The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-06
Clmpet3 Pathhouse At Fossil Min5s Built Especially for
 Use of Ore Digg3rs
SPECIAL CiR IS BUILT
 FOR MEN Al TIE MINES
Designed so They Can Be Taken Into Mines and Brought Out Without Useless Waste of Energy
 Caused By Walking

With the rapid increase in coal and iron production in this country and the marked advance in the economy of op- eration in all branches of industrial en- terprise there has been a corresponding improvement in the conditions under which wage-earners perform their daily tasks. The officers of some of the large corporations, especially. are now mani safety and comfort of employees in cheer ing contrast to the indifference which was in evidence 10 to 15 years ago
 What is known as welfare work has come to play an important part in the management of the more progressive mining and manufacturing companies of the United States. This work is destined indeed to rival in importance the very matter of production itself. The fact is that the better the conditions under which employees live and toll the better the eco homie results obtained by the operating concern. But entirely apart from it's economic side, sense of moral obligation growing out of human sympathy. under develops and becomes more widespread the biting irony suggested by the old phrase, "soulless corporations, will, it is thought. utterly fail in its applica- tion.
 As was to be expected, the Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad company, with its modern and efficient organization, has been notably active in the class of work referred to. And in view of tine fre- quency of mine disasters in various parts of the world, especial attention has been given here to the study of accidents from gas explosion and other causes, and the best means of preventing such acc- dents or minimizing the chances of in- of caring for those of the employees who may be so unfortunate as to be hurt. The Tennessee company is the south ern pioneer in first aid organization and in the equipment of strictly modern hospital service.
 Its practical devices for safeguarding the lives of it's workmen cannot but att tract attention and elicit favorable com ment. not only in engineering and indus trial circles, but from the public at large.
 This welfare work is so wide and hu- the actual safeguarding of life and limb, care for the comfort of the operatives and the conservation of their physical and nervous energy, but home life as well. A new and attractive type of tene- rent house is taking the place of the old cabins. Prizes are being offered for the best kitchen gardens and other things are being done by the company to encour- age domestic economy and stimulate tiiht pflue III HolHe WHICH comes Wltn flowers and we'll kept lawns and clean back yards. This welfare work includes the school house and church, of course, and the Tennessee company is leaving nc thing undone that will contribute in reasonable degree to an uplift environ ment and thus make life. so far as the operatives and their families go, better worth living.
 The Tennessee company has been doing this good work so quietly that little has been known of it outside of those in a position to observe it's benencent appli- cation As it is in advance of anything of the kind ever undertaken in the south. and being on a wide and comprehensive scale it goes without saying that it's effect will be far-reaching and whole some from many points of view. | One of the pressing problems in all iron and steel centers is that which relates to labor. Tn times of prosperity the demand for labor is greater than the supply. This problem was especially acute in the Birmingham district in 1906 and in 1907. just before the panic, and it promises to be acute again within the next F months. But the broad and enlightened policy which the men operating the properties of the Tennessee company are pursuing