Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-31

Coroner The establishment of a city hospital
where the sick and MANNED could be properly
attended is OF vital Importance IN county
daily increasing in population rs this is. Prompt
action should be taken by the proper author-
ties for the erection and maintenance OF such
an institution. A few months ago one of the
Juries drawn by the Coroner embodied in its
Verolct strong recommendation in this regard.
TROUBLE AT GRADE CROSSINGS.
Another source of prolific trouble, which
has resulted in several deaths. is the wholly in
adequate protection to citizens at grade cross
ings. This has been remed1ed in many places
by the erection of proper safety gates and over
head bridges and by the placing of flagmen
where none existed before. Immediate atten-
tion should be given to such other places where
there Is even the remotest danger to human
lie. AS long rs the evil of grade crossings eX-
lists no measure for the protection of Lille can
compensate for the daily and hourly risks ill.,
Cured not only by pedestrians. nut by pas
senSers in the various railway, traction and
electric cars.
Two recent deaths by the failure and crimi-
nal neglect TO erect fire escapes are yet fresh
IN memory. The defective legislation on this
subject should he yemcded by the next Legis
laturo in order that the responsibility for pre-
venting such fragrant violations of the law, as
it now exists. may be definitely designated.
Prosecutions shonld follow quickly in the non
compliance with the order CT the Board of Fire
Escapes.
Overhead wires have received the attention
of many juries during the past year and the
condennatory verdcts entered in cases where
loss of life followed the coming IN contact with
such wires shows what an awful and great
menace to human and animal life they are.
There is but one remedy for this evil and tnat
is the placing of all wires charged in any way
with the deadly electric current under ground,
where according to the testimony of many eX-
perts before the Coroner, they will be OF the
same utility and serve the same purpose LOT
which they now strung overhead
Work of the fire department is constantly
interfered with by those wires and Ill conse-
sequence great loss of life and property occurs
that mirht he avoided we're tile fremen able
to raise their ladders unimpeded by sucn oD-
stacles.
MANY DEATHS ON ELEVATORS.
"Many cases of death have been reported to
the Coroner. caused by the criminal negligence
of property owners where elevators are used.
These deaths, in most cases. have been caused
by incompetent and inexperienced hands en-
ployed to run the elevators, and by the total
absence of sufficient safety~guards around the
elevator shafts. in direct violation OF an aeS OF
Assembly. The factory bill should be amended
by the present Legislature requiring all manu-
featuring companies and others using elevators
to employ comDetent, experienced ana aault
hands to run the same,
THE number of homicides during the year
has been unusual. but the active and effective
work of the police departments of Pittsburg
and Allegheny and suburban towns laid heavy
hand on the perpetrators of such crimes, and
every assistance possible has been given the
Coroner in placing the responsibility. especially
where the death seemed to be shronded in mys-
terry.
"Ihe establishment of a public morgue will
probably come before the present Legislature as
itshuud. county of the trst-class can hard
ly overlook the necessity OF such repository
for the unknown dead. The private morgue
now in existence has received, cared
for and succeeded in having identi-
fed by published description, photographing.
and otherwise owe: $50 out of 1877 bodies re-
ceived: that number being for the city of Pitts
burg alone. There are numerous cases OF un-
known persons being killed in the suburbs OF
the city and a public morgue would be a
blessing to the county Of Allegheny.
In The same line the appointment of
physician at fixed salary to hold autopses
when needed and the appointment of Deputy
Coroner at fixed salary would tend to de-
crease the expense to the county very
materially
"The fact that during 1880 one dozen persons
were drowned in the rivers surrounding the
two cities, and their bodies never recovered
shows the necessity of establishing q river po-
lice patrol to recover the bodies of the
drowned and protect from drowning as far as
possible the hundreds of people who 20 to the
rivers. The ordinance introduced by Marx
Donley, chief clerk in the Coroner'S office, and
member of Council from the Twenty-fourth
ward, Pittsburg, for the establishment of such
patrol, conld well be passed at this time, and
it is earnestly hoped that this suggestion may
meet with the desired action on the part of the
Councils of the city Of Pittsburg."