The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-02
Newest Styles
t Assortment.
TUNNEL WORKERS SAFE.
y. R. n. Points ous That Complaints oE
Labor Unions Are M Founded.

p. E. u. Points Cut ina. Eemniaints az
Labor Unions Are III rounded
The complaints of the labor unions that
the conditions in the tunnels which are being
built under Manhattan Island and the North
and Fast rivers are a menace to the lives
and health OF the workers were met yester-
day in a statement authorized by the Penn
sylvania Railroad. The statement, which
goes into the details of the work at consid-
cradle length, says that every precautiOn
for safety known to science has been
adopted, and that though working under
compressed air il more or less dangerous
the danger has been minimized.
Every man employed at the work is put
through a rigid examination. The men
in the tubes under the East and North
rivers nov the nature Of the work they
nave 10 do, and the world has been searched
for experienced men to work in the Penn
s~ylvania tunnels.
"On the crcsstowu shafts the statement
continues, sixty Austrians who got their
training in the Simplon TUNE are en-
ployed. There are engineers and foremen
here who have tunnelled in Egypt. South
Africa, England and America. There are
dangers, but not enough to worry any man
in good health who will observe the rules
posted up for his guidance"
@The life Of the sand hog is now at least
as safe as that Of the surface worker. EX-
cept at times when il is necessary to send
a few men out pack OF the shield the workers
are protected by the massive rings Of iron
which form the tube, and in front there
is a still more massive shield. There is
still a possibility that the water may break
in, and wherever this disa ster is likely to
occur steel emergency curtains surround
ing an air lock are dropped from the roof
of the tunnel. Thew reach from the roof
to a point Just above the centre and the
emergency Rangway. running from the
heading Of the tunnel to the curtain, makes
this aisle of safety available at all times.
Once the men get behind the curtain they
know that they will have breathing space,
az il is made on the diving bell theory
The value OF these safety devices IL then
shown by instances OF escapes Of tunnel
workers. Medical experts are trying TO
find out the exact nature OF the caisson
disease. Familiarity known as the -bend-."
Pearson 4 Sons. who have the East River
contract, by far the most difficult part of
the tunnel work, have employed scientists
TO make an exhaustive study OF the effects
of air pressure with a view to suggesting
methods of avoiding caisson disease alto
gether.
Tho workers themselves are blamed for
carelessness in observing the safety rules
posted in the tunnels. The chief difficulty
in safeguarding the tunnel workers IL the
fact that it is difficult to induce men TO
give up drinking while they are under COM
pressed air. A man to work in absolute
safety under high pressure should not use
LIQUOR or tobacco excessively.
The statement concludes by saying that
the death rate under the North and East
River tunnels OF the Pennsylvania Rail-
road is no higher than that among the
housesmiths who work on tall buildings.
Not a man has been lost in the North River
tunnels and very few in those On the East
Side.