, 1873-05-29

10 the Editor of Tie Chicago Tribune:
SIN: Ono moro human life Inns been added to
the list Of Bacrilcos to mans Ignorance, caro-
1eBaness, cupfdity, or whatever nane may be
given to TINT disposition which cay1sos mon to
subordinate safety to tho dosiro to save oxponso,
regardless Of Consequences
It Ia truly shocking to m observing person 10
see tho number OF man-traps which are set, and
into which the unwary arc liable to fall. How
often thoy soouro tlloir victims, and how ready
most people arc to place tho responsibility on
tho carelessnesh Of tho persons killed or injured
ought 10 have known botter' than nj trust hi biimsor
on so 1imsy structure" Yet thousands arc
daily working on those apparently no bottor, and
| escape. tako it the foreman or superintendent
who, to save little timo Or expense, permits his
workmon to uso an insecure scarold, or work In
needlossly- y-oxposod paces, or who is 30 ignorant
that he docs not know whom they are III danger,
Ia really as guilty, il thoy aro injured Or killed,
as though ho deliberately planned thoir dostruo-
tion.
a foreman nhou1d be selected as much for abil-
ity and disposition to provide for tic safety Of
people employed i'll the vicinity Of his work, as
to gG suitable aoant and quality Of work out
careless and not aware of tho dangers they alo
ill., or afraid OF losing their places by offending
thd|r foreman =; # they object to working whore
These aro not the only nor tho worst dangers
to which thoy and tho community aro oxpoHotl.
Noarly every building Of any noto at the prosont
time IL supplied with ono or moro elevators, aud
ecarco weok pasaoB without some ono being
either killed outright or seriously injured by
their 1lso. Not that tls|s is necessary, but that,
first, tho largo majority Of tlioae who work
around and rido on tlao1n tlo not roafizo their
dangerous character and exercise the nocoBBary
caution; and also, and worry much more, because,
either through ignorance or dosire to savo OK
penBo, tho parties who arrange tho elevator and
itH surroundings do not properly protect it and
provide for tho Batety OF those who havc not tho
knowledge or presence Of mind to keep out Of
danger. Now, I claim, mud can demonstrate,
that an elevator can bo 80 arranged that It shail
bo next to impossible for porBon to get seri-
ouBly hurt by its ,lso Yet, after having seen
nearly eyery ono in tho city, nm compelled to
say that not ono In ton HoomB to bo arranged
with my Intelligent regard to such result. A
number lavo hal lnonoy enough expended OIL
them, but 80 uuwise]y that 1t only sorvoa 10 in
oroaae tho danger.
Talk to tho responsible parties, and most lkoly
they WIZ say. II people aro fools enough to
Responsible"
,,, when certain rendoring-tank exploded atltl
| Killed Two Or throo reraoia, tho owners wore
| .hou9ht to bo cfin'lna!ly responsible, because
thoy had been warnod TINT 1t was In nt, unsafo
condition., In that case. but few persons wore
oxposet, while probably thousands daily rido on
aud a1o liable to bo injured by oloyators, What
snai1 10 gaid then, OF those who, knowing those
faots and having their Attontiop tlxod to tholu
hy constantly occurring accidonts yet co9lly re-.
fuso 10 adopt Huoh Daioguardn gs would almost
entirely prevent such accidents?
mo slty compnls people to havo their boilers
lsRSH'eu nhpe pe'11o'oa aa TO provide against
and lmb4 must bo sacrificed before tloy viii be
required to mako their elevators safe, or bo ro-
BponBible for tho lves and limbs Of tho Victims
OF their nealeotf M EATON.