New-York tribune., 1886-11-07
ELECRIO LIGHT DANGERS.

THE STATEMENTS WHICH sET THE ELECTRIC
CLUB BY THE EARs-wHAr THE 'croR SAYS.
The address of DR.. George H. Benjamin
which, on Thurs lay night, threatened for time to
strange the debating society OF the Electric CluO az It's
brth Is as follows:
L. 1882 Board Of Fire Underwrers Of the City OF
adop a series Of ru relative TO the pre-
he observed In the ihtroincon OF the cleo
tric light buildings. winch were pnpishei st the
time. ami with wncn You are al ioiot rss IA nlAr.
Ho sever these rules have been suited 20 ths
dat. OF th-r promu believe Will he generally
admit tel that nBsute and mad quAe To the
pIr.-ni needs Win all ur IN iustries practice
OF new arts. Il has the ALLOW he utmost
Iatnud- and ~ Impose IA few rrstrctlons "a u
pD--lDls Datlbr with pubio welfare this with Tue
idea Of len encOuragrmen' ana fac sung tue IN
Production o ar or industry ouI wnrn after
time the Industry or arr has 'ecpns wen u,aerseoo
AMI established firm commercial basis" furtnrr ana
supplemental restrictions are generally impo-sd WIN
tue Intention OF ~ KING tue Dl scn , ars o
industry absolutely SAFE for all coneern7 those engsx-
DTactss thereof well a. those using OF being
When the hangers arising from the employment OF
.Orce as are Irq'ltsa ,, h h D,e,I,n,o NJ tbs
raised ny those engaged In the business
unsnted abuse was nsaPed on the hr'ds o. h~ Hn-
fortanars had dared 10 have the iemerty TO adj
vance radical IDEAS Time WORKS wonders. AMI
c'ribt nor that t-day wen those employed nusi
ness eectrie-lgnng and feel ths necessity or
urec iuJlOn.ry rules AMI likewise tue adVsAohlty OF
70 orsspoS NV prsmlss@ a. statei would rsspeci-
fully refer them 70 the disastrous hres anl terrlOc
accidents winch have been lately recorded III
rns d,Ily press-hr~s when caused the des-
truetion OF large amounts OF valuable property am
accidents by wncu men wer- unnecessarily ueprvei OF
life say unnecessarily. as reEaris nc, AS ths pos
sDiity slaughter should Dc guarded .gains Dy
aD-nlte Or rpuibtlou. aud statutory en-
actmsnt making penal Ofsnce 10 iirrct or npoy
men, however exp-rienced IN tnst class or electrical
WORK slgns 81 oversight or unavailable slip
nlrans and instant death
some you may b. inclined TO ar2ue thst employers
snon not held responsible for the careessues and
neg OF tneir mem that tue men seek me empoy
w be saS cs ne TS for aud
IN III Of
potent actor ia cAasag those Ia need 20
obtain situations. hcwey-r srrat the risk On
aileh. II the rsneiy directed toward the foun-
talnheai ana the principal or mAnIsement OF tne com,
pany empioyinS snch dangsrous currents were neia
personally Responsible then they w"ulh MAKE It their
business unnecessary risks were enal~d.
and they would In effect "ooons guardians Vi tnelr
. - ~,
to warn the average electric hght liHe- nan OF acnne
attendant 90 careful Is sure u provoke drrist1
smile 4" All right ru iook out Tor NY ell. was the
answer of an AMI experienced empuye IN western
city .iEce In less than two inmates there
open. II president OF the company hsd been
iuly aware that he wodId 1e held respon'oie TOT
mat circuit was open anu human He would not
nave been useil-ssy sacrncei. some may areue thit
there ars occasions when pOsspe 20 open tue line
lOss Dr pa 'ic Inconvenience Ahd thss
cpsrAtlon To those say that there can no occasion
wnlch M tmpOye must necessary RISK ms ne.
WHAT does matter one twenty, MY or any nunDer
OF lgnts Ou NOtnng compare u human
hfe ANA particularly I MAINTAIN that no condition
can arisr necessity OF cutting out any sucn
n mher OF lights Is obligatory. 49, 49,. -
When A a under AVS Is trlcl Tor uls Hts, tue
law pr.sum s hn innocent There are many eases on
record wn-re " tbOusan IL of dollars naYe b--n
exp-nd-d the OF men probably not AZ worthy
of fellows a'ely so .nto y sausn-
tersd-nor- money. yes. twice over. thAn woult have
required t0 buy out and oOltsras tns electres
eompani-s owning pianl wncn caused their death
good OF tue many one puOiiel may a. Times require
electric ght company not tue good OF the puDc ana
II Is nconprsDeasOle that mere c"InD-re.i concern
should earslessnrss or Ignorance 10
sacrifice the life OF mesn-st OF human beings
Therefore contend 1nat strn cent aud proniol DRY
h.a a.lnnTa ad m lk-
iufurr An impossbuify and further. that such rues
should have the cordial support OF every one TUG
true interest lighting or the transmssOb OF
80 far a. tne risks from fire concerned. Is not
n.ressary 20 -nuin-rzts them. Unfortunately SAD 81
p.ri-ncr his made tnem "niy too WEI uhierstood.
Csr- ess stupid aud ono may say cfiihinaly loose
r ha.s OF WIRING been the rule rAtner man me
exception I'M. country OF course Win some noaoIs
exceptions; and all those WI" hA'r caleIny .u ,, 'i
t- suDsc and with tue ne"ls sol that
he enforcmsnt OF proper aud stringent russ w ho'
ON aay puDlc ami restore confluence OUT HAo-
wise materially bcnYnt tho iusiry. -
cont, nd E~n men, that We snou.d look upon TINS
subject broad iSnt and Tree from the narroW pJu ~,
dice or We should recognize ne Necessity anu
not A.t"np. TO sv.o vlo IN ~ .c.s.itats Slightly
s-ctric p.ant psrrye1o1 .t6oasa .Iiy am
s-s sost OF T,ursncs aud he general confidence
In tina phbhc mind will Oe good interest
upon such additional outlay
Dr. BENJAMIN then read number OF proposed reguia
tions and precautionary measures, which, ne statsd' II
adopted by the companies would obvats In great
measure the evils complained OF IN his address These
we're reached IN the lively discusslon
when followed.
.rhs best way TO vindicats ysolf" said DIR. Bena
min 10 TRIBUNE reporter yesterday. frOn the charges
aud remarks 10 10 pup
liam thpm. and criticism from "tners 1nsh eiro-
all the difference III Tue Worlo
Whose bull is gorod, AMI esctrie cobp"hirs ~nose
ms, nois luvsstgstl"n are ho' un Ni"t W &C
tne spirit in wh'h IL Is onrte
From su sssqueut conysrsSion WIN ibenc"rs OF ,ne
eub VINO were pr-sent wnen MI horrison maur MS
au persuaded tnat ne ala ho' 'ocs
rIe OF the matter cons qushty
anal nor resign mOership "n th- Ex"cuts. |oH
,,lfta. 4 1 would in tns heat or tue iu"tbonI
uumDer OF Insurance ineu "-so c"''- "" u. -
.nt ed estlmates ~ 10 loss Oy /
would undounledlyb-giao 10 ssr son- u"'
f,riu .yptetu electric hEhtin< Ar' i W
no w.r a1optsd by cOmpsnlrs Inc "lnoai Ihspec-
po"o, .Ppr,e., spu.f aus IN New-YDrk IL ntue more
,t.n fares casrs, and Tue carelr-s way OF
Irnrnr wires adopted by some companies cas Tor 70
d.s not tns Interest OF Tue puOie 0ut Tor our
o. Eood reputation
a G DsvIs, tho cluO and treasurer OF the
Con sodaLsd Electric Lxnt Company, No 81 Sassau-
- sorry a. the p-r-Onsl tnrn W Ten tho
isDAts assumed. unt surs Dr. Benz anin viii over
10 Il AZ ~ ofsuc. iul-p,d by Ar M"rrlson rne
effect cub Will bo henrncizL II derat"s
merely to he iDuual almirauoJ anara, no good Will
cOno OF Ald Cue uetbote can stanl m
vestlzat0u asds riIe-n Tile thry neel IL "siie
indOrsr al tho OPINIONS Of DE- BoniAmins
rec discussion OF them can 40 uO harm.
"Whal-yer damage 10 liis and pr perry isooue ~
trlcal apparatus 10 we'll known u me p"o,o -.
Dr. BeuJsInIn Is NOT dIsclosI & u Tor tue "s 49,
QUE might tning from M"rrisons reusf-s. s.es |
nio MAINTAIN tnat nuun loss d-n'@S' ,'.
electric gnL thxn yet u hetns es" oe
20 r-sur- the dangers aIt.pdnx our sJ stem - eos
ly onr AIN .nd nm ,rsst adopt them ooa tnr
incrss.s attrnfsnco ~ our rrkutaf hoe-
ings succe.slou oi p.psrS y" Tue s~n'o suooo'
from different points OF VIZ"
"Have you heard the great dissatisfaction ex-
ttfa hT