The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-05-29

trades. This is more noticeable in
the window-glass houses and among
that class of iron workers where the
old process of iron, known as 'pud-
ding is still in vogue. Puddlers are
at premium, consequently they are
receiving the highest compensation
ever received for this kind of work.
Furniture manufacturers are employ
ing all who ask for work. Manufac-
turers of workingmen's garments are
crowded with orders, and sufficient
help cannot be had to operate the ma
chimes now in position. The same con-
ditions exist in all parts of the state.
Common laborers do not have to tramp
in search of employment"
Chief Inspector McAbee Talks.
THE work of this department has
been largely educational" said Chief
Inspector McAbee to your correspond
ent the other day. In almost every
case it has been necessary only for
us to call attention to deficiencies
in factory surroundings in order to
ensure their prompt improvement. In
very few cases has it been necessary
to employ drastic measures, but when
occasion demanded, we have not
hesitated to carry the law into the
court for vindication, and we have not
failed in a single instance to have it
upheld. On the other hand many man.
ufacturers have borne testimony to
the beneficial effects of the law in the
improvement of the personnel. the
spirit and the efficiency OF their en-
ployes. So great has been industrial
growth in our state during the past
three years that it is exceedingly for
tunate we have had this law to prevent
the conditions which usually arise dur
ing such a period-the crowding of
rooms, the failure to provide safety de-
vices under the pressure of rapid
changes, and the hasty erection of
buildings"
Some Instances of Improvement.
Practical illustrations of the ben
efits of this law are plentiful. For
instance, when I was first appointed,
l was informed of certain factory in
Indianapolis where ten men were en-
ployed, one of whom died every year
owing to unsanitary conditions. The
room where these men were at work
was at all times full of flying dust
Conditions in that establishment have
been revolutionized, the room is prac-
tically free from dust. and the life of
workman there is no longer limited
to ten years
Il cannot now recall a place in the
state that had, when this law went
into effect, what is called blower sys-
tenn from emery wheels for taking the
dust out of the rooms. The effect of
flying particles of steel and other for
eign substances, | need not say was
most injurious to the health of work
men. Now the use of these appliances
is practically universal. I remember
one Indiana establishment employing
a large number of men. where the
rooms were so full of flying particles
that it was impossible to see across
them, forty or fifty wheels being in
active operation. l said to the pro-
prietor: This will never do; your
men can't live in such a place. Tt
will cost me a thousand dollars TO
remedy the trouble he replied, ard
he objected vigorously. I issued an
order requiring the change, and it was
made. Not long ago l went into that
establishment and noted complete
change of conditions l met the pro-
prietor, who said to me: Well, You
made us do it, and it cost us thou
sand dollars, but we are mighty glad
we got 1t in This is only one of
great many similar instances"
Operations of the Law.
During the last year 2.413 inspec-
lions were made, an increase in num-
Der of about 40 per cent over the pre-
vious year. In the establishments in
spected 1918 persons were employ
ed. Nearly 1900 hundred orders re.
curing changes In arrangements were
Fire escapes were or.
dered on ~ buildings. Accidents to
the number of 672 were reported to
the Office. Mr.. McAbee is of the opin-
ion that the requirement that acct
dents be reported to the chief inspect
or is having a very marked effect in
manufacturers to introduce
safety appliances, and that this in
with the features of the
law. will ultimately result in reducing
the number of accidents from ma
chinery at least one-third.
Indiana is not, as are some of her
commonwealth, a bureau
burdened state. Every executive de-
paftment, each created to perform a
useful function. is operated upon a
business basis, at no greater expense
than the work in hand demands.
During the year ending Oct 81, 1901,
the total cost of the department of in.
spectfon including salaries, travelling
expense and Office expenses aggregat.
ed only $7.921.O8. The cost to the state
per employe in each of the establish
ments inspected was little over five
cents. The result of an expenditure
so modest may not be treasured in dol
fars and cents, fcf wno can estimate
the value to state OF the health, the
and the contentment of her
toiling citizenship in whose behalf the
labor laws of Indiana were enacted
and are enforced.
The first platform announcement In
favor of the erection Of a state SOL
diers' and sailors monument was that