The New Haven Union

TRESPASSERS ON RAILROADS.

The Pennsylvania railroad, which for a number of years, has maintained what is perhaps the best organized railroad policing system in the country, is redoubling its efforts to keep trespassers from its right of way. A recent circular on this subject published by that company gives statistics of casualties which are really horrible to contemplate. In the last 11 years more than 50,000 people in the United States have been killed while trespassing on railroad property and more than 55,000 others have been injured. During the same period of 11 years the number of people killed on the tracks of the Pennsylvania railroad alone was 7,972, or in round figures, 8,000, an average of 725 per year.

Three years ago, as readers will recall this road inaugurated a vigorous campaign against trespassers, but the number of trespassers killed in 1908 was 757 and in 1909, 732 or about two each day throughout the year, notwithstanding that 10,000 were arrested during the year. The route of this road is through the most densely populated part of the United States, considering the extent of territory covered; in fact, it is stated that the Pennsylvania railroad system reaches half the population of the United States. The average number of trespassers killed on railroads throughout the country is about 15 per day.

The trouble is that the railroad companies cannot get the co-operation of the city, town and county authorities to keep its property clear of trespassers. While the number of arrests in certain localities have been numerous, relatively few trespassers have been punished by the law. In not a few instances county authorities have complained of the expense of lodging and feeding such inmates as were in jails because of arrest for trespassing on the railroads. As the conditions which contribute to the danger of trespassing on railroad tracks are all the time becoming worse the country over, it is high time that state and local governments should begin to regard this matter with some show of seriousness. As the accident statistics compiled by the interstate commerce commission are published each year, the public press comes out with a great cry against the dangerous operation of the railroads, when really the great majority of deaths and injuries are caused by trespassing. We believe we are correct in stating that the safety of railroad travel is gradually increasing, but with the trespassers the record is going the other way, and it will continue to do so until the public becomes aroused to a better sense of its duty toward trespassers on the railroads.

--Chicago Railway Review.