Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 197, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 August 1911 — Preventable Killings. [ARTICLE]

Preventable Killings.

The annual slaughter b/*our railroads is notorious, not only in this country, but throughout the world. Whatever percentage of this slaughter occurs while entering or leaving trains is absolutely preventable, and therefore unnecessary. Many railroad officials have Inherited their systems, of course, and they go on with the system as they found it But this is a fatal rule at all points where trains shd passengers- have greatly increased. What was safe enough thirty years or so ago is not much better than a death trap today. The explanation that it costs money to make such changes as ordinary foresight requires Is no explanation at all. It often costs money not to make them, but in either esse the money cost is wholly outside the point. The point Is that railroad station precautions should , proceed from care for the weakest and most stupid person who may wish to travel. Passengers should be assorted and handled as if they were all deaf, dumb and blind, and on top of that aged and imbecile; in short, according to the German official theory, exactly as if they were fools. It is only in this manner that railroad stations can be made safe. —Exchange.