New-York tribune., 1906-05-13

80 as,,,onatraees that such occurrences are due
"a the absolute ignorance and Incompetence Of
those engaged in such work, or 20 q reckless
and criminal disregard OF all measures Of pru-
dsnce necessary 70 safeguard ITS operation This
scandalous condition imperatiyely demands
prompt and radical remedy"
This is the first OF six strongly worded con-
clusions presented TO the Board OF Aldermen
the other day by its Committee on Laws ana
LEGISLATION which for some time has been con-
ducting an inquiry with regard TO the use OF
explosives In this city. especially as applying
20 blasting. Independent OF the PUBIC nearing,
the committee has collected vast amount OK
evidence, and with the presentation OF TINS re-
mort completes for the present the work OK IN
vestigation. for the aldermen have no power 70
institute safeguards. This Is the concern OF 0he
NFunicipal Explosives Commission
The report OF the aldermanic committee pro-
oeeds TO point out that there IS laxity In grant
Ing and revoIing licenses imperrect anu p9l-
functory supervision OF blasting operations ~
CITY officials; that the rules OK the 0@0iA.P
Explosives Commission governing TINS sUOy9oI
need 70 be more stringent and the eXal4llils'lO.
more thorough: that negligence by officials snoul'a
,ar,,. 20 no excuse and. il necessary, that the
force be increased so as TO enable proper super
vision 10 be exercised.
RIOT OF GARELESSNESS.
The pr1ne mover in this investigation may be
rasd 10 be Alderman L. jacobson since it was
a resolution offered by him at the beginning OF
the year that spurred the board to action.
interviewed by a Tribune reporter. Alderman
Jacobson said: with respect to the part have
nlavea IN this matter. / ought to begin by re"
hurting the charge made against me by the
cb,ag inspector Of the Bureau of Combustibles
,yben interviewed him on the subject Of the
INQUIRY. Mr. Murray said the whole movement
was inspired by the officials OF the Blasters
Union. who sought control OF all contracts un-
der this head so as to have the entire building
trade OF the city at their mercy. But this is NOT
so have no interest whatsoever in advancing
the cause OF any union; my action mas Deen
rrornpted by the intermInable list OF accidents
end DAMAGE to property, as set forth in the col
umns Of the daily papers.
TN February introduced a resolution to in
ouire into the conduct of the Bureau OF Com
bustibes but I asked to let this stand over
until the investigation into the Street Cleaning
Department had been disposed Of charge that
dynamite magazines are overloaded. and that
powder companies both store too much and send
through the streets Of the city more than the
quantity permitted by law. hold that ignorant
men of the Immigrant class. receiving less than
half the wages of other men, are employed IN
this very important work, and that at best
their examination is not thorough enough The
examination is a one man affair and would not
be allowed in the case Of a plumber. or even
barber II conducted By a board OF three ex-
amineFs one could have faAth IN lts rnorouBn-
ness and 1mpartiality.
again am satisfied that the public does not
hear OF half Of the accidents attributable to
this cause. for the physician and the coroner are
not concerned in advertising news SO detrimental
10 the interests OF the big contractors. Some
grim stories occasionally filter through from the
rear Of the Grand Central Station. but the Inn
partial investigator is afforded opportunity Of
verifying these It amounts TO this: Some acci-
dents may be inevitable, but there is no excuse
for the loss OF life and limb and property, on
the scale We have experienced in the last three
years There is a riot Of carelessness, and this
IS likely to continue so long as paltry fine Of
S25 is adjudged sufficient punishment for law
breakers. For the present the Board Of Alder
men must rest with the recommendations they
have made TO the Municipal Explosives Commits
sion, and I am inclined to think, from what I
ITnovr of one or two of its members that that
body will revise it's rules In accordance with the
spirit Of these suggestions. hope political con-
siderations viii not hamper its movements"
NEIGHBORs IN TERROR.
Judged by the remarks Of shopkeepers and
- pthe. residents in the neighborhood Of the Grand
Central and the Pennsylvania Railroad excava-
tons on Manhattan Island, earthquakes would
now have few terrors for them. "Most New
Workers. said one OF them. 'may be inclined to
congratulate themselves. in view Of late happen
lngs. that their city is built on solid, crystal
rock. since learned biologists tell them that they
have therefore little to fear from earthquakes,
but If they lived around here they would ask
with US, What Is the difference?' Our expert
ence during the last two three years makes US
ripe for any old shaLe-up nature can send along.
We know what it Is to rock In our beds and to
run helter-skelter out OF the way Of falling
plaster. glass and pictures; but we are sort Of
immune now q speak for myself and wife). I
thought at time we would be a couple OF
permanent nervous wrecks. We have now ar
rived at the stage when only an earthquake
Itself could provide with a sensation in the
shaking up business"
According to officials. the loss OF life IN this
city from blasting in view OF the fact that mora
dynamite is used here than IN any other four
cities throughout the world IS not UhdUly heavy.
For instance they say that on that unluclSy but
most scientifically conducted Job" the Penn
sylvania Railroad terminal, only i've lives have
been lost from this cause. Alderman Jacobgon
and others, however. smile skeDtically at this
statement.
FOUR HUNDRED KILLED.
TN theaast two years." said a special police
man on duty at Job in Ssth street, "the loss of
life IN New York, directly and indirectly trace
able to blasting operations put down as In the
neighbOrhood OF four hundred This fob sou
are looking at IS not big one In extent but
according 10 my notebook It has cost exactly
eleven lives in fourteen months-eight Of them
from blasting. And I've been in at every death.
Once I thought was in at my own for sure A
Jagged piece OF flying rock pierced by helmet
ana made an unpleasantIy deep furrow through
my hair. Another day I was sent gprawIing
right on this spot hit by something black and
heayy-lt was the dismembered trunk oe a man
shot out Of the foundations. After one exulo-