Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-05-04

work for the least money OF any of the
company's plants The machinists
that learned their t.ade in the old
days nearly all hold responsible po-
sitions and are considered experts in
their line
Build Bridges and Frogs.
The most important work done here
is the making of frogs and switches,
bridges and scale platforms. Besides
this there are numerous small repairs.
Last year the shops turned out 10
bridges. These were for all parts of
the road from Philadelphia to st.
Louis IL large scales, SO feet long
with 100 tons capacity were part Of
last years product. The average num-
Der of frogs turned out last year were
40 per month. This year the average
has been 70. The output of switches.
for the six months proceeding Mr..
Brantner's formanship was 1875. Now
they are making 125 month. This
output, it is expected to increase to-
$50 switches and rs frogs.
This week new planer was install
ed 1t is an immense affair with Sc
foot bed. A new cold saw that will
saw anything from big | beam to
small sheet of steel has been recently
placed in the long shop. Over in the
III III In
only been in use few weeks. With
this new equipment, which cost the
company in the neighborhood of &c.
900 the shops are in position to get
out great deal of work.
AS an instance of the cheapness of
the work done here, large crane was
recently built on the outside of the
shop for use in assembling and load
ing bridges. This crane was built and
installed at a cost of $3.50. The lowest
figure at which it could have been
bought was $3.50
Payroll OF $3.50 Month.
There are about go men working IN
the maintenance Of way department
and 10 in the motive power depart
ment Their wages for the month of
March was s2,7S0 The cheapest paid
labor is getting s1.35 a day The men
all do piece work and the wages vary
accordingly.
The storekeeper is Mr.. William Ed
wards, who has been with the COM
pany for many years in that capacity.
Mr. G. H. Keedy, another veteran en-
ployee, is the clerk and timekeeper.
Mr. J. H. HoEp. is foreman of the frog
shop. Mr.. James H. Aldrige. of the
bridge works and Mr. John Kastle, of
the blacksmith shop.
The frogs made here cost the COM
pany about $50. These same frogs
bought from an outside firm would
cost $50 to $50 When they are made
of old material they cost the company
s25. All the repair frogs are made
here and the company is using all the
new frogs that the shops can turn out.
Graham Flanee Frog.
Recently Mr.. Brantner had made q
new frog just patented. 1t is
known as the Graham Flange frog,
and has no guard rail. This frog has
been in use in the yard here now for
some months and is proving most
satisfactory. As it does away with
the guard rail. it saves the company
from $40 to s12 on each frog
Mr.. Brantner has become very much
interested in this frog and says that
if he had his way he would put them
in every yard on the system. He has
been in communication with the pro
moters of this new frog with view
of locating a plant for their manufact-
ure The company which owns the
patent is having them made by con-
tract at several places and are anxi-
Gus to establish plant of their own.
Mr.. Brantner Is making an effort to
| get them to come here. They would
| have plant valued at about $250000
land would employ from $50 to 200 men.
The plant would also turn out other
railroad supplies for both steam and
electric roads. If Martinsburg could
secure such an industry in connection
with the present shops it would be
great help In the forward stride
which we are sure to make in the next
few years.
The payroll at the shops is what
most of the people of Martinsburg
consider when you talk of b. & o.
payday. This Is only part of what the
road puts into circulation here. The
pay of the men in the various depart
ments who draw their wages here
amounts to between $4,000 and $3s-
900.