Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-11-16
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= THE CHEAPNESS OF LIFE. &

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4 Editor Reflector: Pennsylvania
a the state where. more than anywhere
4 else, the dollar has long been &C.
n counted greater than the man, may
\ well be startled by the revelations
, as to the Austin dam which have
, been made not only by the engineer
, who planned the structure but by
the New York state inspector of
dams, who has visited the wreck.
compared the ruins with the speci-
ncations, and reported his findings.
They tally In every respect with the
confession Of the engineer who de-
. signed the dam and superintended
Its construction--that the dam, was
thinner and weaker at every point
than provided in the specifications,
that the work was "skimped' at
every stage, and that a certain wall
intended to strengthen the dam in
time OF special strain was entirely
. "a
OF interest also to Pennsylvanians
should be the proceedings Of the re-
cent convention, In Pittsburg, of Of
ficials and others interested In the
installation and use Of safety ap-
planes in coal mines. The United
States Bureau of Mines is an i'm
portant factor in the work Of the
conference. 1t will surprise many
to learn that but one in three of
those killed in mining accidents lose
their lives in great disasters. Fully
IS per cent of deaths occur one by ]
one and thus attract no attention
outside their own communities. An q
average of about two deaths occur !
'very three days In the coal mines 8
If the country. II there were a I
disaster every three months which
destroyed fifty lives, the people
you'd rise In their horror and insist
pom speedy lessening Of the terri
lie human sacrifice. But the VIC
Inns are picked off one by one 81
nd the public is Indifferent. u
For some years before Chicago N
egan the elevation of railroad I
'aeks an average of about one per- Sc
IN day was killed at grade cross az
lgs. The newspapers reported these u
,cidents, but they were so common q
lat they soon ceased to attract at M
ntion. Obviously, a disaster once go
year, costing $50 to 400 lives, OF
Ould have set the city ablaze and OF
ought speedy results, But moth IL
g was done until the railroads, go
a business proposition, foHnd It an
4 not pay to kill so many people, ISL
ased to fight the movement to ele- tn'
To the tracks, and set about the II
Irk. the
1t is significant that the number ma
accidents, fatal and otherwise, ~
the coal mines Of Belgium is bare mig
one-third as many, in proportion tne
The men employed. as in the United tne
ties. Yet the Belgian mines are q
per and fuller Of dangerous gases owl
n those Of this country. Il has am'
n said with much force, that Bel a n
N puts the life OF miner before car
dollar, while the United States
the dollar first. The differ TOW
is as wide as a barn door and
deep as q well. Five
Is not alone in the constant ?
ne OF men that Pennsylvania IL
against humanity, but A..
be employment Of children sup 80
d to be protected BY Law. Every tT,c,
e. every upheVal Of public opin- temf
IN that state, brings out the las i
that the law against child labor Ma
q great extent a dead letter. In Of y
hs IN all else, the corporations Eitn'
4 law unto themselves II the Lars
nrrent testimony Of huhdrsds Of sepa'
liable witnesses Is Of any value. .ns
'ands Of children under school 49,.
are wearing out their young rsns,
in the coal mines Of PsnnsYl- fooF
! An sttsmpn 70 doapsy With that