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Show BJ Sl'PKItA.WUATKI) lOMPLOYEK.S BB "The subject of watchmen opens a big field for BJ consideration. Tho prevailing custom among manu- BJ facturers, warehousemen and othors is that of ungag- HJ lug us night watchman some superannuated employee BJ who Is no longer physically able to earn a workman's (pay. Such a watchman may make- his occasional rounds of clock stations In a purely mechanical way, but tho amount of real protection which he furnishes, i especially In war time, is very small. Generally he j fi can be avoided with ridiculous case by any one who BJ ) Is In the place with hostile Intent. Or If not avoided BJ bis overpowering is a matter of little difficulty. BJ ! ,. "Somo of you know of a recent test In a very BBT' u large grain elevator, where Inspectors were scut Into HP I a plant at night time, without the knowledge of the Ji' E aged watchman. These Inspectors spent six hours BBJ within the plant and made drawings of manv of its BB Important features, hut their presence was never BB i onco detected. As a consequence the owners were B ' given the alternative of engaging a "sufficient number BH 'of young and vigorous guards or of having their plant BH taken over by the state authorities. BB ""rrho big Ualtimore fire of October 30, Is a strik- BH Ing example of Insufficient watchman service. Here BB was a pier, 900 feet long, containing such a valuable BB accumulation of freight as 50.000 bales of wood BH i pulp, 150 carloads of flour, 20 cars of tobacco, 30 BB cars of bark extract, 40 cars ot lubricating oil, 25 I H cars of spelter, 2 J, curs of roofing paper, ID cars ot H miscellaneous freight in the portion of the pier that H was destroyed. Pier 9 contained 29,000 bales of H wood pulp, 7000 cases of Imported liquor in the bond- H cd end, 300 crates of earthenware, 100 bales of oak- H 1 urn, 100 cars roofing paper, 50 cars of linseed oil B cake, 20 cars of tobacco, 23 cars of miscellaneous H J freight. Think of loavjng these stores in the sole H, , charge of a single watchman In n time such as tho BBBBH B present! B "Tlioro are really few subjects In fire provontion K l so Important as the abrogation of this timo ltouored H custom of Inefficient watchmen. To make tho safe- H guarding of our production of supplies depend upon H those who can furnish only nominal safety, during H jj tho hours when darkness brines the greatest rigger H j nnd to do this In a period of extensive hostile acthl- 1 It ties would be ludicrous If it were, not so gra '. It B a to equivalent to locking the windows and leaving ths 1 8 front door open. m I "Watchmen are charged with extraordinary re- B aponlbillty. They should be picked men, not dero- M J Lets. They should be Intelligent, courageous, nnd Hj physically aotive. They should be sufficient in lium- H " her to furnish real protection. They should be well 1 armed. They should receive special training for their Bj important duties, and this training should include- Hj Icnowlodgo ot fire alarms, flro prevention nnd flro BBh protection. They should nnver bo engaged oxcopt BB;'! upon unmistnltnblo ovldence of character, and they 'j should bo paid tho salaries that will command such t mialifleatlons. i "I wish rospectfully to suggest that you gentle- men givo early and earnest consideration to tho cor- B j rectlou of what wo may well call tho watchman evil. J 1 wish to raise tho point as to whether each ono of ' you may not profitably undertake to secuio statistics J of the watchmen's service in his own State, nnd to formulate means for n swooping reform of tho whole- BBM absurd system. If this can be done, and I believe BBJ that you can do it, the efficiency and safety of tho BBJ nation will be greatly enhanced. It Is a crying need BBJ of the present hour." BBBL In tn t |
