Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-03-04

dren Under Fourteen Years Touaa
In Thirty~sevsn Piacss-Nsed Of eys-
tematic Inspection Of Steam Plaats.
The Diuner- PAN Brigadcs.
The results of factory inspection In the
State of Michigan during the year. 1So6
are detailed in the annual report Of the
Commissioner of Labor. There were
1901 manufacturing places visited during
the year, which il a decrease of lag from
the number inspected in 1895. The cause
of the decrease Ia due to the necessity OF
bringing the years work to close earlier
than usual in order that the report might
be prepared by Commissioner Morse,
whose term of Office expired with the
month of February.
For the convenience of the department
the State IL divided into five inspection
districts. In the first 800 factories were
visited, in the second 628, in the third 725.
in the fourth 800 and In the fifth 342. Out
of the total of 1901 factories inspected
2,572 were running and 419 were idle. The
number Of factories running on full time
was 2,1S7 and on part time 1856. BY rea-
son of the factories running on short time
a loss of &c, 1858 hours each week u figured
by the inspectors. This means loss to
labor of SOC days each day, or 1oS,37S
days per year. The financial loss Ia COM
puted at $194, SO4 per year, figuring each
days labor ut 1.23, the average wages
paid all factory employees In the State In
1896 A still greater loss 10 computed
from the failure of the factories to be op-
Grated at their full capacity, the aggregate
financial loss being SIS, 745, 1853.
The number of male employees at the
date of the inspection was S7,OZ7 and or
females 14,026, a total Of 101 ,O53. The
number of factories employing females
was SS4. and the number employing chill
dren over IA and under 16 was 315, there
being 1,444 children between the ages
named employed. Thirty-seven factories
were found where in the aggregate sixty
six children under the age of IA years
were employed.
The aggregate monthly pay rolls in the
factories inspected were S., 237 1882, the
average monthly pay roll $1,25S.S2, the
average per capita per year for employees
$384.4S. Over 1900 factories allow 90
minutes for dinner, while 564 allow less
time. The average hours per day requir-
ed of males under IS and females under
u
tories requiring ten hours labor.
OF the 2,572 factories inspected S56
had hosting shafts and well holes prop
cry guarded and secured, while but ten
did not. Automatic trap doors or gates
were provided by 43O out of $40 factories
having elevators. The stairs were found
properly guarded in 1874 out of LTD
factories where stairs were used. The
\ n E. = 40 vuyoV
found to swing outward or slide where
practicable. Fire escapes were provided
by 462 factories out of 494 where they
were deemed necessary. Shutters were
used for throwing belts in 2, 1OS factories,
and in 1904 watts, pans and machinery
were properly guarded, while in 1874 there
was found insufficient protection to en-
ployes. Dust arresters and exhaust fans
were found in all but 80 of the factories
where they were deemed necessary. All
but 20 factories were supplied with suita-
BILE wash rooms and closets. Changes
were ordered by inspectors in COO fac
tories.
The record of accidents for the year
1896 il favorable one, the whole number
being 164, and the whole number of fatal
accidents IA. Compared with 1895, this
is a decrease of 80 in the number of acct
dents and of 20 in the number of fatali-
ties.
In 1895 over 80 per cent of the factories
inspected were running, and about 81 per
cent were running full time. In 1896 only
little over SO per cent of the factories
inspected were running, and only 70 per
cent of them were running on full time.
In 1895 the average wages per capita was
$1.32 per day, while in 1896 ii was $1.23.
Commissioner Morse alludes to.the fact
that in the past few years the question
of boiler inspection has been agitated,
many persons claiming that boiler explo-
sions were often due to neglect caused by
the engineers voluntarily absenting them
selves from the vicinity of their engines,
or being called upon to perform other du-
ties which necessarily took them away
from their boilers. Quite often, ii Is said,
the engineer is man of all work in
factory by reason of experiences in caring
for machinery. During the past year the
factory inspectors found out of 1891 fac
tories visited 1903 using steam power, 46
using water and steam and 500 using 9th
er kinds of power. The number of boilers
in use was 2,946, having an aggregate
horse power of 212, 751, the average horse
power for each factory being Tx. The
number of engineers employed was 1862,
and the number of factories requiring
other work of their engineers was 1,O36.
In % factories inexperienced persons
were found caring for engines and boilers.
In view of these discoveries the Labor
Commissioner says there is apparently an
increased demand for law providing for
rigid inspection of steam boilers
1t Is believed that State inspection
would be better than municipal inspection,
although the latter in large cities, it is
thought, would answer very WELL The
inspection might well be made a part Of
factory inspection, but in any case only
well-known experts should be employed
as inspectors. A moderate fee to be paid
by owners would meet the expenses of in
spection and the publication of reports.
The commissioner suggests that in con-
nection with the boiler inspection there
should be an examination of engineers.
Too many men who are incompetent and
irresponsible, 1t is declared, are entrusted
with the duties of engineers, and IL these
men are charged with other duties, too, it
is hardly to be wondered ut that accidents
occur. Undot btedly, II Is said, the Legis-
lature should 'rovide for a thorough sys-
TEN of boiler inspection.
Attention is called to the fact that there
are to-day very few children employed in
manufacturing establishments in viola
ton of the law. 1t must I've remembered,
however, that where the employment Of
children under IA years of age II absolute
~ prohibited, a certificate from parents
or guardians admits any child over IA
info anv factory Undoubtedly N few
children are employed after furnishing