Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 135, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1903 — DEATH ON THE RAIL. [ARTICLE]

DEATH ON THE RAIL.

: Nunber of Persona Killed During Tee t Put at 3,534. The railroads of the United States killed 3,554 persons and injured 45,977 during the year ending June 30, 1903. The total number of casualties, 49,531, cost the railroads $9,590,977 property loss, as compared with $7,045,400 for the previous year. The increase in the number killed was 735 aud in the number injured 0,179. These facts are shown by accident’bulletin No. 8 issued by the interstate commerce commission for the fiscal year and for the second quarter of the present calendar year. Although the- report shows a large increase in casualties it is noted that the number killed in train wrecks is three less, although the number thus injured increased by 838. The commission finds an excuse for the poor showing made by the railroads: “Railroad companies are much more careful to Include all accidents in their reports to the commission than they were, and it is undoubtedly true that much of the increase is due to the fact that the accident reports are fuller than during the preceding year.” It, is stated that the number of wen employed in the train service on June 30 last was about 12 per cent greater than on June 30, 1902. On the roads of densest traffic, where liability to nccldent is greatest, the increase has been more than this. The expansion of freight traffic led to the employment of men so rapidly that the percentage of inexperienced men in service this year is larger than ever in the history of railroads. The report fftrther shows- that ont of the total number killed 321 were passengers and 3,233 employes, and out of the total number injured 0,973 were passengers nnd 39,004 employes. During the months of April, May and June last 844 persons were killed anil 11,461 injured, which is a decrease of 83 fatalities over the previous quarter. Attention is called to the fact, however, that 23 fatalities were due to butting collisions, which are always the result of carelessness.