The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-22
ROPE-WORKERS.
Chinese Are Supplanted
by White Laborers.
THE WAY A ROPE IS MADE.
A Visit to the Walk on the Potrero.
What Has Been and Is
Being Done.

A short time ago THE CALL contained a
short notice regarding the change from
Chinese to white labor at the Potrero rope
walk and the discharge Of all the Chinese
help of the establishment.
In place of these seventy boys and girls
we're employed, and with an idea to see how
the new order OF things was working and
10 get any other interesting bit. OF informa-
ton regarding the works, CALL reporter
was sent to the PotrerO yesterday.
One of the first men seen there was fore
man Of all the departments and when the
reporter asked him what he thought Of the
change he replied:
"It is working beautifully. There is not
only a more harmonious feeling between
the hands, but we are enabled to turn out
better work. All the buildings which we're
occupied by the Chinese have been removed
and we have changed nearly everything for
the better"
Upon the invitation of the foreman the
reporter visited the different rooms Of the
building and saw the process which it takes
TO make a rope.
Entering the basement Of the large fac
tory there were two men seen taking the
first step. that is opening the raw hemp,
which is imported from the Philippine
Islands in large bales. These men laid tile
hemp out In large piles, which we're hoisted
10 the third floor, where II is oiled and fed
into several breakers" as the rope men
call the large machine which first combs out
the raw material
The first time it passes through one Of
these machines 1t comes out In large
stream somewhat like waterfall, but as u
goes through the various sizes OF 'spTeadeTs
the stream becomes smaller and smaller,
and finally when it is about the size OF
l.. - 1F..or laTan NIB
ment and goes down one flight IN small
troughs. and the girls take il in hand.
They occupy long room in which there
are about 100 weaving machines. When
the yarn, as il is then known, leaves this
room it is in strands ready to be made into
the different kinds Of rope. which are four
10 number, according TO the rope manufac-
tuTed. These kinds are cOrdRge or hawsers,
small rope, bale rope and bindery Irvine.
The material then goes to the rope
walk" proper. This Is a shed. go feet In
length, about 20 feet wide, and is so called
because Of the ancieDts. who. when they
made rope, tied the strands around them
selves and walked off backward, weaving as
they went.
This particular walk" does not resem.
bic walk in the least. In fact the men
travel the entire length on small fiat cars
There are three tracks and two cars in active
operation on each track One of these is
connect with the car runs II, nevertheless.
The car IS large enough to hold two men
and holds the rope While the machine car
does the colling. This cOiling is so power
full that II forces the car at a fast rate Of
speed from one end Of the shed 10 the other,
when il is brought back by the engine which
winds in the rope which the car has just
made on its up trip.
III purchaser desires a rope longer than
go feet, ana all IN one piece, il does not go
10 the walk" to be made, but is sent TO a
special apartment. where instead of using
cars the machlneryis larger and all station
airy.
There are about $50 employees of the COM
pany. and these have formed themselves
into union under the name OF the Rope
workers Protective Association, and have
applied for membership in the new fedora
ton Of trades and labor.
Ii is calculated that the factory will be
working fully equip ed in about two weeks
and have work for all these employees. bnt
at present only about half Of them are work
ing
1t has been the intention Of the Prison