Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-30

both, as may be shown by the ccroner's
jury to have existed.
From a careful reading of the des-
patches, the most Of us would conclude
that the proprietors of this Newark
factory must have known that the
conditions were extra hazardous to
life, vet to have brought about con-
iitions insuring practical safety of
employees would have cost money; and
there seems to have been a lack OF
central authority. Inspection belonged
partly TO the state board. and partly
to the municipal building department.
The representative of the former made
his inspection last montl and report
ed that the number of fire escapes was
propnrtioned to the number OF opera
tives as the law required. With equip
ment of eXtinguishers he had nothing
to do The local official pleads that his
force is not sufficient to examine all
factories now standing. and the pres
ent ordinance is somewhat loosely
worded, anyway.
Apparently proprietors of such
buildings are given the benefit of all
doubt, in these cases. Leading from
the fourth floor to the stairway was
a single door three feet and a half
wide, through which a hundred girls
must make their escape if at all. A
platform leading to one OF the fire
escapes was so rotten that it col
lapsed with those attempting to use
it,
AS in the Slocum disaster, there is
evidence of great official Indifference
as we'll as negligence. Inadequate as
We're the provisions for protection and
the requirements of the laws and
ordinances, they seem to have been
regarded by officials and others as
for the use Of someone else or Tor
some other generation. The local in
spectors claim that as the factory was
an old building, they had slight juris-
diction over it. If that is so, it puts
Il double responsibility upon the state.
The families of the victims OF this
disaster care little now who was re-
sponslble or who had jurisdiction, but
they. with the general public. will de-
mand that some one be held RESPONSE
bic and that in future some one must
accept the responsibility in all such
cases.
Chief Croker of the New York fire
department is quoted as saying that
there are buildings in that city where
the danger is every bit as great as ir
the building destroyed at Newark, and
where a fire in the daytime would al
most inevitably be attended with loss
of lite. He says that in some buildings
employing as many as 1000 persons,
the employees go up to their work in
elevators. and many of them do not
even know where the stairways are.
good. anyway, for if compelled to de-
pend upon stairways they would be
choked in the rush for safety.
Such an object lesson as that at
Newark, Saturday, should not be al
lowed to pass unheeded. Firms en-
ploving large numbers Of help should
not be allowed to let C,onsidcra tons
of economy stand in the way OF pub
lie safety. If not compelled to toe
the mark by strict laws strictly en-
forced. many concerns are inclined to
take the chances on the lives of their
employees. But whoever heard of the
proprietOrS of such an establishment
being caught in their own death trap
While they are willing to gamble on
the lives of others, the expense of
safety provisions are not considered in
their own case.
Tho public is disguised with and tired
of this everlasting excuse Il wasn't
responsible for it: it came under the
jurisdiction of some other depart
ment." Responsibility should be GEN.
tralizcd. and the people should know
to whom to look, always, in such cases.