Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-30
OPERATORS TO REGISTER
Double Doors to Be Required in De-
partment Stores.
WEEKLY REPORTS TO BE MADE
Revised Regulations Submitted to
Commissioners for Approval.
Author Discusses Scheme.

The elevator system Of Washington Il
to undergo a complete revolution.
Conditions here are not considered par.
ticularly desirable w. I. Evans, in.
spector of elevators Of the District. has
prepared new regulations governing ele-
vators which have been approved by the
Commissioners and which will be pro-
mulgated in the revised building regula'
lions within the next two or three weeks
When these new regulations are en-
forced officials OF the District say the
elevator systems In this city will be
brought up to a standard of efficiency
that surpasses the systems of any other
large city, The new regulations Improve
on the old rules, and contain all the
good" and modern provisions and re-
quirements in the latest regulations pro-
mulgated in other cities.
Mr.. Evans in compiling them has con-
suited with elevator authorities and OFF,
Gals of elevator companies.
Much Room for Improvement.
In speaking of the elevator situation in
the District. to the Commissioners yester-
day Inspector Evans said there is much
room for improvement. The most I'm
portant provisions in his regulations are:
All elevator operators and mechanics to
register with the building department.
Double doors on elevators in certain
cases.
report to the District elevator inspectors
of the condition Of their machines.
Inspector Evans considers the registra-
ton of operators q most important step
toward efficiency. He says the majority
of elevator operators or conductors, as
fhox-
of little II any knowledge regarding the
machines. they operate. and that 1t is more
from good luck than good management
that more accidents do not happen.
Few elevator operators know anything
about an elevator Mr.. Evans said. II
would say this class comprises one-fifth
The other four-f1fths know how to pull
the rope or turn the wheel to stop OF
start the car. and how to open and shut
the doors. and that Is all.
They know nothing whatever about the
mechanism of the elevator. This knowl-
edge Is particularly essential. The object
of the new regulations is to require these
operators to pass examinations before
they can be registered. To do this they
will have to get busy and study up. be-
cause few Of them could pass"
Too Varied Duties.
He called attention to the class Of men
who operate elevators in some Of the
smaller apartment houses and who have
many other exacting duties to perform
This IL q dangerous practice he said.
TO have the man who attends the fires
telephones. garbage and trash collections
and many other odds and ends about an
apartment attend to the elevator at the
same time. These men seldom. II ever
know when their machinery Is out Of order
unless something grinds loudly or the
car stops altogether. Then they are at
loss to determine where the trouble
lies.
"A car may be on the verge of break
ing from its cables. These mon as a
rule would not notice it.
Il think when this city sees licensed
and skilled elevator operators there need
be little alarm about elevators. This will
also materially aid us In our work"
Mr.. Evans says that the new regula-
tons will make 1t compulsory for double
doors on elevators used in department
stores. He contends that double doors
are an extra precaution. but that they
are not particularly essential for some
elevators, such as those in Office build
ings.
In telling of his inspection work Mr..
Evans said there are more than 500 ele-
vators in the District. and that in MAX
ing his inspection he is frequently required
to make inspections at night and after
the regular Office hours.