Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-07-21

operatives make better wages. From the
time the stock in at the cutting board, until
1t has passed all the stages of manufacture
and is ready to be packed there are,
"Let me see, replied Mr.. Drake, a. your
reporter asked him how many differ.
ent operations went to the making of a shoe ::
and the superintendent dropped his head up
on his hand as though he was thinking. re-
marking in an undertone, 'they divide up
SO fast can hardly keep run of them.
Then after moment Mr.. Drake answered,
lover one hundred"
just think of il. More than one hundred
different operations or parts to be performed
in the manufacture of shoe And thew are
so different and vary so much in the time
employed to complete them, that while one
workman can perform his part so rapidly as
to turn on thirty cases in given time, an
other workman doing his part can only turn
of one and half cases in the same time.
Almost every operation is done by machin-
cry There are machines for pegging, for
sole-sewing and all parts of upper sewing;
for button hole cutting and working: for
blscking and polishing and for finishing.
The heavy Mckay machines for sewing the
soles are run by men, but the finer stitching
machines are managed by women. The
stitching departments are in room by them
selves where are all the female operatives,
about 100 in a single room on the second
floor They are busy at work the work is
somewhat exacting and continuous, but it Is
not terribly hard OF back-hreaking. The
operatives mostly sit while guiding their ma
chimes. They make good wages, some 40
high as twelve dollars week, your corre-
spondent is informed and always appear
contented and jolly.
Notwithstanding all the various operations
of the work, a record is kept of every case
of shoes through all the hands where IL
passes till it is finally inspected and packed.
In the office large book of more than twen-
ty-hve columns to the page, records the size
of the shoe of what stock made, by whom
made, and everything about II, so that at q
rertained and its work analysed should any
question regarding it arise. The factory is
run entirely ON ladies' wear, made expressly
for the southern and western trade. The
output of the factory is thirty cases day
and the goods are shipped from the factory
iirectly to their destination, which embraces
almost every western and southern State,
and TO South America and Australia. Each
case comprises sixty pairs,of shoes, the total
make thus being fifteen hundred pairs day.
MIR. Drake, do you have any trouble
with your workmen about prices or pay
ments2"
Not particle, sir. Once year a COM
mttee of our men meet with IA committee of
the knights of Labor. and of the Lasters'
Protective Union, and arrange ON basis Of
prices for all parts of the work for the year.
This is not contract made in
writing, think, but an under
standing between the parties by which
both are bound, and by which we both stand.
Then when the year comes round again we
uihkt ~ INV our NOtks anu re-
lations 90 on pleasantly and steadily, without
a break or ruiiie.
81 have been told, Mr.. Drake that your
weekly payroll is larger than that of any
other concern in the city. Is that so?"
We'll sir, cannot tell, because do not
know how much other concerns pay"
And taking his check book and glancing at
the stubs" for six or eight weeks past, Mr..
Drake continued;
"For the past six weeks our weekly pay
roll for ffty-ninc hours work (nine hours on
has averaged 5000. This
money is all put into envelopes for each oper-
ative, and is handed to them by the foreman
of the department in which they work. The
men earn from SIP to $40 week and the
women from Sc to Sl2."
Shall we not say happy, contented work
men, no enjoy the security and comforts
which the American protective system offers1