The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-08-31
Shenang0 Furnace Con,punu

During the last 10 or Is years
there has been much discussion in the
public press, among the people, in
the legislature and in congress on the
question of prevention of accidents
by law, and in pursuance of the
theory that the fixing of greater la
bility on the employers to respond in
damages would make them more
careful and thereby reduce the num-
Der Of accidents.
One of the first mining companies
in northern Minnesota to recognize
that there was a needless human
waste In mining was the Shenango
Furnace company, one of the indie
pendent concerns having immense
property holdings on the Mesaba
range, and operating several very
profitable mines there. The mining de-
partment of the Shenango Furnace
company is managed by John A.
Savage with headquarters in Duluth.
Mr.. Savage is young man and is
possessed with a strenuous energy
that prompts him to grapple in a
modern way with every phase of iron
mining. One of the first things he OBJ
serves when assuming supervision Of
the properties of the Shenango Fur
mace company was the large number
of accidents occurring to workmen in
the mining industry generally, and
the heavy cost to his company for
carrying employers liability insur-
ance
He forthwith set about to provide
means of safety that would have a
tendency to reduce mining accidents
The company had some puzzling prob
lens of mining to solve and it was no
easy matter to provide means Of
safety without interfering with the
general plans of operating the mines.
However, the matter was gone into
carefully and at an expense that
seemed startling every danger spot
about the mines was safeguarded.
Substantial gateways were placed at
all shaft openings. Wherever prac-
tical' timber shafting was displaced
with concrete and in the under
ground mines where the problem of
safety is most perplexing every con-
ce1Vable effort was exercised to mini
mize the danger Of accidents Work.
men We're cautioned about the hand
ling OF powder and repositories Of the
amount necessary to last through a
gwen day were constructed with
every. means of security built around
Them ho -
sion. AS a result Of this work pre-
Ventable accidents have been greatly
minimized and the most serious kind
have been completely avoided. How
ever, accidents will occur no matter
what precautions are taken to avert
them.
To care for the injured the
onenanso furnace company was the
first in northern Minnesota to pro-
vide emergency hospitals at the mines
to promptly care for all men injured
therein. If medical aid is given to an
injured person Immediately after the
accident it often results in saving a
human life, and this has been the
cardinal purpose of the Shenanso
Furnace company.
The company has in it's employ a
doctor who hurriedly answers every
call. When a slight accident occur.
which incapacitates a workman but
which does not confine' him to his
bed. his wound is dressed free Of cos,
to him at the emergency hospital
which Is equipped. with every con.
venience to provide for the treatment
of wounds and injuries of all char.
acter. "' : Ia. 49,. 4 =. -. -,
The one thing that. impressess D, 8
visitor to the properties of the
5henango Furnace company Is the
cleanliness and order on the ground.
and about the locations "A mine /.
no. place for a grass plot but thu
Aveling Of the grounds with cinder.
and keeping them clear Of all oh.
structions that may cause a man t
stumble and become injured impresse,
a observer with the care that j,