The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-01-14
STATE FACTORY INSPECTION.
Annual Report of George l.. Mclean,
 State Inspector.

! AIluuul ILtpoil Ol NTeOlS SC i<' VuSASdH,
 State Inspector.
 The annual report of George l.. Me- 1 Lean, state inspector of factories, shows
 that much progress has been made dur
 ing the twelfth year of the existence of this department of the state govern l ment.
 | It is noted by the inspector that the | orders given for improvements in ven- tilation, sanitary conditions and guard ing of dangerous machinery have, in
 most cases, been promptly complied
 with and the inspector courteously re-
 ceived.
 The report states that 1,425 factories and 211 bake shops have been visited during the year ending September 30, 1898, and the conditions of them report
 ed in the printed tables.
 In referring to the work Of the de- partment the inspector says that much good was accomplished under the oper- ation of the original law, but that greater scope was given by the enact ments of the legislatures of 1SS9 '93 and 95, and the report states in reply to the inquiry which is often made of
 
 compished by the factory laws of the state, that by a careful investigation of the causes of accidents which have oc- cured during the past four years it has been found that had certain precautions been taken, and the orders given been complied with at once Gnstead of wait ing four weeks, as is allowed by law, some of the accidents might not have taken place.
 The inspector says further that 1t is his opinion that more lives are endan- gered by being employed in unhealthful occupations than by the use of danger ous machinery. although great improve ment Is apparent in the matter of fac tory ventilation in the past few years.
 The report says that elevators have been carefully examined and if the ca bles were found cut or crystallzed new ones have been ordered. Safety appl- ances were also required where needed. No fatal accident has been reported in factories for two years past, but in the mercantile buildings and storehouses in Hartford alone two fatal accidents have been reported as having occurred. The inspector says that automatic hatches which are operated by the movement of the elevator car have proved satis- factory, by the use of which the shaft remains covered at each floor during the progress of the car, thus removing the danger of operatives falling through an open shaft.
 The enforcement of the law requiring the proper means of egress be placed on all factory buildings is in the hands Sf .;t 4l, l.. his report says that many violation have been reported to him. Tn most cases proper means of egress have been provided, in some instances, however, nothing was done, one of which the in- spector quotes as a case in point, it referring to a four story building wherein a canvas chute has been placed in position in lieu of a permanent fire e-cape or additional stairway; he add ed that it is doubtful if a fire should occur in that building that the employees on the upper floor would use this | means of escaping Referring to the statute requiring every person owning | or operating factory employing more than five persons to provide suitable | water closet accommodations, the re- | DOTL says JIldL lIt chLSIlSlOll DI LIle SEW | craze systems in the larger cities has | been the means of great improvement | in this regard.
 The inspector also states that several | complaints have been made during the ! past year in regard to insufficient light !, In work roofs, and that there being no clause in the factory laws of Connecti- cut, as in other states, requiring work rooms to be properly lighted, he recom- mends that the laws of this state be changed so as to conform with those of others.
 The inspection of bake shops is shown by the report to have been a very inn portant part of the work of the depart ment, and a marked improvement is noticed by the inspector as compared to the conditions which existed the pre- vious year. Only about one-half the number of complaints have been made to local health officers as were made turing the preceding year. The report shows most clearly the causes which