The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1922-06-01
A Careful Crossing Campaign

can Railway Association, there will
be inaugurated on June /, and con-
tinuing until September 80, 1922, a
careful CROSSING CAM
PAIGN" it's slogan being "CROSS
CROSSINGS CAUTIOUSLY" having
for its purpose the prevention Of or
reduction in the number of highway
crossing accidents involving railroad
trains, vehicles and pedestrians,
throughout the country.
Cooperation in the plan has been
assured by the United States Auto
mobile Chamber of Commerce, the
National Highway Traffic Associa-
ton, National Safety Council and
numerous other organizations.
Such a campaign is necessary and
timely, as shown by the following
facts: In thirty years our country's
population increased 67fo. Crossing
accidents increased 1850 in fatal
and G52t, in injury cases. In 1920
automobiles were involved in 1870 Of
all crossing accidents. During that
year, 1871 persons were killed and
SOFT injured; Of the latter number
llG died subsequently from injuries
sustained at railroad crossings with
in the United States.
There are two ways to reduce or
entirely stop such accidents. The
first in the public mind is, elimina-
ton of the crossings. This is impos-
Sible There are 251,939 highway
crossings on Class l Railroads alone
Railroads with revenue of over ST.
100000 annually in the United
States. Of this number 800 were
eliminated during 1919. At the same
rate of elimination it will take 629
years to dispose of these crossings if
no more are added. All the men and
money available would not be suffi-
cient to remove the crossings in a
life time.
Conservative estimates of the aver
age cost of elimination fixed the
figure at approximately $4,000 per
crossing. This means $12,500,000,-
600.
1t is evident the immediate ques-
ton must be met by method other
than the elimination Of the crossings,
which latter work will undoubtedly
proceed as circumstances permit.
Apparently the solution of the
problem can be found in education.
This education should be joint upon
the part of the railroads and the
public. 1t is the duty of the railroads
to keep the crossings in good condi-
ton for travel; give reasonable
notice of the existence of such cross
ings; and see to it that the railroad
employees do their full duty in warn
ing of the approach of trains.
The railroads have learned the
value of organized effort for SAFE
TY, through the reduction of deaths
Of employees on duty from 4,354 in
1907 to 2,57o in 1920, notwithstand-
ing larger force of employees in SER
vice during the latter year. Rail-
road employees as whole have un-
questionably attained a, higher degree
of care in the performance of their
duties.
AS education in and discussion Of
safety matters are responsible for
the gratifying results obtained in en-
ploye cases, it is logical to assume
that education of the travelling public
to the exercise of a high degree Of
care when approaching and passing
over railroad crossings, will likewise
have a good effect in reducing cross
ing accidents.
While it is true the railroads have
a direct interest in checking these
Outlines most distressing accidents,
yet in the first and last analysis it
is the public itself which suffers the
pain, the mutilation, and the passing
to the Great Beyond, in addition to
bearing the financial burden.