Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-07
pRscAUTIoNs AGAINST ACCIDENTS.

The fall OF an awning on K street on
Monday resulted in more or less serious
injury to score of people. The only won
der is, however, not that one awning should
have fallen, but that several did not. For
there are few things concerning which
more carelessness is manifested by property
owners than the safety of awnings. In
the case under notice the awning appears
to have been conspicuoasly insecure and
frail, yet the owner of the property had
neither taken any steps to strengthen it,
against putting confidence in it Ii prop
erty-owners generally understood that they
lay themselves liable to actions for swing
ing damages when accidents Of this kind
occur on their premises, it is probable
that they would be more careful. One
such suit is likely to cost more than great
many new awnings, and the property -owner
who endangers life and limb cannot expect
TO find any leniency in the courts. The
question, however, is somewhat broader
than this In towns where awnings are
as necessary as in Sacramento, and
where they are certain to be used
for sightseeing or all occasions, there
ought to be some means of guaranteeing
their safety. 10 this end it might be
made part of the duties Of either the City
Surveyor, the Superintendent of Streets,
or other official, TO inspect all the awnings
in the city once q year, and order the re-
moval or repair of such structures as he
found in dangerous condition. This is
the more desirable since wooden structures
which are painted are liable to fall into a
state of almost complete decay before their
condition is noticed They will hang to-
gether when riddled with dry or wet rot,
presenting a substantial appearance until a
heavy strain is put upon them, and then
collapsing with disastrous consequences.
Every man vino has an awning liable to be
used for sightseeing ought to welcome
such an annual inspection, Tor it would
guarantee him against the practically I'm
limited expense always liable 10 attend a
serious accident. OF course the right of
action Tor damages could not be surren-
dered or suspended, but at least an addi-
tional safeguard would be introduced by
adopting the plan here suggested.
-o-.---
SENATOR FARLEY ON The SITUATION
Senator Farley has been duly inter-
viewed, and as in duty bound he has grave
ly declared it as his opinion that tie
Democrats could carry California this year.
We shall not quarrel with the Senator for
saying this, for We realize fully, and with
a feeling Of commiseration, that it was I'M
possible for BIN to have said anything else,
or anything lees. lis among the moral
obligations laid upon members of Congress
that they must uphold their party when
ever called upon. II Senator Farley had
not believed it possible for the Democrats
to carry California, he could not have ven
trred to give ptterance to his belief II be
says anything on the subject, he must say
what will please his party. We know, aud
of course he knows equally well, that there
exist no grounds fer. the confidence he
evinced to the reporter, but we shall not
take an unfair advantage of him by blam.
ing him for a weakness which belongs to
his situation. The only thing which does
amaze us is that it should be thought worth
while to gather and telegraph the neces.
sarily constrained. and artificial expressions
OF partisans who in the nature of the case
cannot give valuable information or trust
worthy opinions about political prospects.
They may have very shrcwd ideas as to
the tendency of things, bat they are de-
barred from making these ideas known,
and all that can be got from them is the
repetition OF the regular party eateehism.