The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-04-21

These are denominated ssfoot- pounds !" and
the number Of pounds that can be raised in
q day Of eight hours, Is the utmost capacity
Of aday's labor. The following ingenious
table illustrates his proposition
Foot
Weight pounds Total
IN pounds ..eopa per io0'-I ound''
Man $50 rs 2,I6O 900
Horse 600 4SO 1884 900
OK 600 800 8,64O, 900
Ass 800 $50 5,lS4. .OOG
Mule 500 $50 lO,0o0,0 900
This view is adopted by contributor to
Appleton's American Cyclop@dia, article
''Mechanics," volume IL, page 327
''Men, acting by muscular power or
weight, and quadrupeds are, animate motors
moving powers). The best continued prac-
tical working effect of animate motors, ge-
nerally, if the efforts are in any degree
severe, is obtained when the working hours
do not exceed one-third Of the twenty
four"
When piece work is performed by work
! ingmen or mechanics, the average term of day
labor is eight hours. In demonstration Of
this assertion will remark that iron-moul-
ders ih this state, whose work is Of this de-
T
Armstrong Of Peekskill, president of the
moulders' union in that village, assures me
Of this. In the mines Of the Pacific coast,
and the sierras Of that region, the miners,
far distant from physicians, and forced to
adopt the best precautionary measures for
sustaining health, have bv common consent,
agreed upon the eight hour rule. This fact,
/ thus warranted by the severest experience
lad fba nf 49, IL
Of California, in February, 1856, to pass the
bill defining eight hours to be the period Of a
legal days work. In Australia, likewise,
universal experience has led to the establish.
ment of the same system.
Ellhu Burritt, the learned black smith, Of
Worcester, Massachusetts, assigned for him
self the same term for labor
The marching time for armies is also thus
limited from twelve to seventeen miles
being the distance made day by day. When
ever forced marches are had, forty or fifty
miles day, long periods of rest mus. ensue,
or large part of the army will be disabled
BY sickness.
The Encyclopedias Britannica makes a
similar declaration in respect to the progress
made by caravans. 1t says-see article on
Caravans"
From seven to eight hours day seem to
have become usual days journey for cara
vans; so that estimating the slow and IN
wieldy gait of a camel at two and half
miles an hour, the average rate Of travel will
be from IL to 20 miles day."
The writer of the Book of Exodus assures
US, that Gin six days Jehovah created the
heavens and the earth, and rested on the
seventh day therefore He blessed the
seventh day, and hallowed it." In six DAYS
he again assures us, Jehovah made the
heavens and the earth, sand He rested on
the seventh day, and ras refreshed" Thus
the Master Mechanic Of the Universe, we are
assured BY the Hebrew writer's, rested "a
hours out Of l65---a practice which, among
Jews and Christians, and even with Mo-
har edans, has been adopted as divine law,
? I'D continued till the present time. Tradi-
tion informs rs that Solomon, when be was
building temple to the Most High, promul-
gated decree for the men EMPLOYED upon
the great work, "Eight hours shall be dedi-
Gated to labor; eight hours to rest. rocre-
alton, rofreshment, and the worship of
Jehovah and eight to Sleep" Thus the
stones and timbers Of that edifce consecrated
to the Supreme Being, were kept unpolluted
by the sweat Of slaves, or of laborers ex-
hausted by overwork and painful toll. 1t
appears then that the weekly day of rest,
and the eight-hour system, are derived alike
from that once illustrious chosen people,
Taking onr warrant from the divine AUTHORITY,
we have established the Sabbath bv statute
and penalty and why not, in like manner,
now make an enactment for the eight hour
ruleS
At Salisbury and Andersonville, the Union
prisoners were deprived by their fendish
jailors of the proper quantity of food re-.
quired for their sustenance, and perished by
thousands of disease produced by slow star
vation. The health Of the body inhexibly
requires a certain quantity OF nourishment
day by day. A similar s'fery laws has gone
forth in the matter Of rest and sleep. The
penalty of transgression is certain and in
evitable; premature old age, painful disease,
softening OF the BRAIN, insanity and death.
There il not an observing man within the
hearing of my Soice who cannot multiply
instances of men thus broken down in their
prime, tortured by excruciating nervous ma
ladies, or perishing before their time in a
condition OF babbling idiocy. Truly, ssThe
mills Of God grind slowly, but they grind
exceeding fne," and "every transgressior
hath its recompense Of reward" for which
expiation is certain, and there is no yicari-
Gus substitution.
| The statistics Of our provost marshals who
executed the enrolment law during the civil
war, show that only about one quarter of all
the men drafted were sound in wind and
limb; the others had been broken down by
overwork, and curtailment Of their proper
hours Of rest.
The average duration of the lives Of our
mechanics and workingmen does not exceed
80 years whereas professional men, our
judges and lawyers, our statesmen and schol-
ars, our divines and collegians, generally
last much longer, sometimes continuing In
active duty even till the age Of -four score
Only few days since Doctor Nott passed
away at the age Of SO, having performed his
duties at the head of Onion College till about
1.-TWO years before bis death. The man who
works continually, year after year, 10 or Il
hours daily, 30 overtaxes his vital powers
that he does not live out half his DAYS. Hi
mind shares in this deterioration. Profes
sional men generally understand this
and 50 husband their energies. They ar,
conscious that labor can Be- performed ,
1hcers psr day each week, from year 70 year
without sxhsustiAg the vital power, lssvinl
lAnple time for recreation and mental cul
'ltue 70 the fullest extent intended by th