Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-09-09
FACTORY CHIEFS
CONFER ON WORK
Interesting Exhibit of Safety
Appliances Is Given as Part
of Session.

Nenllon OF Injurious uuSAss AdSNoi ;
hygiene and the electrical system Of
alarms now in vogue in first-elass
factory buildings were among the
topics discussed by Colonel Lewis I
Bryant, State commissioner of labor
at meeting of nearly 1000 factory
chiefs from all over the State, at
KRUGER Auditorium last night.
Held under the auspices of the fac
tory fire chiefs the meeting also
served to bring out a large crowd OF
people who are interested in fire
prevention in general and in labor
matters. The meeting was the second
held in Newark under the same au-
spices, and served also to exhibit the
various appliances and safeguards
used in factories to carry on the work
of fire prevention in general. only
articles approved by the State De-
partment of Labor were included In
the exhibit The exhibition was
under the supervision of William J.
e. Seder. superintendent of factory
fire chiefs. fire prevention, fire pro-
lection and fire drills of the State
Department of Labor
A blower system for the carrying
off of dust and fumes was on exhibit
ton. According to Inspector John
Roach, of the State Department of
Labor, the tuberculosis rate among
polishers has been reduced 30 per
cent. since the installation of the
blowers systems in factories. The
polishing wheels are surrounded, with
the exception of the working surface.
by a metal receiver which by a
vacuum draws off all dust.
l. t. I,of,N ". ha
factories with great success. Mer-
curry poisoning was frequent in that
trade among the pouncers for the
flying furry dust In the process con-
tanned the mercury and endangered
the lives of the men. Now the blower
is fitted around the pouncer and the
fuzzy dust is carried off to a col
lecting point at the other end of the
system.
Colonel Bryant's speech in part was
as follows:
MIR. Bryant's Speech.
This country is always keenly
aroused by the occurrence OF the loss
of life from fire, and It rightly should
be. Too many precautions far in
surfing the safety of factory opera
tives cannot be taken, and certa inly
every effort of the State should be
extended in an rndeavor 10 prevent
conditions which awill mako possible
further disasters from this cause.
We are periodically reminded Of the
absolute necessity of alertness on
this matter by the occurrence OF
such fires as those which have taken
place with such capid,ty IN Newark,
New York and BiaShamton. 1t Is
certainly our duty to profit " these
frightful examples and use every eT-
fort in the future to prevent their
While the Joss of life of
the twenty-five operatives in the
High street fire very properly
caslsed CONSERVATION and alarm in
the minds of the public, 1t should
also be remembered that several
times this number are annually being
sacrificed to more or less preventahle
Throughout The factories
of the state.
During the past fiscal year we find
that on the three subjects of tie
vators, belts and slipping ladders the
loss of life totals twenty-five, which
almost equals the loss ut the High
street fire, and in addition to these
fatalities we have - record of eigh-
ty-four minor accidents due 10 belts,
sixty two due TO elevators and sew
enty-five to ladders. If it were pos
sible for the general public to be-
come acquainted with the numerous
and continuous loss of lie and limb
due to such accidents there would
be the same uprising ard demand
for their prevention.
Discusses Lead Poisoning.
ut seems difficult to realize how
such stringent laws on the matter of
occupational diseases, such as lead
poisoning, have peen enacted by so
many other nations, while at the
present moment very little legislation
has been attempted i'll this country.
If we consider this matter from a
purely economic attitude. and we are
accused by some of the cities as
being a commercial aatlon, we should
give due heed to The TREMENDOUS
financial loss Jcca3ioned throrgh
preventable sources.
In talking the statistics of Ger
many as comparison. we find that
Germany compensated 5,704. 429 cases
which made an equivalent of 11S,459,-
544 days lncapacitated for work. The
public of the United States Is great
er than Germany and if we further
take INTO EOhSldtIdllOi Tic AoNb hAltNt
we have not made nearly the con-
certed effort as Germany in precent-
ing accidents and loss of time owing
to sickness, we would perhaps have
twice the number of cases as Ger
many, or 226, 919, 06S. Reckoning the
compensation on the basis of $3.50 a
day. the annually loss in earning
efficiency would be estimated $780,
900, 600 While of absolute import
ace in the analysis Of this situation
/ fell that no money compensation
can possibly represent the hours of
suffering occasioned by this army of
workers. I feel that this situation
is more or less recognized by stu
cerned tonight more directly with
the question of prevention"
Colonel Bryant illustrated by the
use of stereopticon views the meth
DDS employed in fighting fires in fac
tories and the electrical systems of
alarms now being used. In conclu-
sion, the speaker declared that the
State department was desirious Of
increasing the scope of work done by
the factory chiefs and Of co-opera-
ting with them in every way. Brief
talks were also made by Edward F.
Croker. for twelve years chief of
the New York Fire Department. and
now head of the Croker National Fire
Prevention Engineering Company,
and Frederic J.. Hoffman,. statisti-
clan of the Prudential Insurance
Company.
Among those who took keen in
terest in the proceedings were Deputy
Fire Chief Matthew p. A. McDermit
and Secretary Charles Smith. Of the
local department, and Secretary
Henry r. Hilfers and a delegation
from the Essex Trades Council
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