The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-02-10

ure was reduced to one fatality to two
hundred and tweniy-eight thousand
six hundred tons, and this, too, in spite
OF the great increase of non-English
speaking men in the mining industry.
1.-THE same spirit of preparedness has
invaded building operations. With the
advent of modern steel construction
and the piling Of story on story till
the newspapers, for want Of better
expression coined the sky-scraper
phrase. safety of the woriimen for
time became a by-word. Do you re-
member the banner CT the structural
iron workers in their Labor Day pa
rade: We don't die. we are killed.
Well, that doesn't hold good any long
err. An iron worker has about the same
chance TO die from pneumonia, scarlet
fever, or other contagious dtsease
these days, as he has from industrial
accidents.
"In the industrial we find intelligent
preparedness lengthening the life of
/ the worker an average Of nine years,
in some OF the more combining trades,
to ten years in trades such as cigar
| MAXIM and printing, while in others
where dust, poor sanitation, and occu-
pational hazard was the rule, rather
than the exception, l believe twelve
and fifteen years have been added to
! the life Of the average worker.
Preparedness has been the watch.
word " the shops and factories, in the
mineK, and on the railroads for dec.
ade. For time the employer was sad
I ~ put to IT to convince his worsmen
that he shau!d take heed OF his very
life. Day in and day out the fight
against carelessness had to be waged
A trip through a shop would show u
scrap of discarded rag carelessly tied
around an injured finger, or maybe, ii
chaw' Of tobacco doing duty as an
antfseptlc. Today the bulletin board
wits its Take your scratched finger
to the doctor is the rule. Your eyes
are the windows of your soul, wear
your goggles; the company furnishes
them without CHARGE is posted in ten
thousand shops.
IAN accident in this shop is seri.
Gus reflection on the foreman in
charge Of the work." drives home to
the man on the Job that the manage.
ment is in earnest. BE careful Think
safety If safety interferes with pro-
duction explain your troubles to tho
Safety committee and your work will
be made SAFE "A boX-car can be re
built in thirty days, but It takes TWEEN.
ty-one years to make a man. is the
message of one railroad corporation to
its men. These and'a score of similar
messages from employers to EN-
ployees emphasize the new order OF
things.
1.-THE preparedness spirit is illustrat-
ed in hundred ways. The wonderful
growth of saving accounts in our
banks, the added thousands Of policy
holders in insurance companies, the
miles Of cottages In our suburbs, the
Increased attendance in our public
schools, or, il you desire to aillustra-
ton in every city block, the displays
In the show windows of our stores.
"1f you prefer, consider another
phase of preparedness. Five people
can swim today to one of dozen
years ago, every vacant lot is a base.
ball field in the summer months, the
suburban sidewalks are roller.rinks for
our children, the churches and schools
are used as part-time gymnasiums, and
field days and dancing classes are the
rules rather than the exceptions.
This country need not worry over
preparedness. Our people are living
a saner and more healthful and safer
life than at any time in the history Of
our Nation"