blocks, pulleys, stays, braces, ladders, iron or ropes of any swinging or stationary scaffolding, platform or other similar device, used in the construction, alteration, removing, repairing, cleaning or painting of buildings, bridges or viaducts within this state are unsafe, or liable to prove dangerous to the life or limb of any person, the State Labor Commissioner or his Deputy, or such local authority or authorities, shall immediately cause an inspection to be made of such scaffolding, platform or device or the slings, hammocks, blocks, pulleys, stays, braces, ladders, iron or other parts connected therewith. If after examination, such scaffolding, platform or device or any of such parts is found to be dangerous to the life or limb of any person, the State Labor Commissioner or his Deputy or such local authority, shall at once notify the person responsible for its erection or maintenance, of such fact and warn him against the use, maintenance or operation thereof and prohibit the use thereof, and require the same to be altered and reconstructed so as to avoid such danger. Such notice may be served personally upon the person responsible for its erection or maintenance or by conspicuously affixing it to the scaffolding, platform or other such device, or the part thereof declared to be unsafe. After such notice has been so served or affixed, the person responsible therefor shall cease and immediately remove such scaffolding, platform or other device or part thereof, and alter or strengthen it in such manner as to render it safe.

The State Labor Commissioner or his Deputy or such local authority, whose duty it is, under the terms of this act, to examine or test any scaffolding, platform or other similar device, or part thereof required to be erected and maintained by this section, shall have free access at all reasonable hours to any building or structure or premises containing such scaffolding, platform or other device shall not be overloaded or where they may be in use. All swinging and stationary scaffolding, platforms and other devices shall be so constructed as to bear four times the maximum weight required to be dependent thereon, or placed thereon, when in use, and such swing scaffolding, platform or other similar device, or parts thereof, or crowded as to render the same unsafe or dangerous.

SAFETY SCAFFOLDING OR STAGING

3606. Sec. 56. Any person, firm or corporation in this state hiring, employing, or directing another to perform labor of any kind in the erecting, altering, repairing, or painting of any water pipe, stand pipe, tank, smoke stack, chimney, tower, steeple, pole, staff, dome or cupalo, when the use of any scaffolding, staging, swing, hammock support temporary platform or other similar contrivance are required or used in the performance of such labor shall keep and maintain at all times, while such labor is being performed, and such mechanical device is in use or operation, a safe and proper scaffold, stay, support or other suitable device, not more than sixteen (16) feet below such working scaffold, staging, swing, hammock, support or temporary platform, when such work is being performed at a height of thirty-two (32) feet or more, for the purpose of preventing the person or persons performing such labor from falling, in case of any accident to such working scaffold, staging, swing, hammock, support or temporary platform.

ARCHED FLOORS AND HOW CONSTRUCTED

3607. Sec. 57. All contractors and owners, when constructing buildings where the plans and specifications require the floors to be arched between the beams thereof, or where the floors or filling in

between the floors are fire-proof material or brick-work, shall complete the flooring or filling in as the building progresses, to within at least two tiers or beams below that on which the iron work is being erected. If the plans and specifications of such buildings do not require filling in between the beams or floors with brick or fire-proof material, all contractors for carpenter work in the course of construction shall lay the under flooring thereof or a safe temporary floor on each story as the building progresses to within at least two stories or floors below the story where the work of buildings in the course of construction or iron or steel the contractors for the iron or steel the owners of such buildings, shall thoroughly plank over the entire tier of iron or steel beams on which the structural iron or steel work is being erected, except such spaces as may be reasonably required for the proper construction of such iron or steel work and for the raising and lowering of materials, to be used in the construction of buildings, or such spaces as may be designated by the plans and specifications for stairways and elevator shafts.

ELEVATOR SHAFTS AND HOW PROTECTED

3608. Sec. 58. If elevating machines or hoisting apparatus are used within a building in the course of construction, for the purpose of lifting materials to be used in such construction, the contractors or owners shall cause the shafts or opening in each floor to be enclosed or fenced in on all sides by a substantial barrier or railing at least eight feet in height. Any hoisting machine or engine used in such building construction shall, where practicable, be set up or placed on the ground, and where it is necessary in the construction of such building to place such hoisting machine on some floor above the ground floor, such machine or engine must be properly secured and supported with a foundation capable of safely sustaining twice the weight of such machine or engine. If a building in course of construction is five stories or more in height, no material needed for such construction shall be hoisted or lifted over public streets or alleys unless such street or alley shall be barricaded from use by the public. The chief officer in any city, town or village, charged with the enforcement of local building laws and ordinances, and the State Labor Commissioner and his Deputy are hereby charged with enforcing the provisions of this act; Provided, that in any town, city or village where no local building inspector or commissioner is provided for by law, the mayor or other chief officer of such city, town or village, and the chief of police or town marshal of such city, town or village, are hereby charged with the enforcement of the provisions of this act.

SYSTEM OF SIGNALS FOR HOISTING MACHINES

3609. Sec. 59. If elevating machines or hoisting apparatus, operated or controlled by other than hand power, are used in the construction, alteration or removal of any building or other structure, a complete and adequate system of communication by means of signals shall be provided and maintained by the owner, contractor or sub-contractor, during the use and operation of such elevating machines or hoisting apparatus, in order that prompt and effective communication may be had at all times between operator of engine or motive power of such elevating machine and hoisting apparatus, and the employes and persons engaged thereon or in using or operating the same.

ARCHITECTS AND DRAFTSMEN COMPLY WITH LAW

3610. Sec. 60. It shall be the duty of all architects or draftsmen engaged in preparing plans, specifications or drawings to be used in the erection, repairing or removing of any building or structure within the terms and provisions of this act to provide in such plans, specifications and drawings for all the permanent structural features or requirements specified in this act; and any failure on the part of any such architect or draftsman to perform such duty, shall subject such architect or draftsman to a fine of not less than twenty-five ($25) dollars, nor more than two hundred ($200) dollars for each offense.

VIOLATION BY CONTRACTOR OR FOREMAN-PENALTY

3611. Sec. 61. Any owner; contractor, sub-contractor, foreman or other person, having charge of the erection, construction, repairing, alteration, removal or painting of any building, bridge, viaduct or other structure within the provisions of this act, shall comply with all the terms thereof, and any such owner, contractor, subcontractor, foreman or other person, violating any of the provisions of this act shall upon conviction thereof be fined not less than twenty-five ($25) dollars, nor more than five hundred ($500) dollars or imprisoned for not less than three (3) months nor more than two (2) years, or both fined and imprisoned in the discretion of the court.

And in case of any such failure to comply with any of the provisions of this act the State Labor Commissioner or his Deputy or the chief officer of any city, town or village charged with the enforcement of local building laws and ordinances, may, through the county attorney of the proper county, or any other attorney in case of the failure of the county attorney to act promptly, take the necessary legal steps to enforce compliance therewith.

Provided, however, that the provisions of the foregoing act shall not apply to any buildings which do not exceed 33 feet in height above the foundation.

PART XII
Manufacturing Statistics

SAFETY FIRST

"On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying--'

Deuteronomy, I-5.

"When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house if any man fall from thence."

Deuteronomy, XXII-8.

"These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel, on this side Jordan, in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red Sea."

Deuteronomy, I-1.

MANUFACTURING STATISTICS OF NEBRASKA

Nebraska always has been and always will be pre-eminently an agricultural state. Statistics show that she has come to be one of the greatest agricultural states in the Union. Indeed, we have become so satiated with the agricultural idea that we have lost sight of the fact that Nebraska has slowly, but surely, been developing important manufacturing industries.

Nebraska has, according to the statistics of 1917, 1,449 manufacturing establishments. However, this does not tell the whole story because some manufacturers have neglected to fill out and send in the report blanks sent out by the Department of Labor. In all, three requests were mailed out, and while most firms responded promptly, others were slow in responding or failed to report at all. The purpose of the Department of Labor is to gather all statistics possible about labor, manufacturing, etc., for Nebraska. This information is invaluable to the public and will serve as a guide to the legislature in helping them to arrive at more correct conclusions when labor legislation is called for. If employers would be more prompt in sending in their reports, or would not ignore them altogether our reports would be more accurate and hence more valuable.

Employers are required by law to send in such information to the Department as the Labor Commisisoner may see fit to ask for. A fine of $10.00 is further provided by law in case there is failure to comply. We have never seen fit to resort to such drastic means to get information; we feel there are better ways to secure co-operation from employers. These failures to comply are not palpable so much as they are a matter of neglect. We are earnestly requesting all employers in the state to fill out these blanks and send as soon as possible all information asked for.

In 1916 only 923 employers sent in reports; this year 1,449 responded. One thing is patent: that manufacturing is steadily increasing. In the tabulated report that follows not only the number of manufacturing establishments are given, but the character of the organization, location of the establishment, size of labor force, etc., are also recorded. In reading the table the results are based on the aggregate of the reports sent in by the various firms.

According to the statistics gathered $84,619,764.88 represents the amount of capital invested in manufacturing in Nebraska. But here again we must call attention to the fact that it is more than this; how much more we are unable to state, because of the failure of some firms to report.

For 1916 there were 114 employees in the state under 16 years of age. For 1917 the number is 980.

It is to be noted that comparatively few women are employed; the number is 3,472; while for men it is 18,641. For 1917 these numbers are 5,202 and 24,640, respectively.