Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-03

of dollars and cents, believing that the
most effective argument, for how can
men render satisfactory service if in
distress of body and mind? have the
professional opinion of DR.. j.. F. Ken
nedy secretary of the state board of
health regarding this important mat
ter, and he, from medical point of
view, condemns the habitual neglect
OF mans physical needs, as being a
fruitful source of disease and perma-
nent disability. / could multiply the
reference to these revolving cordi-
tions but only refer to few in order
that the general public may know
ed right here. The laborers lot is suf-
ficiently irksome, without inficting on
him intolerable conditions, that are
both facilitating and dangerous. To
me these situations appeared so alarm
ing that | would be derelict in duty
did not sound note of warning and
endeavor to better the condition of
those who, because they are employees,
are compelled to endure these upspeak-
able indignities.
Need of Fire Escapes.
The need of fire escapes in those
factories which have two or more
stories is very urgent. judging by the
Investigations of this bureau For ex-
ample, we inspected 32S Establishments
and OF these 290 had two or more
stories of which we found twenty only
equipped with fire escapes--a very UNI
satisfactory condition indeed. Sec
tions 7l2 and S76 of the code give cit.
les the authority and power to regu-
late the erection of fire escapes but
my observation has led to the conclu
sion that city authorities are and have
been almost criminaily negligent.
The city of Des Moines, by its ordin-
ance, 1856, provides that buildings of
three or more stories shall be equip.
ped with fire escapes. This is q spten-
did ordinance bit it is not self enforc-
ing and probably will be a dead letter
until holocaust wakes us UP from
our iethargy. | believe that the limit
should be two or more stories instead
OF three, for how many girls or wom-
en- working on the second floor of a
factory, could jump to the ground
without becoming injured? Hotels
have fire escapes because the travel
ing public demands them; public and
Quasi-public buildings have them, but
the factory employe has to await the
slow action of public officers before
in their employment.
The speaker here referred to spe-
citic evils of one kind and another dis.
covered in the deficient factories.
Lack of guards around dangerous ma
chinery, exposed set screws, unguard-
ed belts and unlocked bearings, emery
wheels of poor quality, defective heat
ing and yentilating systems, poor boil
ers, etc, We're referred to specifically
and discussed at some length.
Continuing Mr.. Wennerstrum said:
The bare fact that during my fac
tory inspection l had reported TO me
403 children under II years of age,
and the further fact that ascertain
ed by other means that there were Goa
of such children in these same estah.
lishments, led me to the conclusion,
that there were many more which
had not discovered. Many of the chill.
dren were as young as 10 years and
the general appearance Of such chill.
dren indicated overworked condition.
In no instance did learn of any spe.
cial privilege being granted to the
children either in tasks or length OF
work day. Many of the children had
a wan and aged look not in keeping
with care-free childhood.
Regulate Child Labor.
Twenty states of the union regulate
child labor. and Of these fourteen place