The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-26
ELEVATORS DROP
At FULL SPEED.
Inspector Branch Adopts Novel
Method of Testing Safety
Appliances.
CARS GO 400 FEET IN MINUTE.
Levers Are Thrown "Wide Open"
and "Automatics" Relied Upon
to Stop Rapidly Descending
Apparatus.

Joseph G. Branch. City Inspector of Ele-
method of testing the elevators in large
Office buildings yesterday, which, though
extremely hazardous. he deems necessary
20 n thorough testing of the cars.
The new plan consists in testing the auto
matte safetics Of the elevators by running
the car up and down al full speed without
throwing off the power when the top or bot
tom is reached hut trusting 10 the auto
mates" to stop the car.
The first building III whic: the elevators
were tested by the new method was the
Missouri Trust building, which is fourteen
stories high. NJ. Branch was assisted in
the work at this building by his two deputy
inspectors John McDonough and Charles
Cornell by the chief engineer of the build
ing and Cyrus Spencer, the elevator starter
After making the customary inspection
of the cables of the elevators Mr.. Branch
began the inspection of the "automatics."
Cyrus Spencer went into elevator No. 1, and
after running the car to the sixth floor ran
it down at full speed, or about 400 feet
minute, with the lever thrown back.
MAKING THE FIRST DROP
Mr.. Barnch felt sure that If the lower
automatic was in good order the eleva-
tor would stop at the first floor. even though
the power was on. When the elevator be-
gan to shoot rapidly downward. all the
spectators held their breath. for they real
lied that If the safety appliances cid not
work the car would be demolished.
Tie automatic worked however, and
then the car was dropped from the seventh
iloor. After each test one more floor was
added to the height from which the car de-
seconds. until finally it was dropped from
the fourteenth floor at the rate OF 400 feet
minute. Cyrus Spencer made the first
few trips alone. but in order to make sure
that he was holding the lever wide open
Charles Carroll, one of the deputy inspect
ors, entered the car and rode with him on
the rest of the trips.
After the car was dropped from the top
floor the testing of the upper automatic
safety began. This safety ls SO arranged
that If the operator loses control Of his
car for any cause whatever the auto
matte will stop it. If the automatic"
does not work, the pressure from the en-
gines will tear out the cables and the car
will fall to the bottom Of the shaft.
The first test of the upper automatic"
was made by running the car from the
thirteenth to the fourteenth floor. With
each test 'he car way s'"f'eo ohe e'ois
iower' uh,il htiaiy ~ was Kun d. iu'i 'Iee"
from the hrst 10 the fourteenth Hoot.
ALL ELEVATORS TESTED.
Each of the six elevators was tested In
the same manner as was the first one, ex-
cent Nos. and 6, which were not tested
so far as the upper "automatics' were con-
cerned Sometimes the car must run two
feet before the "automatics" stop IT, As
there was but eighteen inches clearage for
cars Nos and 6 their upper "automatics"
were not tested. Mr.. Branch ordered the
safeties set for the thirteenth floor instead
Of the fourteenth. This was done. and here
after those two elevators cannot be run
mast the thirteenth floor Since the change
has been made the safeties have ample
room in which to stop the car.
Ex-Goyernor Stephens was spectator
whom the cars were tested. but he declined
an invitation to ride in them when they
we're dropped at full speed.
After testing the elevators at the Missouri
Trust building and finding them safe. Mr.
Branch and his deputies went 20 the Cen
fury building, where the elevators "eie
given as thorough test as were those d.
the Missouri Trust building. Inc manager
and the Chief engineer OF the ouiioiie "e'e
both present during the lhspecloll' III DC
cordance with the wishes OIL MI. 6fanch.
All the elevators IN 'his ouiioine' WIN 'he
exception Oh NO D. were iou"u IN
condition. IN hahins .he niSl 'es' VI 'ie
upper automatc i No ., "nen 'he Cd
was run UP but one STORY 'he safety apPii-
ance did not work. III .le car DIT 'he 'iiiie
were bepu! it'peG. ~ -
ploye OF the century puiioiis. MI Diaiieii
had reared that .iie SAFETY "ouiu iio' WI
and had instructed .iie men III .ns e'i W
Keep their hahos oi 'iie ie'ei anu .iiio" oh
the power II ,he car uiu no. sup "S soo.,
as II reached 'ie 'op nool ,ney io,io"eu
his INSTRUCTIONS anu s'oppe" Vic e"i oeioie
any oamaee was uoie'
Inc criiei ens.i'eei eApt,i"eo '.'e ia.'uie VI
the automatic W "o'A Wy sasins ina. .ne
cables were 100 SNORT. WI. oiaiieh' ~"
ever did not proceed iur'mef WIN 'he .es'
ing OF that car, ana II VIII not ne useu DIT
III.