New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-08


accidents than in the countries of Europe
Some Americans have attempted an explanation
by saying that their countrymen are more i'm
petuous of disposition, and in the hurry and
scurry of getting there they often take a
false step, where the more phlegmatic European
might look second time. They say that the
American mechanic oftentimes works his mus
Giles beyond his brain, and as a consequence he
tears off his arm in a belt, or cuts his hand on
a circular saw. kills himself in an explosion
OF ''dredamp."
Whether these are the fundamental reasons or
the large loss of life among workmen in this
country. it is. indeed, true that Americans have
not taken as many safeguards against accidents
AS have the inhabitants Of the Old World. In
Germany, for example, the Yankee traveller
feels almost insulted when confronted in a rail-
road station with signs commanding him not to
board the train until it is at a standstlil nor
to let go the hand OF child under twelve years
old He wonders at first if man is supposed
to have any brains Of his own in Germany
And should he take pedestrian tour and at
tempt a short cut by walking the ties he
would find himself summariy expelled from the
railroad track by the first guard he met Ger
man tramps never have chance to travel and
Kim themselves on the brake beams of freight
cars as their brethren in the United States
are wont to do.
\ comparison of the number of deaths
among miners in the chief Industrial countries
of the world shows that the United states Is
far in the lead. For every thousand miners
employed in England, the average killed is Los.
In Italy the average is 100; in Germany Loo;
in France, So; in Belgium, I62. and in the
United States. 236 BY comparing the total
number Of deaths from every accidental cause
it is found that five men killed in the United
heir n EUTOpp
In the United States there are thousands OF
devices to prevent death and accident among
workmen but they the products of indi-
vidual inventiveness and enterprise. In Europe,
on the contrary, there Is at present & united
movement among manufacturers and other en-
ployeIs of labor to reduce death and accident in
their various lines OF industry to the minimum.
This has led to the establishment, in certain
cities Of museums of security. In Amsterdam
and in Milan there are such museums, where
Z, visitor may in how many different and
often simple ways the workman may be safe
guarded from injury death. The museum
at Amsterdam has proved especially successful,
chiefly because il is so accessible to the great
manufacturing countries Of England, Germany
and France. Though primarily Dutch inst-
tuition it's halls are open to the workers of all
the world
On entering the Amsterdam museum one
might think at first that it was a factory.
There is the roar of machinery. and every one
who belongs to the place is at work second
glance, however, discovers that almost every
machine is different in construction and repre-
sents different line of industry. Beside the
forse Of the ironworker is the lathe of the
worker in wood There are grindstones and
cynamos, contrvances to filter air and to pump
ali. And here and there, in marked contrast to
the activity around them, there efiisies.
olid in peculiar costumes and whose faces are
o. wax.
Another feature OF the place which naturally
strikes the eye OF the stranger extraordinary
is the apparently indiscriminate use of red paint.
He sees this color everywhere. in circles. in
rhomboids. in squares and in almost every
other design. II he looks carefully. however,
he will see that the red parts nearly all in
motion. and that I'm each instance they indicate
danger Thus the flywheels Of engines are In red.
and the shafts and pistons are In red. Where
ever there Is the scarlet signal also finds
a contrivance which has been specially planned
to safeguard the danger Some of these devices