New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-10-02
POOR SAFETY DEVICES.
Charles r. Pratt Tells of Failure to
Protect Passenger EIeUatOrs.

Charles r. Pratt an engineer OF this city. who
,.. given much attention 10 the safeguarding OF
elevators has "r1uten me following for The IT'D
Ene:
This year has broken all records IN the number
~ elevator accidents and in the number Of people
KS record First old elevators some of which
-ere safe are wearing out: second increased
eTior and dangerous elevators on the market
Tbere are four classes Of elevators; Steam.
s-,-ice- HYDRA ulic for high speed passenger ser
Sice and electric. for al kinds of elevator service
IRE hvdraulic IS pre-eninenty the safest of the
SonT classes put It's OF installation and opera
ngs Ssro,,iie b7,- me-, -a4ra an he ~ from
sbat grade 10 the most dangerous and unreliable
Ssv!ces that ever operated ar elevator car
.-sroT accidents: First poor design: second. poor
craftsmanship. third, poor material fourth lack Of
RE Bureau OF Buildings is responsible fer design
workmanship and material; the insurance com
ION and the owner is responsible for every thing.
The greatest humbug about most elevators is a
device on the car calico salels, al = upposo
40 protect the passengers by safely stopping the
vices > are never in condition TO work all some
might work under possible conditions, some would
,nOf stop the II they did work, and Others stop
3 car suddenly as 70 njure the passer gers.
Curiolsly enough no bureau OF oe.,rs 11soI
nee ne 81 a car should do when it does work And
10. II II is possible 10 have a device car that
1-fl positively and safely stop il from falling or
mere about an elevator specify: Such elaborate
devices as air cushions etc. costing as high as
$500 elevator. have prohred by these made
0uate car safeties.
yiZing the unreliable quality OF car saieues mas
compelled owners Of buildings TO install air
-. A., .,es on every passenger elevator And IL
Is orly this month that philadelphia discovered a
authorized its without other expensive auxiliary
safety devices being pros1ded on The same car
TIE writer tested large new elevator plant in
salS Jy: % ,on3pa5y fhat installed he ELEVATOR
hat she elevators might fall TIE whole
height of the building before the Safetles would
s-orE automatically that most OF rhe devices for
rive. and when the safety was made 10 work With
srop the car II All This plant had been accepted
by the Bureau OF Buildings and by The insurance
Another recent installation Of The best make q
- +es-s5 ~ o15s- 5sv ~, ~ I37--ea - FIl,lS-
sngs- The elevator builders objected 10 having the
buildings Inspector irsisted upon a fun speed test
and on three elevators the ropes that operated the
il not fair 10 restrict competition by specifying
pose II particular result Is desired. then
mat result should be specIHec Al engineer Would
its size. general character and its duty Is II less
absurd 70 accept anything in the shape Of a safety
device without making II meet some reasonable
sdlr os slGp io eonditons a. 7ats a. excess Of
speed: p Operate before ths c2r tsls over ~ 70
s. speed ard load IN coming 70 q fIll stop,
- ,oT sl,t ios5 RAJ m car can mt And vet
nor one-terth 4 the elevator car safeties could
meet hese very essential conditions for the safety
O. elevator passengers
The Bureau Of Buildings knows al about TINS,
bur has never Lad authority 10 insist upsE proper
safety co-ditiors. Now. Isaac Hopper. the super
irrendeur OF Buildings. r. irving 10 get this af-
Thorfty from the city government and when ne
docs II VIII he his place 70 make strict elevator
Laws and enforce them
The elevator Insurance COMPANIES also kroW -
these dangers blL competition. cut rates and 5000
T-ost az present risks make them Indifferent.
They should get together and mutually agree not
70 insure Unless certain necessary safety condl-
Gions exist