Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1922-06-01
Careful Crossing Campaign.

Careful Crossing Campaign.
Under the auspices of the American
Railway Association, there will be in
augurated on June 1, and continuing
until September 80, 1922, "carefu
crossing campaign" its slogan being
"cross crossings cautiously" having
for its purpose the prevention of OF
reduction in the number of highway
crossing accidents involving railroad
trains, vehicles and pedestrians,
throughout the country.
Cooperation in the plan has beer
assured by the United States Auto
mobile Chamber of Commerce the
National Highway Traffic Association,
National Safety Council and numer-
GUS other organizations.
Such a campaign is necessary and
timely, as shown by the following
facts: In thirty years our country's
population increased ca per cent
Crossing accidents increased 345 pei
cent in fatal and 652 per cent in in
jury cases. In 1920 automobiles were
involved in 76 per cent of all crossing
accidents. During that year, 1,791
persons were killed and 5,077 injured;
of the latter number 116 died subse-
quently from injuries sustained at
railroad crossings within the United
States.
There are two ways to reduce or
entirely stop such accidents. The
first in the public mind is, elimination
of the crossings. This is impossible.
There are 1889 highway crossings
on Glass Railroads alone (railroads
with revenue of over $1,000, 900 an
nually) in the United States. OF this
number 399 were eliminated during
1918. 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 sufficient to remove the
crossings In life-time.
Conservative estimates of the aver
age cost of elimination fixedthe figure
at approximately $4,000 per crossing.
This means $12, 500. 100000
I u -- -. . i 4 !. .
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 pro-
tblem 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 condition for
travel; give reasonable notice of the
Iexistence of such crossings; and see
to il that the railroad employees dc
their full duty in warning of the ap-
proach of trains.
The railroads have learned the
value OF organized effort for safety,
through the reduction OF deaths ol
employees on duty from 4 1854 in 1907 te
/ 2,57S in 1920, Notwithstanding q larger
force Of employees in service during
the latter year. Railroad employees
as whole have unquestionably at.
tanned higher degree of care in the
i performance OF their duties.
AS education in and discussion oI
safety matters are responsible for the
lgratifying results obtained in employt
cares, it is logical to assume tha,
education Of the travelling public K
the exercise Of a high degree Of car,
1 when approaching and passing owe
railroad crossings, will likewise hav,
I a good effect in reducing crossing &C
i cidents.
4 While it is true the railroads have
I a direct interest in checking these oft
I times most distressing accidents, VIZ
| In the first and last analysis lit is th
public itself which suffers the pain