National Republican., 1883-08-03
The Danger OF EIovntnra.

THE REPUBLICAN some time ago called at
tention to the many accidents which have
occurred on elevators, and suggested that an
opportunity be offered some person of in
ventive genius to achieve fortune and be-
| come public benefactor A number of
manufacturers and proprietors of the various
patents of elevators havo lately been inter
viewed on the subject of their safety by re-
porter of the New York World, and they
fully sustain the statements mado by THE
REPUBLICAN. The engineer of large build
ing in New York city, in which six elevators
are in use, said that there was nothing at
tached to any of them that would check the
car in a rapid descent. All of tho elevators
have some patent for device which it is
claimed renders them safe, hut this engi-
neer has no confidence in any of them.
lie for the past fifteen years has
run the Otis hydraulic, the Whit
tier steam, tho Galland, and several
others, and while as yet he has had no acci-
dent, he frankly says that there is no telling
when an unforeseen accident may occur. His
plan is to make frequent examinations of the
ropes, and if he discovers the slightest trace
of weakness at any point on one of them to
take it out and replace il with sound one.
He mentions case where ropo broke in
some other building than his when about
twenty feet from tho floor, and the car
dropped, breaking through tho floor. This
car had safety apparatus attached. The
spring which was intended in case of accident
to push out two bolts and pin the car to the
sides was crystalized, and proved of no value
whatever. In his opinion, the safety appli-
and attached to the car. He concludes that
the travel on elevators as now con-
| structed is always accompanied with danger.
Another engineer says whenever he starts the
mach nery of an elevator he has fears of an
accident He condemns the use of wire ropes
on the ground that they are less reliable than
hemp or other material because defects in
them are difficult to discover. lie does not
believe any of the safety appliances are re-
liable.
Mr.. Clapp, the manager Of the Granville
Elevator company, does not regard any Of the
safety appliances now in use as answering the
purpose. Mr.. Hall, manager of tine Otis Ele-
vator company, claims that his elevators are
| all made of good ulster iron and strong at
tachments, and that if they arc managed by a
man of good, cool Judgment tho danger is not
great. He condemns the practice of boys or
| ignorant men having charge of elevators. Mr..
Vaughn, of the Whittier company claims that
his elevators are comparatively safe, but does
not think the Otis patent is. The manager of
Bates's automatic elevator says that there are
many safety appliances in use, but in his opin-
ion If a rope breaks on any of them the
car will drop to the bottom.
Mr. Murtagh thinks there ought to be a law
to regulate tho manufacture of elevators. He
says he is always in dread of an accident on
any elevator.
This testimony from manufacturers and
practical engineers is certainly of character
to put people on their guard who travel in or
manage elevators, and there certainly can be
found some man in this country of inventors
who can devise means to make elevators, II
not absolutely safe, certainly much more SC
than they now are.