Evening journal., 1919-07-30
RAILWAY ACCIDENT RECORD UNDER GOVERNMENT
OPERATION

THE Railway Age points out IN editorial in its cur
i ront issue that whether government operation Of
railways has has caused increase IN accidents
u at least has not prevented them from Increasing.
THE advocates Of government ownership OF railways
probably have criticised private operation OF railways in
This country norcey because OF railways do
prabe accident than for any other cause, says
The Railway This paper always has contended that
this countys bad railway accident record has not been
due TO private operation but 10 which would
isi under either private government operation; that
te principal OF these the inability OF the rail-
way msnsgemcnis under the conditions existing in The
United states, to enforce such discipline enforced
before the TIC railways OF Germany France and
Great Britain"
The Railroad Administration recently has issued sta
tistics showing that there substantial reduction
accidents the first three months OF 1919 compared
with the corresponding months OF 1918, both years OF
government operation. These statistics gratifying,
surprising since the better weather conditions In
1919 and The smaller tranio handled were bound other
Things being equal to cause reduction OF accidents.
The reduction doubtless due both TO these condl
ons and TO the efforts TO Increase safety made by the
officers employees under the supervision Of the Rail-
road Administration.
However In order that the advocates OF government
ownership and operation may base upon these sta
tstcs arguments which would be misleading, is de-
srabe to call attention TO the fact that
GRAFTON has by any means resulted uniformly in
reduction OF accidents.
The Interstate Commerce Commission has recently is
sued Accident Bulletin No. So" which gives statistics Of
accidents for the nine months ending with September
1917 and The nine months ending with September 1918
These are the latest statistics available comparing acc
dcas under private and government operation. Through
out the FIRST nine months OF 1917 the railways pri-
vatey operated and handling the densest traffic
known up 10 that tpe During six months OF this
period the country was at and the railways
suffering from changes in their employees and
were losing many OF their best men. During the first
nine months Of 1918 the country continued 10 be at
the railways continued TO suffer from changes in and
losses Of employees; they handling almost the
volume Of traffic during the corresponding period Of
1917; and they operated by the government com
parson OF the railway causuaes in these two periods
therefore interesting and have some significance
The commissions bulletin shows that there was an
increase 30 from s79 to 20s9 in the number OF
employees killed in train train service accidents while
or duty and OF four the number Of employees killed in
such accidents while not on duty. The increase in the
number Of ordinary passengers killed in train train
service accidents from a2 TO 39i or over 100 per
cent There was slight reduction In the number OF
other n-respassers killed in train train service acc
dents these being chiefly killed at Highway cross
ngs There was an OF si from 3Os to $780, in
The number OF industrial employees killed in non-train
accidents industrial employees" chiefly employees
working in he shops and therefore not directly engaged
In train operation.
The bulletin shows that mo number OF trespassers
KILLED was reduced by 96i from 3,i06 90 2i2 This
large and gratifying reduction undoubtedly was duo
chiefly 10 conditions produced by tho and particu-
larly 30 Inc enforcement OF the work Eight" rule
largo part OF tho trespassers killed under normal cond
ton arc tramps and The work ngl' rule kept many
iraups OF railroad right-of-way. The reduction in The
number Of fatalities 10 respassers Is striking indica
ion Of what could be accomplished by strict and con-
ssent enforcement of laws prohibiting trespassing upon
railroad property.
And Of course that little race riot in Washington VIII