The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-05

New York. March 5.-The recent
mine disasters ana the ever increas-
ing number of deaths in railroad
wrecks has awakened public senti-
ment to the realization of the need
of safety devices. The inventive
genius of the country is beginning to
turn toward constructing devices
which will prevent loss of life and in
jury with marked. success. So much
interest is being taken in the east
that there is to be held here early in
April an exposition which will exhibit
all the safety devices now known.
This is to be held under the auspices
Of the American Museum af Safety
Devices and Industrial Hygiene and
it is the object of this expo sition to
exhibit these devices in a practical
way which will appeal to the manu-
facturer and to the employer. The
Rev. Joseph Strong, president of the
American Institute Of Social Service,
has compiled some very interesting
figures comparing the loss of life and
injuries received in the manufacture
ing Industries of the United States
with various wars and battles. Ac-
cording to these figures our peaceful
vocations cause more loss of life every
two days than this nation lost in bat
tie during the war with Spain.
"In the United States DR.. Strong
asserts. there are killed in four
years 10000 more than fell in battle
or died Of wounds during the four
years Of the civil war. Incredible as
It may seem. yet it is no less true
that in the same length of time we
kill SO per cent more people than two
great armies could destroy, equipped
with all the weapons of death that
ingenuity could then devise and MAX
ing death and destruction their eager
business.
1.-THE six bloodiest battles of the
vania, Wilderness, Antietan, Cham
cellorsville and Chickamauga. The to-
tai number killed, wounded and miss
ing in these six battles aggregated
less than 10000, while the number
killed and injured on our railways
during the year ended June 80, 1906,
the last for which we have any re-
port, was 108.324. And 1t must be
remembered that the total number of
casualties in all the various indus
tries of the United States is about five
times as large as the number of acct
dents on our railways"
In letter addressed to DR.. Strong,
President Roosevelt commendS the
exposition and says:
"As modern civilization Is con-
stantly creating artificial dangers to
life, limb, and health, 1t is impera-
tive upon US to provide new safe
guards against the new perils. In
legislation and in our use of safety
devices for the protection of work
men we are far behind European
peoples, and in consequence in the
United States the casualties attendant
upon peaceful industries exceed those
which would happen under a great
and perpetual war. Many. even most,
Of these casualties are preventable,
and it is not supportable that we
should continue a policy under which
life and limb are sacrificed because
it is supposed to be cheaper to MAIN
and kill men than to protect them.
wishing you all success in your eff
forts, believe me, sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
In view of the fact that large
percentage of accidents are pre-
ventable, the editors of the Scientific
American have offered a gold medal
for the best device for protecting life
and limb. The field of this award
has been limited to transp ortation,
and the medal will be awarded to the
best device that has appeared, or will
appear. between January I, 1906, and
December 81. 1908. Every device
submitted must be exhibited at the
museum. Those who have consented
to act as a jury of award are Stuyves-
ant Fish, George Gilmour, John Hays
Hammond. Frederick R. Hutton,
Samuel Sheldon. H. II. Westinghouse
and Cornelius Vanderbilt.
In connection with the exposition
It is proposed to hold a number of
conferences for the discussion of &C
cidents. their number, their causes,
and their prevention The directors
hope to secure representative men.
both among employers and employees,
in the most dangerous occupations.
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