Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-22

lance. Every life saved IS national
asset" Not long ago the director OF
the Berlin museum requested 6S,UOU
marks for the enlargement OF the build
ing, already overcrowded. The request
was instantly granted, 1t being init
mated at the time that he could have
all the money he needed, as the govern
ment was only too glad to maintain
this Hfe-saving station at its highest
point of efficiency. The museum IN
Amsterdam was opened ten years ago.
The city furnished the building, while
the national government appropriated
an annual sum and the Association for
the Development of Manual Training
and Handiwork in Holland added to 1t
for an endowment. The museum has
expanded several times Its original
size.
Even Darkest Russia" Is careful
that it's workmen in the factories are
protected. In France the Association
of the Industrialists for the Prevention
of Accidents to Workmen has MEM
bership of 1000. They employ half q
million workmen In the eighty-six de-
partments OF the country. The assoc
citation has established international
competitions for the best inventions or
new safety devices or the perfection or
those already in use. A similar organi-
cation In Italy for the last ten years
has been vested by the government
with authority to inspect factories and
workshops.
Those behind the present movement
believe that America, the leading In
dustrial nation. should have the great
est museum of safety; that 1t should
serve as a center for the display of
simple and inexpensive safeguards
which will not interfere with the out.
put OF the machine. eff such safe
guards do not exist at the present
lief that the inventive genius of Amer
lea will focus its energy in this direc-
ton" The desire is to build such
museum in New York. In addition
the work is to be carried into the
schools and universities, so that In the
coming days 1t may not be new
thing, but q matter of course. II IS
educational work for showing tne
practicability of these appliances, not
alone for the machine but for the hy-
giene and sanitation of the workmen,
the protection Of his home as well as
his shop. One important feature OF the
museum will be an inventors iabora-
tory. The Munich museum OF safety
devices has one that has been In sue
cessful operation for some time. Here
special problems will be taken up and
investigated under the direction of
committee. The laboratory would also
serve as a help to the poor inventor
lacking in means to secure material
and a place where he might develop
his ideas.
An interesting exhibit was a mis,e
gallery installed by the Carnegie Steel
company. 1t showed how the con-
struction of steel, instead OF wood, Is
being used to make the galleries OF
mines safe and strong. The steel
beams, the logging and the track were
all of natural size. Another exniDit
attracting much attention was that or
an automatic railway signal, by which
the dispatcher in the seclusion OF his
own office, with the train sheet In 'front.'
of him indicating the whereabouts OF
every train on the line, can at will at
any minute talk with any engineer in
his cab at any point on the line, warn
ing him of the peril in the block just
ahead of him.. If this warning be not
needed, the dispatcher by the simple
turn of a lever can shut on the power
in the locomotive SO that It VIII come
to a full stop. A recording device on
the locomotive shows when and where
a danger signal was given. now
quickly an engineer responds and tne
speed OF the train, among other Things.
A new fire-fighting device for use at
sea was also exhibited. 1t resembled
an umbrella stand in appearance. ana
was filled with sixteen speaking tubes
connecting with as many pipes going
to different parts of the ship. In case
of fire. the suction fan on top OF the
umbrella stand will draw the smoke up
the pipe from the compartment where
the blaze Is and through the tube. thus
making it possible to locate the fire at
once. This being done, the officers In
charge merely screw cap on the tube
and by the turn of valve let in live
steam, which very soon quenches the
fire.
The Travellers Insurance company of
Hartford sent an odd exhibit which,
next to the mine gallery, probably at
tracted the most attention OF those not
scientifically bent. 1t consisted OF sam
pies of defective elevator cables dis
covered by the Travellers inspectors
while on their rounds, photographs of
the damage caused by boiler explo-
sions, and arrangements showing how
they could have been avoided, and rot
ten beams, ropes and other defective
things causing accidents to those In
sured by the company.
Devices for preventing accidents in
factories and shops are being invented
every year, generally by men who are
in danger of the very accidents which
they seek to prevent. This is laudable
work But 1t is even more important
that encouragement be given those in
ventors who are seeking to devise
schemes for preventing those accidents
which involve many persons and which
come without warning to the innocent
and unsuspecting. The shame of the
American railroads is their annual
death list. II the movement headed by
DR.. Tolman shall aid in cutting down
that roll of horror 1t will deserve the
recognition and commentator Of the
nation.
Tomorrow--work Of Club Women.