Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-07-24
MILL MArrERs.

pace. = ~
MILL MArrERs.
rha Man Feedersp Committee Consults
with n Manager.
A REGIsrER reporter had . conversation
with the manager Of one Of our nan facto-
ries, Yesterday, which was instrumental In
giving the former no ANAL amount Of infor-
nation, and in giving the latter an opportu-
nity 70 express quite o number OF well
chosen facts. In substance, what the mar
sper said was as follows: The great
trouble Is, the men who represent our mills
IN their Association know nothing about the
practical working Of q nail factory;
they are, as Is the case with
many Others under the impression
that the only thing to be looked at
ia the saving Of q few dollars. They do
not understand their business well enough
/ to know what course 10 pursue to save their
dollars. Do you suppose that practical
nail makers, such as originated the great
industry for which our city is noted, would
make any such resolutions as those which
were recently passed By the Cincinnati
meeting2 They would know better than o
suppose they could make money by intro
ducing feeders into the places OF nailers,
when, as they now claim, they can gain no
profit even when using the best skilled la
Dor.
In Schoneberger's mill $4,000 was sunk
in one year by trying to hire instructors for
feeders and have the latter learn the busi-
ness under them. In the first place will
say that out of every ten nailers whom /
know, there will not be found more than
one real true, first class mechanic. There
are none of them who do not get stuck
once in q while and have to appeal to their
neighbors for aid in some form. Nailers
are sometimes able, after q years appren
ticeship, to run one machine moderately
well, but in most cases it takes
from FIVE to seven years to become efficient
enough to take charge ola fun job OF four
machines. In the face of this fact, then,
how foolish it seems to hear the manufactu-
rers talk of filing these mems places with
feeders who have had 40 experience. They
say we can hire instructors for their appren-
tiees. Well, who can they hireP No one
but men who are incompetent through lack
Of knowledge, drunkenness or some other
equally great defect No decent
man will take such q position
Suppose they do hire instructors! No one
man can properly instruct more than four
teeders. What better off are they2 They
are paving for as many instructors as they
formerly had nsilers and are paying the
feeders nailers' wages and at the same time
are losing money continually on spoiled
uon, b~reaksges caused by incompetsncy,
and q hundred other things. Now the best
thing / could advise them to do while / hold
t g position OF manager, and have their inter-
est at heart, is to hire the best skilled labor
and pay the highest possible wages
and thus save money. / do not
think there is o manager in Wheeling or
vicinity who will not resign if an effort is
made to introduce feeders to the nailers
positions. If they think we are going to
take the trouble Of teaching feeders the art
of killing the trade by which we as mana.
gers or otherwise gain our ~sustenauce they
are nightly mistaken. They will find that
the managers. though hired by them to
oversee our fellow.workmen, have not lost
all self respect and that there are more
designations ready than they think for.
"You will find that the whole trouble
arises from the fact that the practical mill
men are no longer in the Office and that the
owners, on account Of their money, think
they are as well able to run the mill rs they
are the Office. They do not think it neces-
ssry to consult their managers before going
into q convention, 90 as to be able to act in
telligently when they do get there. As /
said before, do You suppose any of the prac-
tical nailmskers, who founded the indus
Try in Wheeling, would be 30 silly as to
make such blunders as were made at Gin
cinnati a short time ago
1t was learned last evening that the nail
feeders committee held q consultation with
Mr.. Frank Hearne, of the Riverside mill,
and he offered to open the factory to as
many of them as desired to take jobs. He
also stated that a competent instructor
would be furnished, so that they could make
as rapid Roadway as possible. 1t is said
that the factory will open on Monday next
and a number of feeders will take jobs, al
though the majority of them refuse to do so.
One of the directors Of the Jefferson iron
works called yesterday and stated that there
vas no foundation for the report that their
mill would resume in several days, although
the report came through a reliable source.
1t is learned that q Mr.. Armstrong, Of
he South Side, received 9 note yesterday
from the manager of the Etna Iron Works
requesting him to come to work to-day. Mr..
Armstrong, however, is at P~ittsburg, and he
was telegraphed for Immediately. This
looks queer in the face Of the notice posted
at the Etns mill the early part of this
week, as the note stated that the works
would resume to-day.