The Connecticut labor news., 1923-05-18


 they could not take a 3-16 inch gauge as required by law and the rules We also pointed out to those in charge that th1s was very risky practice and a | direct violation of the requirements. "Hydrostatlc test had been applied to the boiler of locomotive 3O22, but in spectlon disclosed that crown and com l bust1on chamber stays had not been ham mer tested as required by the law and rules, and this was so admitted by General Foreman Boilermaker Dono- van, We pointed out to those in charge that fatal accidents have resulted from sighting this work just as had been done in this instance
 Locomotive 3303 was on her wheels and the finishing gang was engaged Ill putting up side rods, etc One arch tube plug i'll the throat sheet was yet out, but the workman had the plug in his hand ready to apply it. We asked him if he was through and he said, Yes We then asked him to let us look in the hole before he applied the plug and inspec- tion of the arch tube showed that 1t did not extend through the throat sheet, lacking about 1-16 of an inch. We then had all arch tube plugs removed and 1 found that although the remaining tubes were long enough, they had not been belled or beaded to secure them in place. These arch tubes had been ap- piled at this shopping, and had shims made of Russia iron between tube and sheet. The short tube was removed that night and another applied, but in apply ing 1t, they cracked it in bel1ing 1t over at doorsheet, so 1t was again, necessary to have the tube removed. The danger ous condition created where arch tubes are so applied was pointed out to hose at Readville, and their attention was directed to the fact that during the period 1912 to 1922, inclusive, o3 acci- dents, resulting in the death of seven persons and the serious injury of 150 others were caused, due to failure of arch tubes
 "The foreman boilernaker was asked to have the arch tube plugs removed from the boiler of locomotive 1348, which we were told had been removed and tubes cleaned and inspected since the locomotive came into the Readville shop Two men assigned to the task labored for 1-2 hours. using wrench with handle approximately five feet long and succeeded in getting five plugs out, but could not turn the remaining three plugs. Inspection showed that the arch tubes where the plugs were out had not been belled or beaded to secure them in place, and that they were coated with scale. The plugs had been painted on the outside, but had evidently not been removed for a long time. Inspection of numerous arch tubes which had been ap- piled at Readvi1le disclosed that they were not properly belled or beaded, and the indications were that the Carrier did not have a tool that would properly do this work.
 We asked Mir. Donovan, general fore man boilerrnaker, if the interior had had the scale removed and had been properly inspected to which he replied, Yes We then asked how, and he replied, With air hammer and tool Later we asked the man who put III the tiueS II he had removed the scale from the boiler and he replieds Nobody told me to; l asked to have the throttle box taken out and got down inside and found that the interior of the boiler was covered with considerable scale and the lndlca- tions were that no attempt had been made at its removal.
 After having numerous d1screpanc1es brought to his attention he (Donovan), , said in substance: I am doing. the best I can with what 1 have to do with. I he machine side is good, but the erecting side is rotten. Before July nearly everything coming in was class three re- pairs, but since then. in order to catch up with the engines, we're making lot of lighter repairs and a large number of class fves. They are pressing us tor power-pressure is being brought on us and a lot of things are getting by, It has been hell around here since July l. You can see for yourself. I don't have to tell you. I've got about fifteen of my old men back. The other men on the erecting side never had any previous railroad experience and you can imagine what I am contending with. You have to watch them all the time lie added that among 25 men. four or five were good. but the rest kept him on the jump all the time"