The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-25

"
To insure safety Of life and limb to pas
sengers in elevators. Joseph G. Branch In
sreotor Of Boilers and Elevators, will per-
serally examine. between now and Septem-
ber<l, each of the 5000 conductors Of pas
senger elevators in st. Louis.
A list Of the conductors, with the build
ings where they are employed, will be kept
by the Inspector. and all conductors em-
ployed by managers Of buildings must con-
form to the regulations adopted by Mr.
Branch.
Should an incompetent person be employed
and allowed to work, the Inspector, under
the city ordinance. has the right to dis
charge that employee without consulting the
employer. Mr.. Branch says that he will
use this authority.
The Inspector believes that more than 80
per cent of elevator accidents are due to
the incompetency and negligence of en-
ployes.
Saturday afternoon he was passenger on
an elevator in the Chemical building, and
noticed that the car he was in contained
seventeen passengers, when the certificate
allowed only twelve. He ordered the car to
be stopped, and gave directions for the
starter and the manager Of the building to
ASPohl " HlIu yesterday morning.
Isaac T. Cook, the manager and o. NJ.
ogden, the starter, called on Mr.. Branch
and had a thorough understanding regard
Ing the enforcement of the city ordinance.
MI Cook said that he was thankful for the
investigation, as it would bring the matter
before the public.
His employees on the elevators, he said,
constantly made an effort to enforce the
law, but persons wishing to save time over
crowd the cars under protest
In the future, when more than twelve
persons enter an elevator in the Chemical
building, the car is to be stopped at the
next floor and the ones who entered last
compelled TO withdraw.
All conductors in the Chemical building
reported to Mr.. Branch yesterday after
| noon, at 4:30 o'clock and received instruc-
tons from him to this effect
Mr.. Branch yesterday morning sent five
Deputy Inspectors to the department stores
! Of the city. with orders to rigidly inspect
elevator service. especially before and dur.
ing the noon hour. when travel is heaviest.
| One report showed that in a department
! store whose elevator certificates allow but
| fifteen passengers to each car. twenty-five
| passengers were carried. In another that
sixteen. were carried when the law allows
4 but fourteen. Other reports showed that
the law was being obeyed
Mr.. Branch. in speaking upon the subiec,
said:
Although there are 5000 elevators unde,
my charge, many of them, are In small
buildings, and there are seldom more than
| three or four passengers at time. It 1.
( in the department stores and large Office
buildings that the closest watch is to b.
kept. Hotels. as rule. comply with the
law.
THE elevators are the most dangerous
pieces Of machinery to the busy public. Il
had my way every elevator conductor
would have to have a license. Since tha
is not required BY the law. am going I,
take advantage OF the city ordinance tina
requires all conductors to be not less thai
Is years old
II do not mean to be arbitrary, but pub
lice life is at stake. The crusade may re
] suit In scores Of elevator boys losing thei
Positions but pubic safety dsuaandb ~