New-York tribune., 1905-06-24
ELEVATORS SAFER NOW.
Good Record Under Nez0 Rutes-
More INSPECTORS Needed.

When Superintendent Isaac a. Hopper. OF the
BUILDINGS bureau issued a statement in regard
70 the safety of passenger elevators last jan
nary there was great excitement among elevator
concerns The rules were thought TO be unnec-
essartIv severe. Since these rules have gone
into effect there have been fewer accidents ana
they have been due to carelessness on the part
of the operator. Superintendent Hopper said
yesterday:
r,ollovvine the establishment of the rules
REGARDING the operation and safety of elevators
used in buildings, and against which much op-
position manifested by some manufactur-
ers, find, notwithstanding the protests, that
an improved condition of affairs now exists.
For the first five months of this year We have
had no loss of life from elevator accidents, eX-
cept in one or two cases, where gross careless
ness was the cause This is due to the fact
that while much protesting was done, we know
that each maker or elevators and elevator de-
vices has been actively exerting himself, and
now we have many decided improvements in the
safeguarding of the public.
Until 1902 there We're no rules regarding the
installation of elevators, and the loss Of life
through elevator accidents was 30 per cent
greater than it is now. Previous to 1902 the
guide rails were of wood, while the present rules
require iron steel A safety device was then
employed which up and down in the guide
rails, but the failure of this device to work was
lie OCCASION OF many accidents. Another rule
speoshes that two more cables independently
connected. must be used. Folding gates must
be placed on ali passenger elevators, and there
must be clear space of not less than three
feet at the top and bottom of the shaft
Previous to 1902 there were fourteen inspec-
tors and one chief inspector of elevators in this
city While at present there are only eleven in
spectors and one chief inspector. This means
mat six thousand passenger elevators rnus+ he
tested by twelve men. The rules OF the bureau
require that every elevator be tested once in
lhree months Under the present conditions the
inspectors are unable to test each elevator mora
than twice in year Superintendent Homer
mas applied for larger force of elevator in
spectors' and until he receives them he will he
unable to DO justice to the public At least ten
more men are needed in this department John
J. boyhan' chief elevator inspector, said:
Ali the recent accidents have been on ele-
VatoFs which were in service before the new
rules were adopted. We are gradually wedding
out these oidtimers. Another cause of acct
oents is the careleSsHess of the operator The
rules say he must be at least eighteen wears old
nul thls is broken repeatedly. 1t is impossible
AoI an inspector 10 obtain evidence as a COM
peteht operator is always hand when the in
spector is around. If elevator bows adon+ad ,ba
plan Of the subway and elevated guards of clos
ing thelr gates before ringing the he'll there
"ouIo De stlil fewer accidents. We are thinking
OF adopting an automatic gate There are q
oozen safety devices in the market which fuIfI
every condftlon for reliable elevator b11t what
we need is better operate