The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-18
any serious flaw they might find in the
bridge work.
Men Like the Work.

any serious haw they might ma In the
bridge work.
Men Like the Work.
People who watch the work of paint
ing the big bridge think that it is a
dangerous and nerve-racking task for
the men employed, but, as a matter OF
fact, the men say they would rather
work as painters on the Brooklyn
bridge than upon a good many houses
or apartment buildings. They say that
on the bridge they can see what they
are doing, and that there is always
good scaffold support. Half the acct
dents that occur on job of ordinary
housepainting are due to the slipping
or breaking of the masonry to which
the painters swinging scaffold has
been fastened. Another cause of danger
is the fact that it is frequently long
and troublesome task to move the
swinging scaffold so that the men can
comfortably reach a new place. To save
themselves the work of moving the
stage, painters will often hang over
the edge of the scaffold in attitudes
that simply court fall.
On the bridge there are none of these
objections. Because of the numerous
spider-web ropes which support the
roadway and bridge floor there is no
lack of secure places from which the
PoAilNClo SCdlIOlQ Cdll DC SW uIS. OIl
the highest and most dangerous parts
of the bridge these ropes are closest
together. In fact nothing but the
grossest carelessness can bring about n
serious accident during the work of
painting the bridge. The men can, at
any time, move from the stage to the
work itself, without risk and, because
of the numerous seats which the wire
ropes AFFORD, it is very easy matter
to move the swinging stages.
In most of the locati on the bridge
the ordinary painters hanging scaffold
is used, but there are some places
where the exisencies of the work COM
pei the employment of the device
known as a "boatsw aims chair" This
is simply small piece of plank--or
sometimes a legless chair--which is
supported in a loop. The loop is at
tached to long rope which runs
through a pulley In moving it the
painter places himself so that he is
seated on the plank and usually ties
himself in. Then helpers take hold of
the rope and draw him UP to the point
at which he desires to work. The
"boatswain's chain" is largely used by
riggers and by men engaged in paint
ing the masts and gear of ships.
Most Dangerous Place.
The worst part of the work and the
only task which is not readily under
taken by the men, is the work on the
main towers. Any one who will notice
will see that these are reached by
walking UP the main cables which sup
port the bridge. On each side of this
giddy path wire rope is fastened, to
act as hand rail, but any one who
looks can see that there are many
places where these hand rails will
either be above the workmans head or
else on level with his feet. AS a
matter of fact the task of walking up
one of the main cables to reach the
tower is about as unpleasant and risky
a one as can be found. The actual risk
Of death is not very great, for at all
points the adventurer has a strong
hold for each hand on wire rope, but
If he slips he has for a few seconds
the horrible sensation of hanging over
nothing in particular until he can
again find a place for his feet.
1t is absolutely necessary that the
men shall sometimes travel up and
down on these cables, in the work of
painting the bridge, somewhat elaborate
contrivances are used to afford the
men securer protection on each side.
The cable Slants at a most uncomfort-
able angle for walking, and, although
there is a great deal of jarring vibra-
ton in the cable So much of this shak-
ing is sometimes apparent that the men
/ will not only. make the trip in their
stocking feet or while wearing rubbers
When the painters are at work the
wire rope hand rails are reinforced
with ropes and bound down at certain
places so as to make sure that they
will always be within reach of the
mems hands.
The easiest task in the work of paint
| ing the bridge is, OF course. the paint
| ing of the ironwork on the footway
! 1t is considered as safe as that on the
roadway and trolley track is dangerous
The bridge painters say that trolley
men and truck drivers are so unac-
| customed to seeing pedestrians OF
workers on the roadway that they
take no precautions whatever and the
men, therefore. have to be constantly
on the lookout to avoid being rur
| down.
The work of painting the bridge, in.
Guiding the preliminary cleaning, has
now been in progress nearly month
1t will take the best part of another
thirty days to complete the task