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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913 Excerpt:...carrier. Unlike the road carriage or car, it is not operated upon the public highways. Unlike the machinery of a factory, it is not V utilized exclusively by employees. Its development and use have been, perhaps, too restricted to require the attentions of such legislation as has been rather freely applied to the other classes of appliances engaged in transporting human beings. It has therefore come about that the legal status of the elevator is in a very indefinite condition; its public regulation is generally local and therefore at best erratic, and the liability for the security of its occupants is as varied as the legal practice and rulings of different states. Only two states, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, have adopted legislative provisions, of limited character, relating to elevators. The former state provided so long ago as 1895 a requirement for automatic locking devices on all passenger elevators, thus being the pioneer in this direction. The State of Rhode Island by its general law, chapter 129, requires all elevators "to be equipped with safety appliances to prevent the starting of the elevator car in either direction while any door opening into the elevator is open." The State of Wisconsin by its In dustrial Commission Law, chap. 485, of 1911, placed in the hands of that body general power to require safeguards "on all places of employment," but it does not appear that the powers of the act extend to every class, of building in which elevators, may or can be employed. Other efforts have been made to effect legislation in the same direction, but have so far failed of enactment. The attention of the American Museum of Safety has been directed, for some years, towards the accom-: plishment of some amelioration of existing cond...