Evening star., 1908-01-26

the modern structure involves continuous spiltIg
of blood. 1t begins in the mining of the iron, and
goes on through the making of steel beams, quarry
ing the stone, telling and planning the tiu1DeTs.
excavating and blasting for the foundations. and
sinking the t stPpe ne M Amd
and clothing that frame with stone from pavement
to roof
In 1906 Chicago skyscrapers took their heaviest
toll of life in all the citys history Out of total
membership of thousand three hundred and
ffty-eight men in the Bridge & Structural
Workers Union, hundred and thirty-six lost
their lives totally partially disabled 1t
is found that falling beams kill nearly as often
they main, and when they MAIN the effects
terrible. In recent two men were killed
outright and third made deaf and dumb. Then
there falls from the steel structures insecure
scaffolds and loose flooring Death strikes these
too by falling bolts, cement blocks, and bricks and
tools
Out of all this mad recklessness there emerges
telling fact: That America in the height OF
hospital or graveyard Of her loyal workers every
minute in the entire year. And the Government
takes action There no relief funds; and only
society in all America-and that none too
prosperous to educate public opinion in the matter
And, far I see, the voice of this solitary
society crying xany in the Wasted
ter! Even has its uses. Our own great strife
swept away the status of slavery and made possible
the union of North and South.
Different in Other Nations
IN other nations it is vastly different, however:
I'm legislation and in use of safety devices.
says President Roosevelt in his letter to DR. Strong
we are far behind European peoples" 1t is true.
When the British Home Office suspected coal dust
of causing terrible explosions through its catching
fire from the flash of common blasting powder, it
hired old mine shaft in Lancashire and conducted
experiments that proved this to be fact And
forthwith the use OF common black powder was
plosives insisted upon in their stead. OF course,
the owners protested for it meant an extra outlay
Of hundreds OF thousands OF dollars every yeaI
But their struggles were vain. Life-even the life
of the humblest-is a sacred thing IN the older
nations. And workshop and factory inspectors see
to it that host of regulations are scrupulously
carried out especially in factories where chemicals
dry white lead, arsenic and akah used in large
quantities.
Devices" and general industrial hygiene have been
established by the Governments of Holland, Ger
many, France, England, and other countries. These
do magnificent work in educating employers and
employed as well the public generally. To-
day these museums stretch in chain from Paris
to Moscow; and upon the wonderful Industrial
spent over three hundred thousand dollars. Its
significant motto is "A fence at the top is better
than ambulance at the bottom
Trying Out New Devices
1--WE" exhibits, of machines and devices in actual
II operation are shown in preference to models.
machines for stamping, grinding and polishing'
with safeguarded elevators and cranes; and
hundred others. Security in transport by sea and
land is demonstrated in many ways There are
safety lamps and explosives; fire protection de
vices; masks and helmets for quarrying and work
ing in irresprable gases. There are even large rows
of improved dwellings, and of course first aid and
prevention of disease appliances of every kind.
Each process shows how the worker may be pro-
tected and his welfare advanced Cogwheels:
whirling saws emery wheels, and the like covered
with safety bands; skids provided with poised
ratchets render it impossible that heavy cask
shall roll down and injure the man handling it.
Mechanical engineers are in attendance to super