The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-12-29

such up-to-date plants as are MAIN
tanned by the National Cash Register
Co.; Lowe Bros. and Co.; Dayton NAL
leable Iron Co., all of Dayton, Ohio;
the H. J. Heinz Co., of '57 varieties"
fame; Acme White Lead and Color
works; T. B. Laycock, of Indianapolis,
Ind; the Draper Co., of Hopedale,
Mass; Ludlow Mfg. Co., of Ludlow,
Mass; Peacedale Mfg. Co., of Peacedale,
r. l.; Apollo Steel and Iron Co., of
Vandergrift, Pa; Daniels and Fisher,
of Denver, Colo; the Westinghouse
Co., and many others too numerous to
mention.
Pronounced by experts from both
hemispheres to be, without an excep
tion, the most highly systemized busi-
ness concern in the world, the
National Cash Register Co. may be
considered prototypal in that they
were the first to practically apply the
theory that propitious conditions in
and around the factory contributed to
the basis of physical satisfaction in
labor. Having pioneered movement
destined to become world wide it
logically follows that their methods
have been adopted, either wholly or in
part, by innumerable concerns, includ-
ing many of those hereinbefore NEIL
toned.
Located at South Park in Dayton,
Ohio, with plant covering about ten
acres and representing an investment
of several millions of dollars, the
National Cash Register Co. employs
about 1000 persons in the manufacture
and marketing of cash registers ex-
clusively. Incidently the company
does other things; does them methodic-
ally; and that they are not begotten
of ulterior motives concluslvely ap-
pears from the ecompany's s frank ayowal
that they are not at the ends primarily
sought, but simply utilized as means
best calculated to obtain certain re-
suit and-as such-are classed with
other manufacturing conveniences,
valuable for what they accomplish in
promoting efficiency and saving of
time, labor and money.
Their present efficient system had its
inception about ten years ago when
the management saw that ordinary
business methods would not suffice and
that there was required the active and
intelligent cooperation of every EN-
ployee. The highest wages-generally
higher than union wages-are paid and
more is done for the employee than
union principles demand.
The betterment features are So nu-
merous and so varied that it is not
possible to treat of them, in detail,
within the limited time at my disposal
but we may note few, as follows:
Men work nine and one-half hours per
day and are paid for ten hours work.
Women work eight hours and receive
nine hours pay-this time allowance
alone costing the company, approxi-
mately, fifty thousand dollars ($5O,OOO
per annum.
The entire business is conducted un-
der series of committees, subject to
the approval of an Executive COM
mittee, consisting of the President
Vice president-General manager and
two subordinate officials The factory
is we'll ventilated and has large win
dows which admit all the light possible.
The atmosphere is completely changed
every fifteen minutes, automatically
drawn from the top of the building.
A department of criticisms and sug-
gestions, along the line of information
as to how and where material and ex-
pense can be saved and the organiza-
tion improved, is open to all but
officials or heads of departments, and
in connection Herewith aseries of cash
prizes aggregating twenty-five hum
dred dollars ($2,5O0) per year are
awarded semi-annuslly.
Numerous special prizes are also
awarded and these usually take the
form of trip, or excursion, to some
other city, or point of special interest.
A library for employees and people of
the neighborhood is in daily use
from twelve to 1:20 p. M, as a read
ing room, and at stated hours for ex-
change of books. Women employees
are provided with chairs having high
backs and foot-rests. Bathrooms with
all modern equipment are provided