New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-30
EXAMINE ELEVATOR MEN.
HOPPER CONSIDERS PLAN.
Increment 10 Insure Greater
Safety for Public.

~ lew az the appalling frequency of passen-
- ale,-s+or accidents IN his city. many Of them
-, 81, the Incompetence Of the man inside the
= The peoU,e Of this city and reputable
&c companies which uncarwrite elevator
,srs liabilities are urging that the standards
-. sra,-ator men shah be raised TO point, a.
..,- ,ornr7ensurate with their present res2o'si-
.,,,.,.s Above all. il is insisted that the men
IN rlv between the floors shall prove that they
.,-,--s-and something Of the nature Of the con-
&C they handle before the safekeeping OF
,-.--,,ls % human beings is intrusted 10 them
ne ars superintendent Hopper Of the Build
80 r,o,s-+--ert. so ne told Tribune reporter
=.,- &c considering. along with the gen.
r -,,~o, nization 0f his department, the cues
-. +bo arpoirtrnent Of 4 special examiner
,.... r-or,-5-be elevator men to an examina-
'.., ,-s,---,~ men VINO are candidates for posi-
-. t-,,usf--s containing a certain number
---.,,+= or "a certain number Of foors.' II. ?
- - .,,-ari-teraent OF the inspection de-
.-.-----,-- of The Fidelity and Casualty Com
.-..sr, bonds elevator owners Liabilities
,-..5e-- rold the reporter. should be- SUP
.--.,, ~, q rigid examination by an independent
- - ensfneers. The minimum age limit
la ~ raised TO. say, twenty-five years and
-,o,,l5 show that they al least know
If
-. ere allowed to run car Then in case OF
~" -. tbsv will know what 10 DO. instead Of
- as AZ the present time often more scared
1ass informed than many OF their passen-
-. Naturally. 70 these men VINO are tolerahy
,-s-ss-7r with their work higher salaries VIII
.,,a "a ba Maid II would ne q cheap expense
-or-ever. and ore which the public has the right
- demand. There is not such & vast difference
,r+er eli between the responsibilities Of an eie-
,.s-or man in a modern building AID the re-
snorsi5,lities Of az engineer Of one Of the L
trains Borh have inrrusted to taen the safe
-aani7g Of thousands daily. Yet. the engineer Is
g highly skilled man. and the elevator man in
many cases knows next to nothing about the
,---r-.vsDce Of which he IS IN charge. There
should also Re a thorough, -iEid and regular in
,-e,-ion Of all elevators Il is safe To estimate
ma ~, elevator accident occurs every day In
the wear The same cannot he said even OF the
I trains"
Asked whether simple contrivance could not
be devised whereby il would be impossible for
ca9a 10 move except the door was closed. Nr
Kallrlan said such a devise was already in use
in Phladelphia. He did not think II could be
adar,e6 10 Nev-York conditions. however. as II
had been found that the high speed ana frequent
S+ops demanded by passengers in this city soon
tended 10 place IL out OF commission 80,
something certainly ought 10 be done. SAD
S;,,nerintendenr Hopper. 4 am in favor or haF-
ing applicants for positions as elevator men 60
l.Afore an examiner. who shall be appointed say
Icy he Mayor. This is one OF the very things 1
am taking I'D with the borough president IN
-he plans for the reorganization OF the bulld-
iugs Bureau.
factory in West Nineteenth-st-, handling a car
FOR he first time. fell victim 10 his own ig-
norance or caTelessness, meeting a sudden death