Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1885-01-21
Working to Advantage.


workman who understands some OF
the mechanical principles that gov
ern the behavior of matter, will han
die difficult undertaking with no
other strength than his own, assisted
with little forethought and head
work. A large water wheel shaft ~
ing in a wheel pit, and loaded down
with pulleys and large gear wheel,
was brought out by single workman
and placed across the beams of iron,
while the rest of the machinery was
in motion, and sent off to the shop
without anyone ever noticing the diff
ficult undertaking. When this same
piece of machinery was first set in
place, a dozen hands took part in the
undertaking and stirred up the whole
concern for material to work with, and
arranged a slide with pulley blocks
strong enough to launch a vessel on
dry land, pulled and hauled every
thing to pieces, cut and injured every
thing that came within their reach,
to say nothing about the other little
incidents that would last village
gossip for week, such as a few
broken bones, a lame foot with the
Doctors bill thrown in.
But the shaft found its place how
ever; and when the time arrived for
a change in its position, as we'll as
additional fits to be made, q chain
made fast to beam overhead and fast
beneath the shaft through the open
spaces in the pulleys to another end
enabled the workman to roll the shaft
up out of the pit by turning the gear
wheel, while he himself backed up
the ladder till the load was placed
carefully OH the planks that had been
left, with little forethought, where
he could slip them in place with his
feet. Such an undertaking is certain
ly q risky one, and we would not ad-
wise such proceeding, especially
when the machinery on all sides was
in motion. Instances of this kiud
have been noticed where it is almost
impossible to understand how such
difficult undertakings could have
been accomplished with the material
they had to work with, while others,
of a very simple nature, have brought
mishaps and failures, with nearly
everything any one could ask for to
work with.
A large gear wheel, several feet
across, was to be placed over the end
of an upright shaft, and nearly a
whole d had been expended in
making the preparations for moving
the wheel on rollers and elevating
with jack screws when two strong
hands took hold of the wheel and
placed it in its position on the shaft
while the others were taking their
noon hour, by first balancing the
wheel on one edge of the hub and roll
ing it on this portion of the wheel up
the incline ofa stout beam, without
meddling with the blocks and roller
ways that had been all the forenoon
in preparation.
A heavy column was once elevated
into its upright position by small
lad, with no other help than his own
strength and little calculation, after
those who had been employed to raise
the structure had given it up in des-
pair, by taking advantage of the rock
ing motion allowed in the position
the column was to occupy, which al
lowed this youthful specimen of grit
to set up each shore, on either side, by
moving one at time as the column
was crowded ON to the other, till at
last it stood upright upon it's base.
Hundreds Of instances of this kind
can be related where the success was
owing to the careful manner I'm which |
the whole performance had been laid
out at the commencement, and fol- !
lowed with care and forethought that |
protected the whole proceeding from
accidents and mishaps, while others
have come to an untimely end in their
endeavors through negligence andcare
lessness on the part of the work hands
who had no definite idea as to what
they were driving at.-Boston Jour-
nal of Commerce.