Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1915 — FEWER ACCIDENTS ON LINE [ARTICLE]

FEWER ACCIDENTS ON LINE

Safety First Campaign Has Had Moat Gratifying Results on Western Railroad. Safety first is not a question of dollars and cents; it Is a question of saving human life, the most valuable thing In the world, which, when once gone, can never be brought back. It la trying to save men from losing their legs and their arms, which never can be put back. It Is trying to save the making of widows and orphans, destitution and misery. Neither the officers nor the laws can do it. But the workmen can do It If they try. The following statement shows the reduction In number of accidents on the Chicago & Northwestern railroad for four and one-half years ending December 3i, 1914, as compared with four and one-half years on Bame basis as year ending June 30,1910, before the safety first committees were organized: One hundred and seventy-three fewer employees killed, a decrease of 35.3 per cent. Ten thousand, six hundred and seventy-one fewer employees injured, a decrease of 27.3 per cent. Nine hundred and sixty-one fewer passengers Injured, a decrease of 22.8 per cent. Two hundred and ten fewer outsiders killed, a decrease of 19.4 per cent Two hundred and twenty-eight fewer outsiders injured, a decrease of 8.2 per cent. Mileage June 30. 1910, 7.953. Mileage December 31, 1914, 8,423. The Northwestern railroad operates in nine states, with a mileage of 8,423 miles; the safety first work was commenced in May, 1910, and there are now over nine hundred men serving on the division, terminal, shop, local and central safety committees. The best evidence of the effectiveness of the work done by the men serving on these safety committees is shown in the following statement of reduction in accidents for the six months ending December 31, 1914, as compared with the same six months In 1909, before the safety first organization was put into operation:

1909 1914 Employees killed 61 24 Employees injured 4.546 3.025 In our statistics every case is counted where the injured person loses one day's time or more.