The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
PROTECTING HUMAN LIFE
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

War slays its thousands. but machinery
Stays its tens Of thousands. The list oi
person killed by accident in the United
State In one year Is nearly twice as Ions
az that of the slain on both sides during
the entire Russo-Japanese war. In q
single year $4,000 persons met death by
accident in the United States This &,
five times as great as the loss Of life in
the six largest battles OF the civil war
The railroads in one year claim more
than 100000 souls as the toll for their aid
in extending the blessings and the dan
gers Of modern civilization.
The American Museum OF Safety De-
vices IS representative of a movement
which has for its purpose the protection
OF human lives from preyentable acci-
dents. It's second annual exhibition. re-
Gently held in New York, was partici-
pated in not only by individual inventors
of safety devices that had passed the
committee of experts before being ad-
mitted TO space, but also by such cor
porations as the Pennsylvania Railroad.
the Carnegie Steel Company. the Travel
ers' Insurance Company Of Hartford and
the American Bridge Company. II is be-
iieved that next year the number of ex-
hibts will be doubled DIT W. II. Toll
man. the director, is planning a trip
throughout the country in the fall for the
purpose Of interesting the people Of every
section IN the movement. Many OF the
large railroad and Industrial corporations.
as well as accident and other insurance
companies, have already taken cognizance
Of its importance. Organized labor is
joining hands with them. All recognize
the necessity OF a movement having for
its object the cutting down Of our annual
casualties, that are increasing year by
year which, in measure, cast discredit
upon us.
More lives are lost IN the United States
from accident than in any Of the coun-
tries Of Europe. Some Americans have
attempted the explanation that their
countrymen ere more impetuous OF dis
position and In the hurry and scurry Of
getting there" often take a false step.
where the more phlegmatic European
might look a second time They further
urge the American mechanic often works
his muscle beyond his brain. and. In con-
sequence. Injuries his arm in a belt. or
cuts his hand on a circular saw. or kills
himself in an explosion of "dre-damp7
Whether these fandamental reasons for
the great loss % life In our country are
true IS not relevant matter Of discus
sion. For the fact remains that Amerl-
cans have not taken as many safeguards
against accidents rs have the inhabitants
OF the Old World. This is true especially
IN Germany where the individual is viz
tually commanded 10 safeguard himself
In ways that In this country might seem
trivial and an insult 10 ones Intelligence
The American Museum of Safety De
vices Is organized for the express pllr-
pose OF assembling and demonstrating the
best methods and devices for protecting
the workers In mining, transportation
textiles building trades. agriculture
chemical, and varied industries. II aims
only 10 exhibit the devices for safeguard
ing the lives and limbs Of wOrkmen and
preventing accidents under the ordinary
conditions 20 which the general public
IS exposed and no other
But short time ago, James T Nor
gan. Of the Bureau OF Statistics OF New
Jersey paid a visit 20 The Musuem. His
attention was arrested by the view ~ a
circular saw In the shops Of The Brown
n Hllel hillAA dNk kAIllE company. WNtre
a rubber mat with a corrugated surface
is placed ia front Of the table. That
is a bTand-new idea 20 me-" said Mr.
Morgan, so simple and so cheap that
no employer can AFFORD 90 object 10 IL
on the score of expense. J cannot help
thinking he continued "Of a partIcu-
larly distressing accident where a poor
fellow slipped and fen against the saw.
which cut right through his chest into
his ribs II rubber mat had been
placed In front OF the machine. very
likely the workman would not have
slipped This is only a typical instance
Each Gay brings its shock OF horror In
the tales Of death and casualties from
causes which the engineering and tech
nical profession know are preventable
Many Of the victims are breadwinners.
whose families thus become a charge on
charity. the city, OF the state Only re
Gently IN a mining disaster $25l.c00 was
asked for the care of the orphans Of the
men who perished. The United states
leads the world in this form Of casualty.
For every thousand miners employed i'm
England the average killed is 15S; IN
Italy. 13o; in Germany, LSS; I'm France.
N5; IN Belgium, L62 and in the United
States, 2.36
The Old World has pointed the way 10
better protect life and labor nv the es-