New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-07
SAFE ELEVATOR TRAVEL
DEVICES TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS.
,yspscrroy by THE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND

INSPECTION By THE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND
ITS BENEFICIAL RESULTS.
According 10 the careful calculation OF leading
manufacturer OF passenger and freight eis'a'o's
the number OF persons carried by these necnah'ca
devices each day Of the year In Ne"-fofH anu
Brooklyn IL 10000. This does not mean 'ha'
5000 diHersn, persons are passengers for IL H.
Guides those who may be carried up and down In
the same elevator dozen times a day. Further in
.eres: IN the subject ia excited By the statement
thu. III. number Of elevators Of all kinds and de-
scripiions operating IN New-York alone il 1000
When these two statements are studied Tor II"
moments the question naturally arises. HOW u u
tina, there are not a larger number OF accidents
happening each year from this source? The an
swer 10 such a query may be found In the safety
appliances attached 70 every modern elevator car
and also in the monthly inspection By expert ma
chinis,s made in the Interests OF the owner Of the
building and the Insurance companies which insure
the owner against loss Of lie and property through
elevator casualties.
II il thirty years since the hrst elevator
for passenger purposes was constructed and sue
cesgfully operated. The power then used was
steam Twenty years ago hydraulic power was IN
,roduced and ever since has been the safest ana
most satisfactory Of all kinds although electricity
has been widely adopted and IS now in general use
for certain kinds Of work. Steam Is still made use
OF for freight elevators In all high buildings the
power employed 70 run the elevators. as general
rule Is hydraulic. for the reason that experience
has shown IL 70 be the most durable and sa'isfac-
tory Electricity finds a wide field OF activity In
private houses apartments and ali other buildings
where the speed required II not high and the load
not heavy. and where the power Is ;aker from the
power lines in the street.
The mechanical devices attached 10 elevators 10
proven. accidents and loss OF life from the falling
OF the car are Of three kinds. First may be mer-
toned the ratchet safety and grip safety. which
are intended stop the II 1t starts 10 fall for
any reason. Second. IL arrangement with a
governor attached for regulating the speed OF the
car. con,rived that II the car exceeds given
speed I, f. automatically brough: 10 A stop. Third.
"a an attachment which limits the car 20 the DIS
lance II may travel upward or downward. The pas
senger IS thus assured that II the car runs away
he cannot be carried up through the roof or
dropped into the bowels Of the earth through the
cellar
Accidents will happen. and elevators have had
certain share of them but IL IL asserted by those
in touch with this subject that OF all the various
kinds Of systems for carrying people 70 and fro
upward downward, there are few er casualties, In
proportion TO the number OF people carried on The
elevators The majority Of accidents occur from
persons trying TO get on or of elevators when they
are IN motion or contrary 20 rules. certain num-
shafts by reason Of open doors or doors faulty In
construction where the blame may be laid largely
with the elevator. And. again. large number OF
casualties will be found happening In building In
process Of construction. where the elevator inclos-
ure has not been finished.
The public may congratulate itself upon system
which has become o, untold value through the
rules Of insurance compa nes-namely the regular
inspection made monthly by experts OF all cables.
cars and machinery connected with an elevator
MI nj
policies 20 owners Of buildings protecting them
gs;ors. Before accepting a fisk the examiner of
the company makes sxamina ton, which must
eSe bss are Continued every month
or two. and when defects are found the owner is
Informed and the same must receive his immediate
attention. This system Of inspection has been i'm
proved from year TO year. until AZ the present
ers Of property as Of the highest importance
The hoist elevators. temporary affairs used IN
the construction Of all important buildings, are
intended for carrying up building material to the
upper floors. Originally they were not meant n 10
extent, and as result there have been many acci,
working all around them while the Enclosures are
made sufficiently complete TO prevent getting
freight elevator. az found in the mercantile houses
OF New York. are constructed 70 run at speed OF
age from 1000 TO 400 pounds. although they Gan
be made 10 hoist as high az 2OGp pounds me ne
3Ol feet a minute, going from that up TO 40 and
go feet the express elevators. When II Is taken
easily $50 feet minute it will be seen tns, the
average speed Ia Of not much danger: The OLD
method OF running elevator up and down by
means OF hauling a cable has been superseded
by levers. wheels and electric buttons. and the
wear and tear upon a conductor have been proper
tonatey reduced Complaint is made in some quar-
tiers that in the uptown portions OF the city where
apartment houses are put up for the purpose or
being sold when completed. the elevators put In
arc Of the lightes, and cheapest kind. and that
some danger therefore exists for those who are
obliged TO ride therein. II Is a matter OF surprise
that more casualties have not taken place. On
the other hand II IL argued that these elevators
run at n low rate OF speed. and seldom. II ever,
carry than one. two or three persons; which
renders IL unnecessary TO have the heavier and
more substantial kind Of cars and machinery
put In.