Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-26
C.. G. O. HEAD OPENS DRIVE
OVER DISPATCH BROADCAST
Begins Campaign for Safety in Crossing Railroads in
Latest Style by Interesting Talk Over Big
Radio Station Last Night

Addressing an invisible audience
composed of all the raciophonc fans
in the State and surrounding dis
tricts. W, J. Harahah, president OF
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.
opened the campaign in Virginia for
National Careful Crossing. over The
Dispatch papers radio broadcasting
station last evening. Due to an OK
ceptionally good night for radio
work. the speech was broadcast with
unusual strength and clarity. Mr..
Harahans address follows:
II am indebted TO The Richmond
Times-Dispatch and the Evening
Dispatch for the favor conferred on
me by these progressive papers in
that they have accorded me tho
privilege OF firing the frst gun in
the National Careful Crossing cam
paign over their radio broadcastins
station.
Careful Crossing Drive.
Under tho auspices OF the Amcri-
can Railway Association, there will
be inaugurated on June !. and con-
tinuing until September 30. 1922, a
Careful Crossing Campaign It's slo-
| gan being Cross Crossings Cautious
" having for Its purpose the pre-
vention or reduction In the number
OF highway crossings accidents In
volving railroad TRAINS, vehicles and
| pedestrians, throughout the coun-
try.
! "Co-operation in the plan has been
assured by the United States Auto
mobile Chamber OF Commerce, tho
! National Highway Traffic Associa-
ton. National Safety Council and
| numerous other organizations.
! Such campaign is necessary and
! timely. as shown by the following
| facts: In thirty years our coun,ry's
population Increased 6s per cent
Crossing accidents increased 345 per
cent in fatal and 652 per cent in in
| jury cases. In 1920 automobiles
we're involved in T6 per cent Of all
| crossing accidents. During that year
| l.791 persons were killed death re-
! sulting in twenty-four hours) and
| 5.0T7 injured: of the latter number
! ll6 died subsequently from Injuries
sustained at railroad crossings within
the United States.
Reduce or stop Misbaps.
There are two ways to reduce or
| entirely stop such accidents. The
| first I'm the public mind is. climina ton
of the crossings. This is impossible
as the following will attest There
are 25l.939 highway crossings or
class railroads alone In the United
states. OF this number. 800 were
eliminated during 1919. At tho same
rate of elimination It will take SO!
years to dispose of these crossings
II no more are added All the mer
and money available would not b'
sufficient to remove these crossings
In n life-tlmc.
conservative estimates OF the
average cost of elimination fixed the
figure at approximately $4,000 pei
crossing. This means Sl2,50o.000.
600.
ut is evident the imme diate Ques
ton must be met by method othcl
than the elimination Of tho cross
ings. which latter work Will un
doubtcdly proceed as circumstance
permit.
apparently the solution OF tn
problem can he found I'm education
This education should be joint upor
the part OF the railroads ana TN
public. 1t is tho duty of the rail
roads to keep tho crossings In goot
condition for travel; give reasonable
notice OF the existence Of such cross
inSs: and see to Il that the railroad
employees do their full duty In warn
ing OF the approach of trains
Learn Organized Effort Whine.
The railroads have learned IN
value Of organized EFFORT for safety
through the reduction Of deaths o
employees on duty from <Sb% In 100
to 2.b7s in 1890. notwithstanding I
larger force OF employees In servic