The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-04-22

Going Up IN Safety.

washington. April so.-Danger in
elevator, travel will be practically
eliminated for this city, and an ex-
ample set for other parts Of the
country, il a bill now in congress
becomes q law.
We ride in elevators SO freely and
frequently that we seldom realize
either the hazards or convenience
of vertical transportation. Passen-
ger elevators are far safer now than
when they we're first introduced, but
still it is estimated that about Loo
persons are killed or injured in
them every year in this country
This may not seem an alarming
number of casualties, but it should
be taken into account that most ele-
vator accidents are fatal or result in
serious disabilities.
At least so per cent of the acct
dents are caused by people STEP
ping into open shaftways, or by the
car starting before the passenger is
safely in or out. This so per cent
of the accidents is unnecessary
elevator experts say, as devices are
on the market which prevent . cal
from moving until both car and
shaft doors are locked. Once the
elevator starts on a-trip, the doors
cannot be opened until it reaches
la landing.
I The safety devices are not al.
together new, and Washington il
not the first city to- propose com.
pulsory use of them. Heretofore
however, many experts have held
that to depend on mechanical OF
electric safety apparatus would put
a premium on carelessness on the
part of the operator. Efficiency in
managing the car they believed tc
be the best precaution against &C
cidents. But in time the safety de-
vices were improved, people contin,
!ued to get killed in unprotected
elevators, and inspectors gave VI
hope of more careful operators.
W. ]. Evans, chief inspector Of
elevators in Washington, was one
of those who for long time had
visions of the perfect elevator
chauffeur.
Lately" he says, Il have come
to see that We can never have much
better service than we get now, be.
| cause no one can pay operators
enough to insure it. Before the wal
| $50 month was the average pay
! for operators. Now it is around
SIS. In big Office buildings, Of
course, 500 or more is sometimes
paid. But there is no chance fol
advancement, and men take up the
work only because it is easy, OF
temporarily, while they fit them
selves for something else. Oper
ators usually prefer to work in Of
flee buildings, as they can some
times ingratiate themselves in some
business mans favor and be giver
a chance in his Office"
| Women, according to Mr.. Evans
are more satisfactory operators
than men, as they take the worl
more seriously. In the war days
women ran 20 per cent Of the ele
vators in Washington. Now thi:
percentage is cut almost in half
not by lack of women willing tt
work, but because the men return
ed to their old jobs. Women like
elevator work, Mr.. Evans says, be
cause it is less irksome and more
interesting than domestic service
If there is any difference in thu
number of accidents, there are few
er with women employees.
! The elevator safety bill is expect
ed to be passed with little opposi
ton. Such bills have failed before
but this year the memory of
tragedy that shocked Washington Il
still fresh in the minds OF mos
congressman. This accident occur
red several months ago, when ;
woman prominent in official societ.
stumbled as she entered an apart
ment house elevator. She clutchet
at the operator and the brake wa
accidentally shifted, so that the ca
started up. The woman was crush
ed and died 10 minutes later. Thi
sort of thing-a typical elevator &C
cident-would be impossible in
car that could start only when tn
doors were locked.
| The pending bill is similar t
ordinances in some other cities
The. owner Of an elevator must in
stall some safety locking devic
(which will cost about $50 a floor
and have it approved by the eleva
tor inspectors. If he fails to com
ply by certain date, he must pa
q fine OF s2o for every day the ca
is run without the attachment.
! Washington residences contai
more automatic cars than those @
any other city in the United State
in proportion to population. Their
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