The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-06-05
SAFETY FIRST MEETING
SUPT. LARSON PUSHES IDEA
MANY LOCAL EVILS TO
BE SEEN TO.


the public policies of corporations in
the past few years. The time is past
when the railroads aim was to grab
what they might and keep it, and the
idea of the public was solely to prey
upon the corporations at the least
p~rovocation. This came about partly
as a natural development of business
honesty, of which the public had had
more than a suspicion, and partly
through the Investigations Of some of
the great eastern corporations. In
the hazardous railroad employment
where formerly it was cheaper to kill
a man and get another from the
hosts who were willing to undertake
the risk than to make any extraordi-
nary precautions for the protection of
either the employees or the public, it
is now the policy of careful protec-
ton and honesty of treatment.
A Safety First meeting of railroad
men last night in the rooms of the
Commercial club In the presence of
Supt. M. j. Larson, of the S. G. &
ID. division of the Milwaukee, brought
this out and made its new develop
ment and marked change evident to
one who was acquainted with rail-
roads, say 20 years back. The rail
roads were the first to adopt the
idea, he said in his opening remarks
and the realization came to them
that it was the policy to remove ev-
cry possible hazard from the work,
sible the men and the public. Any
possible cause for injury, or contribu-
tory possible to remove is now con-
sidered, and If possible removed.
Mr.. Larson's first meeting of this
organization in Madison put him on
record as enthusiastically in favor of
and working toward greater safety.
He announced his attitude as being
one of open mind and attentive ear,
and that evils, where not involving
too great an expenditure of money or
the change of standard equipment
would receive a corrective attention.
He urged more regularity in their
meetings, and greater freedom in re-
porting to their committees danger
Gus or possibly dangerous conditions.
The meeting was thrown open to
the men present, and the committee
men were first called upon to report
any conditions they might know of,
and notes were made of many small
but significant faults of train and
station and shop equipment and
buildings. Trainmen, trackmen,
shopmen, stationmen and linemen
gave examples and named places
where faults existed. Notes were
made of these, and immediate inves-
tigation and correction was promised.
Trees obstructing vision, buildings
with too little clearance, low-hanging
wires across tracks, handholds and
ratings about the decks of tender
tank decks, autos on station plat
forms, short ropes for water tank
valves-dozens of major and minor
causes or possibilities were reported.
He promises early action in the eff
fort to get electric lighting for the
local roundhouse and shops.
The proper handling of freight was
also treated by Mr.. Larson. Former
ly freight was handled with almost a
malicious disregard for its value or
safety. The carriers put on a cam
paign for improvement in handling,
slowing and piling. From a ITS per
cent of claims made for damage the
claims almost at once sank to 1,5 per
cent. Since the war they have risen
again in per cent, but this is largely
\ accounted for in the extreme rise in
the value of merchandise. Claims
are mostly for small amounts, but
the sum rises to between 81, ,000
and $4,000, 900, for the Milwaukee
system.
Aside from the direct loss to the
carrier stress was laid upon the loss
to the country of foodstuff to just the
ctxent of the destruction. We will
not feel the loss ourselves, the speak.
er said, as we are close to the mar
kets and will get it. But ii is to the
whole bulk that the loss accrues
Not so much can be done now in the
care of loading freight in way cars a:
formerly, on account of the govern
ment demand for loading the cars tt
the visible capacity. But on the re
turn to a condition of normal carry
ing room the activity will be resumed
with greater vigor.