The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-08-12
LET CAR HIT YOU FOR 50
Manufacturer of Tenders Anx-
iOuS to Secure Living Dummies.


llOKKI IT IUU WAIVE I'LL JU0
There Seem to BE Many Who Are
Willing to Enter the New Profess
sion. Several Unique Lfe-Saving
Devices Have Been Entered for
the Test.
A new profession, or at any rate
a new way of earning a living, is
now open to those looking for a job,
who, though unwilling or unable to
work hard, don't mind taking a
chance at getting a bump or a
scratch.
Superior physical strength or men
tai qualifications are not required to
qualify for this new line of employ
ment. Any old clothing will do.
The hours are not long and the COM
pensation of 81 day is not consid-
cred bad st all.
Those who want to enter the bust
ness will have to act quickly, for
unfortunately, the only drawback
about this new line Of work is that
the number of men employed in it
is necessarily limited and there are
plenty Of men who are willing to do
the work at the wage offered.
At any rate, manufacturer of
an automatic car fender has WrittCN
to the public service commission of
New York that he hasn't any diff
Guilty in getting all the men he want
ed to act as dummies, and fall down
on the tracks before a swiftly NOV
ing car and let the fender pick them
up, to prove the value of the device
in preventing loss of life and acct
dents.
Public Tests Are Planned.
Several months ago the public SER
vice commission took up the problem
of devices on surface cars to dimin-
ish the danger of accidents. After
a general consideration of the mat
ter it was decided to hold a series
of tests of tenders and wheel guards.
at which manufacturers of these de-
vices might be represented to show
the merits of their products.
The first of these tests will be
held in the grounds of the General
Electric Co. in Schenectady. in the
early part of September, to afford
Western manufacturers a chance to
exhibit their devices without ship
ping them a long distance. A second
test will be held in the yards of the
Westinghouse Electric Co., in Pitts
burg, in the early part of October.
At both Of these places trolley
cars and tracks and pavement condi-
lions similar to those in New York
will be provided, so that the tests
will give the commission a definite
idea of how the various devices
would work if put into use on the
street railroads of New York.
Had Intended Using Manikins.
In making its arrangements for
the tests the commission had planned
to use manikins, which could be
dropped in front of the moving cars
and a practical experiment given of
the utility of the devices tested.
One manufacturer, however, is so
confident that his automatic fender
when put to practical use will pre-
vent a person from being carried
under the car that he has offered to
provide living models" to fall in
front of the moving cars at the tests
to be held.
He thinks this would be far more
satisfactory proof of the value of the
automatic fender, and says he can
get plenty of men who are willing
to act as fender dummies at 81 a
day. Other manufacturers Of fend-
ers and wheel guards have also sig
nified their willingness to go into
the tests with living models"
Many Unique Devices Entered.
Already 40 American manufacture
ers have sent word to the commits
sion that they will take part in the
tests and a hundred others in the
United States and various countries
of Europe have written for informa-
ton and specifications in regard to
the tests. The engineering depart
ment of the commission is now
studying a mass of descriptive mat
ter and specifications of various
types of tenders and wheel guards.
Besides the ordinary screen fender
in general use on surface cars many
of the contrivances submitted are
elaborate, one of them being de-
signed to throw out arms to clasp
a person and hold him safe in midair
until the danger is passed.
LETTER TO J. G. PARKS.