The sun., 1907-08-18
AMERICAN MECHANICS.
statement by English Work maA Familiar
With Both Countries.

An English mechanic in comparing the
conditions in American machine shops with
those in England, seems to find decidedly
in favor of this country. In Cdssicrs
Magazine he says:
The American workman il a man who
is well informed and found quite q num-
ber who were very keen on inquirins into
industrial conditions existing in England.
Didn't l think a man who ran two ma
chimes in the States for SIS a week is better
Off than full fedged mechanic who got CO
a week in England?
when had thought the thing over and
lived there for time I was compelled to
admit that as far as my observation went
the American had the best Of the deal He
would take it this way. SIS a week is
about 75s.. then take 25s for board and
lodging in the States, this left sos.
Then take the Englishman's wage. 4Os.
a week. less i5s. for board and lodging;
this left c5s. Here is a difference Of 100
per cent. That many things are dearer
in the States than in England. L admit. but
having tried both, the American with the
50 shillings left is the better of.
I'm most cases the housing accommoda-
ton is better for the American. the rent is
England. while If the districts are new
sucn inducements as free taxes. free water.
&C. for about three years are offered, and
land freehold is quite as cheap in the States
as in England.
Clothes COST more money. and the cloth
in the States is not so good a quality as
we might get in England, but the American
will most likely buy three new suits to the
Englshman's one. and will pay from $50
to s25 for each. did not find prices Of domes-
tic stuff much higher than in England.
81 must confess that | very quickly fell
into American ways. First Of all, break
fast about $50 A. NJ. and begin work at
A. NJ. then stop at ~ o'clock for dinner
and work again from o'clock till @ p NJ
and on Saturdays from till ~. and fifteen
minutes allowed to clean up machines.
This time seemed to me 20 be a sort Of
standard in use all over the country. and for
my own part l think it very much better
and working until $50 before having sny
breakfast. The American style gives only
one break in the day. and the breakfast
puts some steam into man TO help him
with his work; he does not want to watch
the clock to see how long IL will be before
he can get something 10 eat.
Both systems, / dare say. have their
good points. but believe in the old proverb
which says A job we'll begun is half done. ;
and fail to see how days work can be
well begun when one has TO turn out OF a
comfortaole bAd (in the winter especially
at S o'clock and possibly walk from one 10
two miles and ,rrp Go two hcu-s wur;;
| with an empty stomach.
: Furthermore. there is the saving OF gas
or electricity for tho first hour, and in fact
in America IL always seemed to me that
the atmosphere was clearer in the winter
months and the need for artificial light
much less than in England.
The question OF warming and ven
tilating the workshop is one that has come
in for great deal OF discussion. found
all the American shops nicely warmed. in
fact to me they seemed hot. the tempera
ture frequently being from 10 to rs degrees.
The American workman likes a warm shop,
and even at rs degrees he does not sho y
any signs Of discomfort. but to the Eng.
lishman this temperature 10 too high; 6C
degrees 10 ~ much ~ he would Ike.