper without finding where there has been fatal accident at some grade cross ing. These accidents seem to be on the increase rather than decrease. Such accidnts are not deliberately in- tended, yet they can all be charged to carelessness.
 Statistics prepared by the Inter- state Commerce Commission from re- ports furnished by Class railroads for the year ending December 31, 1917. show that there was a total of 3,673 grade crossing accidents in- volving non-trespassers. Six thou sand and one hundred thirty-three persons were involved in these acci- dents, of which 1,777 were killed and 1856 injured.
 "In one state alone during the past twelve months, 1,189 automobiles were struck by trains, 169 persons were killed and 45S persons injured. Ten seconds for safety would have saved these persons. It is not safe to cross railroad track on "high."
 Railroads are public servants handling the commerce of the country and their trains operate upon tracks which in themselves are silent warn ing of their dangerous traffic. Yet chances in crossing railroad tracks without first looking to the right and left to see if the way is clear. It is always the occupants of the car who suffer, and in practically every case the accident could have been avoided by ten seconds concentration of the senses of sight and hearing. It re- quires but a moment to look and lis- ten, and in case of a dangerous cross- ing or at point where there is an ob- structed view. a complete stop of the car will avoid many accidents.
 "Trespassing on the rights-of- way is another cause of numerous person. al injuries and fatal accidents. Dur ino the past twenty-four years 225.- 266 persons have been killed and in- iured in the United States walking on railroad tracks and Tipping trains. Of this number 108,009 persons were killed and 117.257 injured
 "This campaign will unquestionably anpeal to every thinking person in the community, and all should lend their assistance anl cooperation toward eliminating personal injuries which cause so much suffering and sorrow, and which nearly always represent an economic loss It is the desire of the Railroad Administration that the pub lie cooperate with the railroads in making this a "No Accident" month in fact as we'll as name."