TABLE XXI.-FIRE ESCAPES.-EMPLOYES' RETURNS.

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ACCIDENTS BY MACHINERY, ETC.

By the introduction of machinery into all departments of labor, numerous accidents to life and limb occur from various causes. Not a day passes but that some one is reported, through the medium of the daily press, having been maimed or disabled by machinery. Although in many cases the accident is the result of culpable negligence on the part of the employers in providing the necessary safeguard against accidents. Wheels, belts and pulleys are left unguarded, when the victim, in a moment of forgetfulness, is caught, as was the case in Peper's tobacco factory in St. Louis, 1880, where a boy thirteen years of age was the victim. While at work near a rapidly revolving pulleywheel, the corner of his apron caught and he was thrown against a pile of boxes, the force of the blow breaking both arms and legs. A simple railing, the work of an hour's time, would save many a human being from being crippled for life; and while such is the case, the powerful arm of the law should be invoked to protect those that necessity compels to come in contact with unguarded machinery.

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Questions 22, 23, 24 and 25, on employer's blank: Have any your employes been injured in your establishment during the year?If so, state causes.—Result.—Do you continue the wages, or any part thereof, to an employe while so disabled? Received fewer replies than any other question. The following brief summary from the returnsgives further results from the Bureau's investigations.

Three returns from planing mills report accidents, and in only one case was the wages continued, and that was where the injury was slight. In one of the other two cases, a man's arm was cut off by a band-saw and he was discharged. Painters.-Two returns report accidents; one fell from staging, and the result was a broken ankle; wages discontinued. The other also fell from staging and received severe bruises, and no wages were paid while so disabled. One employer reports continuing wages to employes if disabled in his service. Stoneware and pottery.-One return says: "Man had his hand. caught in the clay-wheel; result, not serious; wages discontinued." Only one firm in St. Louis reports continuing wages to employes, if disabled in their service. Breweries.-Three returns report paying wages to disabled workmen in their employ, and one adds: "One of our men slipped near the fly-wheel and had his leg broken; got well again and went to Europe; full wages were continued." Carriage and wagon manufacturers.-Several accidents to employes in this trade are reported, but none serious. One firm, in regard to continuing wages to men disabled in their services, says: "Under certain circum

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stances, we do;" another, "we give them employment in preference to others, and pay the doctors' bills." Carpenters.-One return states that an employe fell off a house and got killed; another says: "Man fell off scaffold and three ribs broken; wages discontinued while disabled." Coopers.-One return reports an employe "had two fingers cut off, went to work again in six weeks; wages were partly paid while disabled." Coal miners.-One concern reports an accident by coal falling on an employe and disabling him for two months, and adds: "In continuing wages to men disabled while in our employ, all depends upon the cause." Another return reports three accidents, occasioned by falling of roof in the mine, and says: "One died, one is well again, and the other will recover. Sometimes we continue wages; it all depends on circumstances." Two others placed themselves on record as continuing wages to men disabled while in their employ. Flour mills. Two returns say: "Wages are not continued when employes get disabled;" while another states, "we pay full wages and doctors' bills;" another, "full pay is continued." Two accidents are reported; one man got caught in a large pulley-wheel, the result was death; the other had his foot crushed by mill-stone; wages continued. Furniture manufacturers.-Return 1,278 reports three accidents during the year; result, "short two or three fingers ;" and adds, "we pay half wages to enable them to pay board." 1,287 reports accidents; cause, carelessness on part of employes; wages discontinued. Iron industries.-Return 1,113.-" One employe had his leg broken; wages continued." 1,152.-"Three fingers cut off; cause, carelessness; wages discontinued." 782.-" One employe disabled, but recovered in three weeks; we generally allow half pay." 1,067 (iron mine)—" One man had leg broken by a boulder rolling against him. Wages were partly paid, and light work given when recovered," 23 (foundry) -"Men in our employ receive burns, bruises and sprains; so far all have recovered; wages are discontinned as a rule." 508.-"One employe was severely burned, but recoved; wages discontinued." Three other returns say they pay half wages to men disabled while in their service. Freight car manufacturer.-Reports an accident which resulted in death; wages are discontinued, as a rule, when employes are disabled while in their employ. Car-wheel manufacturer says: "Men are often burned by coming in contact with hot iron." In regard to continuing wages, the return answers: "No; they mostly carry accidental insurance, and receive idemnity from the insurance company. Lead mining.-1,383.-"One man fell in shaft, got well again; wages continued." 1,451.-" One man got caught in machinery; result, broken leg; half wages allowed while disabled." Another return says:

"We have had no accidents, but would continue half wages to a man if disabled while in our employ." Printers.-1,148.-Reports three accidents, caused by men being caught in the machinery; result," not serious; only mutilation of fingers." In regard to continuing wages, the return says: "We do not recognize the obligation, but have done so as a matter of fact in some instances." 1,018.-"Nothing serious, but ordinary slight mishaps, caused by carelessness. Sometimes we continue wages for a short time" 288.-" An employe had fingers mashed; cause, personal negligence; " wages discontinued. Railroad companies.(a)-" If injured through no fault of their own, it is customary to allow half time, and free attention by the regularly employed company's surgeon. In extreme cases, full time has been allowed." (b)-"We use our own discretion, owing to circumstances of case. (c)—Repair shop.-A few employes have received "some slight inju ries, generally through their own carelessness; but none were permanently injured;" wages discontinued. Woolen and cotton mills.—

1,353." Injuries in our factory are trifling, such as fingers; result, no permanent injury; wages are generally continued. " 682.-" If hands get disabled while in our service, and they work by the month or year, we allow full wages. 519. "Wages continued if worthy." 73-"Had no accidents; if we had, would allow half pay." Match factory-515 -Had a few accidents and continued wages to "some" of their employes.

QUESTION 5-TIME IN PRESENT EMPLOYMENT.

This question was intended to ascertain from workingmen whether employment in their respective trades and callings was steady and permanent or fluctuating and uncertain. The answers given, are shown in the table below, and cover a period of time varying from one week to twenty years.

The above table shows that of the five hundred and seventy-five returns received from employes by the Bureau, only four hundred and ten made replies to the question, "Time in present employment?" The result shows that one hundred and fourteen were employed less than six months; sixty-eight from six months to one year, and fifty-four from one to two years, while those who have been at work for present employer from two to three years, number forty-three; from three to four years, 25; from four to five years, nineteen; and for five years and over, eighty-seven.