The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-06
SAFETY DEVICES IN USE
FACTORY INSPECTOR MOERsCH
REPORTS THAT THEY INCREASE
state Labor Bureau Chronicles a
More Thorough Compliance With
the Law Requiring the Protection
of Labor In Mills and Other Man.
mess Is Prosperous.

Factory Inspector Moersch returned
yesterday from trip through the
northern part of the state, and reports
that several new industries have To-
Gated in Douglas and Otter Tail coun-
ties, and there has been quite a re-
V1Val of activity in the old plants
At Alexandria a new washing ma
chine factory has just gone in and is
IN 1ull operation giving employment
10 twenty five men. Scattered through
the northern counties a great number
OF small manufacturing establishments
nave gone into business, and the crop
prospects nave lent an increased feel
ing OF confidence in that section of the
state.
MT. Moersch states that everywhere
increased safeguards are being placed
On the lie OF the employed in manu-
facturing establishments. Employers
are taking better care of their en-
proves, and equipping their machinery
win such safeguards as will reduce
the death rate from accident. Since
the factory regulations went into effect
IN this state the death rate has been
materially reduced.
Many people have an idea" said
Mr. Moersch, THAT a greater number
or the accidents occurring In manufac-
turing establishments are caused by
but this Is not the case The largest
proportion, fully so per cent, Is caused
by exposed set screws, and exposed
bolts and collars The more modern
machinery is equipped with safety col
lars, bolts and set screws, but there
is a great deal which even now Is pat
termed after the old style, and causes
many accidents in the factory. There
Is a good deal of machinery shipped
Into the state which does not have
these safety collars and bolts.
There are" continued Mr.. Moersch,
many accidents which occur from
time to time in mills and other manu-
featuring establishments for which
there is no remedy, and no matter how
much precaution is taken they are
bound to happen occasionally. A cou-
pie OF weeks ago man was killed in
a mill in Duluth. He had been in the
mill business for twenty years, and the
accident was directly caused by care
.lessness. His clothes became entan-
gied in Wheel and he was almost in
stantiy killed. The only way to guard
against such accidents is to use or,1i-
nary care, and wear light tight-fittins
clothing. Where it can be done, belt
ing and shafting Is boxed, but, in the
case of the millwright who was killed
at Duluth, the nature of the machinery
would not permit Of it's being boxed
over.
1.-The department has an emergency
chest, which it recommends to the
employers of all factory labor It costs
but comparatively small amount, and
a large number of establishments have
been equipped with these. The depart
ment also issues a poster, which gives
general directions for the care of the
injured until a physician arrives
1.-THE emergency chests are almo st
invaluable to every factory, because in
a great many cases factories are
good ways from doctor, often being
some distance out of town.
II have just about completed the in
spection of Northern Minnesota, and I
have noticed a marked improvement in
all the factories visited since last year.
My report will show a considerable in
crease in the number Of men employed
and the number of factories visited.
Next week I will finish up the north
ern part of the state, visiting towns on
the Breckenridge division of the Great
Northern"