The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-01-24
INSPECTION OF FACTORIES
RESDLTS OF YEARS WORK BIZ IN
SPECTOR M'LE4N.

Factories to the Number of Lac Visited
and Also 254 Bakeshops-Changes Or
dered in 322 tories-Improvements in
Ventilation and Sanitation-Gu Guarding
Elevator Openings-Unsafe Buildings.
The annual report Of George L. Nc
Lean, inspector Of factories. just issued
shows that gratifying progress has baen
made during the eleventh year
of the department of the state
government. THE condition regard
ing safety to the life and
health of the employees in the factories
and workshops visited are clearly set
forth, with detailed statement Of the
inspections made and the orders issued
by this office during the year.
The inspector notes that the orders
given for Improvements in ventilation,
sanitary conditions and placing safe
guards about dangerous machinery
have, in most instances, been promptly 1
SoiiAPAASA WilAs A1uAlu5 LIE ytdI Esll4-f5
ing September 80, 1.426 factories and
254 bakeshops have been visited. sOf
the total number of factories visited,
changes were ordered in 1872. The num-
Der of male employees in factories visit
ed was 92.603, and Of female employees,
39,097.
Under the head Of ventilation the re-
port states that considerable improve-
ment has been made in many factories
where dust-creating machinery is
used. Ventilating fans for changing
the air and expelling the steam have
been put in. Many improvements have
been made in the ventilation Of buffing
and polishing rooms Of metal working
factories, by means Of exhaust sys-
TENS.
Elevators have been carefully inspec-
ted, and the Importance Of guarding
elevator openings has received careful
attention, and is being gradually real
lied by manufacturers. Automatic
matches and gates are taking the place
Of bars and chains, which are apt to be-
left out of place when most needed.
The provinging of factory buildings
means Of egress in case Of fire, as re-
quired by law, has received careful at
tention The enforcement Of the law is'
placed in the hands of the local author
tiles Since 1895 over sixty places not
properly provided with fire escapes
have been reported to the local author
tiles by the factory inspector.
During the year two unsafe factory
buildings have been reported. One OF
them is to be replaced by a new fire
proof building; the other has been re-
paired and is now considered safe
The cities of this state have in the past
few years given close attention to the
inspection of buildings within their linn
its, but the inspection of factories
seems to have been. understood by
many Of them as belonging to the fac
tory inspector. The report quotes the
law on this subject, which might be
studied with profit by local officials
who do not understand their duty and
authority in the matter.
The enforcement Of the law concern
ing sanitary conditions in factories has
been met with many difficulties. Some
manufacturers whose attention has
been called to lack Of proper sanitary
conditions have made the necessary
changes, but the following year has
shown that the Improvement was
merely temporary. The extension Of
the sewerage system in many places
will allow factory owners to pull in self
flushing closets, thus doing away with
earth closets, which are frequently
found to be in an unsanitary condition.
The inspection of bakeshops has been
very important part Of the work OF
the factory inspector. A general will
| lingness has been shown by the owners
of most bakeries to make the necessary
changes to conform with the law. Sew
eral health officers have reported In
their locality much improvement had
been made before their visit. Some
shops have been abandoned by the
lesees themselves or by order Of the To-
cal health officer, as they were realized
to be unsuitable places in which to pro-
| duce wholesome food. There can be no
reasonable excuse offered for the floors
of shops being covered with refuse,
dough which by the use Of scraper
shows that it has lain there many
days and become hard, or for
bard, or for barrels Of waste bread,
cake, egg shells and bad eggs allowed
| to accumulate in the shops which draw
| flies who seem to take a special delight
| in alighting OF; bread taken from the
| oven to cool. In making over one hum
dred second inspections, it gives the in
spector pleasure to say that conditions
existing at first visit have been largely
removed or were in process Of removal,
and that the local health officers
seemed willing to receive complaints re-
ported to them, and have shown de-
sire to order necessary changes.
Annual Sermon Postponed.
Owing to the inclemency of the