The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-01
URGES PUBLIC TO Be CAREFUL
Rock Island Public Boosts Crossing
Campaign by Radio

Campaign by Radio. +
The Careful Crossing Campaign
of the American Railway association
was the topic of an address broad
casted over the country this week by
radio by ]. E German, president OF
the Rock Island Lines. from a station
in Chicago.
Efforts to pick up the message at
Topeka failed. due to peculiar condi-
tions affecting the atmosphere. but
the address, in part, was as follows:
During thirty years ending De-
cember 81. 1891. our country'S popu-
lation increased 6S per cent, railroad
highway grade crossing accidents in
creased 345 per cent in fatal acct
dents and 652 per cent in non-fatal
accidents. During 1920, 1907 per-
sons were killed and 1851 persons
injured in highway crossing accidents,
an awful toll of human life unneces-
sarily sacrificed-it should not have
been
"In 1920 automobiles were involved
in &c per cent of all grade crossing ac-
-cidents-3,o12 were struck, 1.273 per-
sons killed and 5.977 persons injured
in such accidents
These figures are evidence enough
and convincing that the Careful
Crossing Campaign is absolutely nee
essary and that it should receive the
hearty and unreserved assistance and
corporation OF every citizen in tho
United States and Canada. It must
be succeSsful-an indictment for
manslsughter will lie if it is not sue
cessful and The awful death rate con-
tinue, when it is within the scope of
human power and ability to stop rail-
road grade crossing accidents and be-
cause it can be SO easily accomplished
If proper thought and care are exer-
cised. Self preservation natures
first law. makes such demands upon
us-we cannot shirk responsibility.
There are two definite ways to re-
duce railroad highway grade crossing
accidents; first, to separate the cross
ing. which, as far as possible should
be done, but when We analyze the
situation, the impossibility of success
coming thru such means is apparent.
There are approximately 251.939
highway grade crossings On the class
one railroads of the United States
and at a cost of $780, 100000 to separate
a single crossing, a total expenditure
of about S12. 500, 600, 100000 would be
necessary to eliminate such crossings
impossible and almost beyond ones
conception During 1919 there were
399 grade crossings eliminated, but
even at this rate of separation it
would take 629 years to separate all
of the grade crossings on class one
railroads in che United States.
THE second definite way to ma
terialIy reduce, if not to entirely
eliminate railroad highway grade
crossing accidents, is to impress upon
the minds of those who use such
crossings, whether in automobiles,
driving teams or on foot, that their
lives. limbs and happiness as well as
the lives, limbs and happiness of their
loved ones or others are at stake, and
to act with this thought in mind when
approaching railroad highway grade
crossing and to take no chances.
'STOP-LOOK AND LISTEN Know
for a CaTfaintW that the Is nfGar
(don't take it for granted). Make
sure that no trains are approaching
and then proceed.
IF one of our largest railroads.
need not mention the name-can con-
duct its business during the years
1920 and 1921 without having a
passenger killed on its lines during
that period, and when 2,191,153,1 91
passengers were carried one mile, be-
cause that railroad made every pos
sible effort to conserve the lives and
limbs of the passengers carried and
in those efforts the passengers
readily Joined, there is no doubt that
the same results can be accomplished
thru the Careful Crossing Campaign
in connection with railroad highway
grade crossing accidents. The rail-
roads are just as inteesred an as anx-
ious to save lives and limbs of those
who use sucn crossings as they weresI
and are to save the lives and limbs
E19SSAAe5CA anu RdlAOAASs
but the railroads cannot accomplish
these results alone.
Railroad men generally, engineers,
firemen and crossing flagmen in par
ticular. will do their full part, but IL |
we are to be successful, it is abso-
lutely necessary that the drivers of |
automobiles, teams and pedestrians |
as well, do their full part and re-
spond heartily with cooperation and
effort If this be done, success will /
nA oil Szf1
IN knowing that we roo,1 an active /
part in that great campaign of lifo |
and limb conservation reflected in the /
Careful Crossing Campaign.'