Show Learning From Monticello's Tragedy L The shattering death dealing gas explosion in a Monticello cafe Monday was a frightening reminder of the potential danger that lurks Behind behInd so many of the facets of modem modern everyday life And of the heed deed to be ever alert to maintain established safety precautions Heating and cooking with gas brings a wealth of convenience to modem modern living that ou our pioneer ancestors with their wood coal stoves and come by fuel tuel could scarcely have imagined But gas und under r proper control is Js one thing and gas improperly controlled quite another Similarly electricity does countless saving labor-saving won dens den about the he none nome but wires carrying electric current can be deadly deadly deadly dead dead- ly dangerous too if they are not properly Insulated and handled bandied The Utah Public Service Commission has already begun an Invest investigation gallon gatlon of 01 the Monticello disaster to see it If the recommended standard plumbing c code de was in force lorce in the tile town setting safety standards for forgas forgas forgas gas line Une connections and requiring regular qualified inspection of such connection Results of the commission check are not yet known The commission has s no DR pow power ow t f to force an incorporated community to adopt the standard code but whatever the specific cause of 01 the Monticello trag tragedy y may prove ve to be it should serve as a stem stern reminder reminder re re- minder to every community and to every Individual householder in fn inthe inthe the state to observe all safety precautions Too many citizens tend to res resent nt the various codes established to regulate the installation of plumbing electrical fixtures water con and the rest Individuals sometimes feel that these regula regula- regulations gulat gula- gula t are unnecessary and are adopted a at the instigation atlon of pressure groups in to order to give the licensed pl plumbers bers electricians and other craftsmen craftsman more work and prevent the yourself do householder Jer from saving a little mony The Monticello explosion shows show the fallacy of such auch thinking An improperly connected gas pipe or a poor electrical connection con con- connection may appear cheaper than one expertly put in by a properly trained and licensed workman but th the saving is like likely to be very temporary The full Mt cost may Include that of an entire house hOllie and maybe even the lives live of its Rs Inhabitants inhabitant With the new natural ga gas line Uno going to many communities that have never enjoyed the convenience of 01 natural gas before the Monticello Monticello Monti- Monti cello warning should be sufficient to make them adopt and enforce approved approved approved ap ap- proved safety regulations And it should be a no less effective reminder reminder re re- minder for people who Wl Have had ee as a. and alt alj their lives but who may have let familiarity with with these modem modern wooden wonders breed contempt con tempt for the deadly danger they can become became Front From the Desert News |