Newspapers / The Danbury Reporter (Danbury, … / Aug. 18, 1915, edition 1 / Page 3
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STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN The Danger To Automobiles At Grade Crossings. Washington, D. C., Aug. B. The following letter has been addressed to the public by Mr. Fairfax Harrison, president of the Southern Railway Company: ] "The automobile has greatly increased the comfort and con-' venience of life, and it has been an important factor in the im provement of country highways and so has contributed to the progress of civilization of our time. but. .iust as the railroad! did when it revolutionized com-' merce, the automobile has intro-' duced new social complications' v and new risks, moral as well as j physical. "The American people are said to be characteristically reckless of | I human life, and perhaps in noth- j ing is this statement more .iusti-j tied at the moment than in re lation to the use of automobiles— not even the railroads. My par- i ticular interest in the question is, where my public responsibility lies, in the combination of the two -in the accidents which oc-! cur to automobiles and their oc cupants where highways cross railways at grade: and this is a' question of sufficient importance' to warrant the attention of every thinking man in the South. RECORD FOR ONF. YEAR. "The following table shows the appalling record of such accidents on lines operated by Southern Railway Company in the South j during the year ended June 30, | 1915: *-, ~ "3 o an • _ a; . •—• «J3 T3 c* {re jo a; « U .£ c.i e tu-jz c n OS O S*s =2= JsScc 3o rt'g 3 5 J &J2 fIuJS Alabama 10 0 1 10 Georgia 6 2 10 6 N. Carolina. 27 7 21 27 S. Carolina. .14 2 17 14 Tennessee .5 0 8 5 Virginia 7 2 1 7 I Total (>9 13 58 G9_ "Without seeking to avoid just responsibility for what the officers or employees of the railroad do or omit, but recalling that a rail road employee whose careless ness causes an accident is, in the public interest, subject to discip line which affects his livelihood, it is probably fair to say that a large proportion of these acci dents happened solely through the carelessness of the driv | ers of automobiles, or their lack of experience in dealing with • vehicles at high speed. There I are among them also well authen ticated cases of deliberate as sumption of risk by the drivers ! of automobiles from pure love of j I excitement and speed, evidenced i by racing with trains and seek- I, ing the thrill of a narrow escape. 1 Our enginemen report such oc lj currences daily. If fortunately f, thev are without fatal conse- I quences in the great majority of ! cases, they are always paid for by a heavy sttain on the nerves I of all concerned, particularly 1 those of the locomotive engineer, j who maintains speed from duty (and not for fun. It is not too much to claim for the locomotive j engineer a larger equipment of experience and a greater habit of precaution than the average auto mobile driver. As a class the locomotive engineers are sober, I steady and conservative men of long experience in, meeting and avoiding risks, for theirs is a dangerous occupation. Their every effort of character, of struction and of interest is to I J avoid an accident. Most of the accidents to automobiles at rail- j | way grade crossings could be avoided if there was the same ! restraint of experience and at tention at the wheel of the auto mobile as at the throttle of the locomotive. i IU'BI.IC VITALLY INTERESTED. ! "It does not suffice the public in any moral sense that the fund made up of the revenues collect ! j ed by the railroad is usually made j I to respond in damages for conse-, | quences of such accidents. Suicide ; ; to collect life insurance has never j j been deemed honorable, while no jone would deliberately sell the life of a mother or wife, son or! brother for money: on the other hand, the collection of damages out of railroad revenues, as a punishment for an avoidable ac-, ! cident, when there can be no real ' compensation, is an economic waste: it punishes the public , i more than it punishes the stock-' ' holders, as it deprives the public ;by exactly the amount of thel damages of the ability of thej railroad to provide additional > permanent facilities for the use' l or convenience and safety of the ! public. Given the progressive 1 policy of Southern Railway Com pany to make such improvement to the extent of its ability, it is of ii.terest to note that, in the last year a dividend was paid by the Company, 3.50 cents of every dollar of revenue collected from i the public went in payment of ; damages of all kinds, practically the same amount, 3.38 cents, went to the stockholders, while only thirteen-hundredths of one i cent, of each dollar of revenue ' could be applied on permanent improvements. Such other im provements as were made were , necessarily charged to new capita', thereby increasing the | demands on the fund in which ! the public has so vital an interest. llt would be the pleasure of the management always to apply as ' much of the revenues on perm i nent improvements as on divi jdends if that was possible. There ] is, then, a basis of interest as of morals for co-operation between j the public and the railroads to ■ prevent the recurrence of these tragedies. "With a deep sense of respon sibility of management in this ; matter and pledging this Com pany to do everything in its power which is reasonable and i consistent with the functions for which it was chartered, I appeal :to the public generally for such co-operation in avoiding these serious and distressing accidents. l ln practically all cases they can be, and in most cases are, readily; and easily avoided by the auto-! . mobile driver acting upon the | familiar warning to stop, look and listen at railway crossings. While familiarity with the cross ing sign-posts and the regular schedules of trains may breed con i tempt of danger, surely every one of us when using a highway i can afford to sacrifice enough of his time and his pride of opinion ;to have a practical assurance of i safety. On the other hand, the demands of commerce and of I THE DANBURY REPORTER ' public transportation do not per mit a railroad to stop all its trains at all highway crossings: if that was possible it would be cheaper for the railroad to do so than to pay the damages. It is clear, , however, that it is necessary that one or the other of the | parties to a crossing shall stop if the largest measure of protection 'of life and and property is to be j secured. If not from self-inter est, can not the automobile driver , yield the precedence as a matter of courtesy to age, for the rail road is older than the automobile! ELIMINATING URADE CROSSINGS, j "The ideal of safety will be ac complished only when all grade crossings of railroads are separat ed. In this respect the Southern Railway Company is doing some j thing every year and as much as : its resources and other obliga ! tions make possible: indeed, it j may be claimed that the Com pany is, speaking generally, making progress more rapidly than most municipalities which , have an obligation in the prem ises: but by co-operation of muni cipalities and railroads many ! dangerous crossings have been eliminated throughout the South, and more will be every year. | Furthermore, on every bit of ' construction work of Southern Railway Company now in prog j ress, or recently completed, in- I volving the location or double ] tracking of lir.e (nearly four mill I ion dollars has been spent on such work during the past year,) provision has been made at large additional expense to separate all important highway crossings of the revised line, wherever phy sically practicable, ana this policy will be continued for the future. "Given the history of our transportation and highway sys- I terns and the enormous cost of adjusting them to modern con ditions, the elimination of grade crossings is and in the very nature of the proble must be a gradual development with the growth of population and wealth, but, meanwhile, good judgment on the part of all concerned can do much to anticipate, the bene fits of the admittedly desirable expenditure of large sums of money. The same sober sense of responsibility for life on the part of automobile drivers which actuates most locomotive engi neers, and in addition the will ingness of the automobile driver in such a high interest to sub ordinate his time and convenience to that of the greater number represented by a railroad train, can check a waste of life and limb and property which is now increasing every year. "To this end I appeal con fidently for the counsel of every responsible man and woman in the South, whether or not he or she drives an automobile. Words of caution and common sense around the family dinner table can have more influence and can save more lives at railway grade ■ crossings than all the warning whistles ever blown by a loco- I motive engineer." A Medicine Chest l-or 25t. In this chest you have an ex cellent remedy for Toothache, Bruises, Sprains. Stiff Neck, I Backache, Neuralgia, Rheuma- I tism and for most emergencies, j One 25c. bottle of Sloan's Lini ment does it all -this because these ailments are symptoms, not | diseases, and are caused by con • I gestion. If you doubt, ask those i who use Sloan's Liniment, or ' j better still, buy a 25c. bottle and ! j prove it. Sold by all druggists. Watch ?our Label The Dan bury Reporter stops now when your time is out. The paper is not sent to any person unless paid for in advance. Watch the label on your paper, and send in your subscription promptly if you want the paper to continue to your address. Address, REPORTER. Dan bury, N. C. THE NORTH CAROLINA College cf Agriculture and Mechanic Arts Young men seeking to equip themselves for practical life in Agriculture and all its allied branches: in Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering: iti Chemistry and Dyeing: in Textile Industry, and in Agricultural Teaching v ill tind excellent pro vision fur their chosen careers at the State's Industrial College. This College tits men for life. Faculty for the coming year of (55 men: 7i>7 students: 2> build ings. Admirably equipped laboratories in each department. County examinations for each department. County examina tions at each county seat on July !S. For catalogue, write E. It. OWEN. Registrar. West Raleigh, N. C. OAK RIDGE, N. C. J. ALLEN HOLT. Pres. Sfc.-Tr#as.' ForfiTyvsr *] : rln yonshs , e.luc.iti«»n. i'i \ *' :i». n;..>!is th« Wlijr to higher 1 a« ,, «iiupu>'imjnt.. 1:1 College, business an-l Life. :;"»n i.T «> in '\nmpu>, athletic grounds. or chard-, .in I f:irn>. Six modern s«*h«».»l building. Stettin li.»nt au«l showers. Li , brary. A tive, w»dl equipped Literary Healthful, accessible location, near Or.*sn-b.»ro. More than 1000 feet above sea level. Sane moral intlueuces an i , i aHs.H'iat-'v ('ours** thoroughly »-'»cftri!!g Literature and S i«:i •*. Hu«in»ss, Teaching. Muni**, i Ath'.eti •* Stronu tHU'liitrs, who know boy*; ili- ipline and government which appeal* bo their pride and manliness. Cost Reasonable. Session opens Sep tember 7th, l'U."». Writ• marly for illuMtrated catalogue. Oak Ridge Institute Oak Ridge, N. C. Heart Disease Almost Fatal to Young Girl "My daughter, when thirteen year* old. wait stricken with heart trouble. She was so bud we had to place her bed near a window 8 so ahe could get her breath One doctor said. 'Poor child, she in likely to fall dead any told me Dr. Miles' Heart Remedy had cured her father, so I tried It, and she began to im prove. She took a ureal many bot tles. but she is spared to me to day a fat. rosy cheeke.l girl. No one can imagine the confidence 1 have 111 I)r Miles' Heart Remedy ' A. R. CANON. Worth. Mo. The unbounded confidence Mr. Canon has in Dr. Miles' Heart Rem edy is shared by thousands of Others who know its value from experience. Many heart disorders yield to treatment, if the treatment is right. If you are bothered with short breath, fainting spells, swell ing of feet or ankles, pains about the heart and shoulder blades, pal pitation, weak and hungry spells, you >hould begin using Or Miles' Heart Remedy at once. Profit by the experience of others while you may. * Dr. Miles' Heart Remedy is sold and guaranteed by all druggists. MILES MEDICAL CO., Elkhart,. Ind., Laffargue PIANO Excolls in Purity of Tone and Durability of Construction. Calaoguc Free- Write Department S. R. J. BOWEN & BRO. Winston-Saleni. N. C. We carry a complete line of Edison Phonographs and Re cords. Write for catalogue of new records. CALOMEL WHEN BILIOUS? NO! STOP! MAKES YOU SICK AND SALIVATES "Godson's Liver Tone" Is Harmless To Clean Your Sluggish Liver and Bowels. T'trli! Calomel makes you siok. It's horrible! lake ;l do.** of the ilan/erou* •lruir t«>riijrlit :tnl tomorrow you rn.iy lost l a day'* work. ( aloniel i.j mercury or quicksilver Wlli.h rail*'* IIIMTIIHis of the In la. "me!, when it come* into eon tact wit 1 . >.eir lii lt> era-'e* int.. it. break ins; r U|'. I hi-i is wlien you feel that awful na::- -i an.! eratn|'iiiL'. Ii you ar.- ,-lu:.'- jih- .1 r..i ".i!I kri".|;n| out." if \ntir liver - t• >r:• i• i anil eon-ti|. ite.| or y« ti liave heailaehe. ili//ine«n coateil • t"' i! linatii i- t.,1 I nr -lonia ■ -•••nr. ! u-t I-1 i >|H.nniiil of liarml.-- I»• : ! I.iwr i one tonight MI inv guarantee. I Big Reduction in OIL STOVES We are offering $27. oU stoves at $22. ."r. $:M00 stoves at $20.00. $1(5.00 stoves at $12.-"jO. A big complete stock of E-Z Seal jars, jeliy glasses, tin cans and jar rubbers. Tobacco flues and repairing, tobacco knives, tobacco thermometers. ONTARIO grain drills. "Everything for the Home and Farm." STOKES HD W. & FURNITURE CO. P. T. HARRINGTON, Prop. Walnut Cove. » » • ■ North Caro. ,No Dirt. No Eipoiur.. Inaxpaniira. M.k. Ih. roof FIREPROOF init.ad ol FIRB INVITING. A stormproof root llut will ffroo you from all repair oxpeaee* ud lut ae lobk as the building. 7 For Sale by R. H. R. BLAIR, - Danbury, N. C. To The Public! The Hardbank store is coming to the front with a general line of merchandise of the latest styles, and is the bargain store of the country. Mpn's Pants and Shirts of all kinds, Ladies' Underwear of all kinds. Five papers of needles for 5 cents and all other goods in proportic n. Come and see me. I will do you right. Yours for business. W. P. NELSON, Danbury, N. C. R. 1. Liberty-Piedmont Institute Begins Its Next Session August 31st. 1915. i Thorough preparation for college offered. Koard 1 SB.OO per month. Room, light and fuel $2.00 per month. For full particulars apply to jj. M. CHEEK, Principal, WALLBURG, N. C. i I lero's ray jruarantee—Co to any 1 nig store ami pet a ."MI RENT kittle .it' Hud son s Liver lone. 1 ak»* a siioonfti! and if it doesn't straighten you n/ht up ami milk.- yon fed tine anil [ want you to i;o iiaek to the More and pet your money. Dodson's Liver Ton© is ilentroyilljr the Hale of calomel tieeailHf) it i* real liver HH-dlcine; elitiri'ly veir«- tahle. tlieri'fore it can not salivate or make you nick. I guarantee that one spoonful of Pod son's l.iver lon., will put your slitiririuit . liver to work alnl elcan vour bowels of that sour l.ile utnl const i pate. I was to which is i'lot'L'inu' your -t••rti and mak ing yon fi-i-l miserable. I L'liarantif that a bottle ol I Jii»J l.iver Tilth- will kiip your entire family feeling ' u- for month*. liive it to \otir children It. in , harml.i--; ih.-n't -.'ripe anl tins l.ke ta I plea-a lit ta-tc.
The Danbury Reporter (Danbury, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 18, 1915, edition 1
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