Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1922-06-02
GROSS CROSSINGS
CAUTIOUSLY

Under the auspices Of the Ameri-
can Railway Association, there was
inaugurated on June 1, and will con-
tinue until September 80, 1922, q
CAREFUL CROSSING CAM
PAIGN," its slogan being GROSS
CROSSINGS CAUTIOUSLY" having
for its purpose the prevention Of or
reduction in the number Of highway
crossing accidents involving railroad
train, 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 <Assceia-
ton, National Safety Council and
numerous other organizations
Such a campaign is necessary and
timely, rs shown b. the following
facts: In thirty years our country's
population increased c7.S. Crossing
accid ents increased 34j% IN fatal
and $500 in injury cases. In 1920
automobiles were involved in 76%
Of all crossing accidents. During that
year, 1871 persons wer killed and
SOFT injured; Of the latter num-
Der 116 died subsequently from
injuries sustained at railroad cross
ings within the United States.
There are two ways to reduce o.
entirely stop such accidents. The
first in the public mini is, elimi-
nation Of the crossings. This is i'm
possible. There are 1899 highway
crossings on class Railroads alone
Railroads with revenue Of over ST.
000,00 annually in the United
States. OF this number 500 were elimi-
mated 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 suf-
ficient to remove the crossings in q
lifetime.
Conservative estimates Of the av-
erage cost Of elimination fixed the
figure at approximately $50.3J0 per
crossing. This means $12,500,000.
It is evident the immediate ques-
ton must be met by a method other
than the elimination Of the cross
ings, which latter work will un-
doubtedly proceed a. 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. It is the duty Of the rail-
roads to keep the crossings in good
condition for travel; give reasonable
notice of the existence of such
crossings; and see to it that the rail-
road employees do thar duty In
warning 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,S54
in 1907 to 2,578 in 1920, notwith-
standing. . larger force Of en-
ployees in service during the latter
year. Railroad employees q . whole
have unq6estionably attained .
higher degree Of care in the per-
Torrance Of their duties :
As education in and discussion of
safety matters are responsible for the
gratifying results obtained in en-
ployee cases, it ID logical to assume
that education. Of the travelling public
to the exercise Of . high degree of
care when approaching and passing
over railroad crossings, win likewise
have good effect in reducing cross
ing accidents.
While it ID true the railroads have
. direct interest in checking these
ofttimes most distressing accidents,
yet in the first and last -analysis
it is the public itself which suffers
the pain, the imutilation, and the pass
ing to the Great Beyond, in addi-
ton to bearing the financial burden.
The railroads feel warranted i'm ex-
pecting that right-thinking people
throughout our land viii lend their
actual and moral support to this
humane and laudable campaign.