The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-14
Prominent MishaWaka Manu.
facturer Points Out the Me-
cessity of Developing Train
ed LaborerS.
FACTORY OWNERS ARE
MUCH TOO CARELESS
He Charges That They Do Not
Try to Make Experts Out of
Their Employees - Policy
Held Poor One.
palladium SpeciaD

Indianapolis, Jan. 14.-Melville w.
Mix, prominent manufacturer of
Mishawaka, sounded a warming yester-
day afternoon to the manufacturers of
this country, and especially of Indiana
on the subject of training workmen to
become real WOrkmen. He is the
chairman of the committee on mechan-
ical engineering of the Indiana Engi-
neering society. which is holding it's
annual convention in this city and his
warning was sounded in his report. He
charged that the manufacturers do not
try to make expert workmen out of
their employees, but that they put men
to work in their shops. no matter
whether they have any ability or not
just SO they can turn out the work.
He expressed the fear that this system
will have a deplorable effect on the in
dustrial world Mr.. Mix's report, in
part, is as follows:
Report Made by Mix.
"Your committee on mechanical en-
gineering has had much difficulty in
finding time properly to cover it's sub
ject in a manual report. The manu-
featuring establishments all over the
state are in very active operation,
many working over time-every YES
tige of the panic of 1907 and 1908 hav-
ing disappeared. and the number of
factory employees now engaged being
ahead of any previous record.
''The reduced volume of business
those years. gave long needed oppor-
tunities for making plant changes and
improvements in products is being re-
Elected in the enormous production
that is now being made in many lines,
to the end that 1910 will, without
doubt, prove to be the banner year Of
manufacturing production in Indiana
This condition is reflected in reports
which your committee has but recently
received from all parts of the state.
Many substantial plants and extensions
to plants have been built and are now
in progress of construction, notably at
Indianapolis, Anderson, Terre Haute,
Evansville, FIT. Wayne. Muncie, La
porte. South Bend. Mishawaka, Gary,
and at a number of other points.
what Gary Is Doing.
perhaps at Gary, there has been
the greatest additional investment in
new construction. The plants of the
Indiana Steel company have been
greatly increased, and nearly all COM
pleted parts placed in full operation.
1t is not known whether or not the
low figured cost of production has yet
been fully realized on this plant. with
the exceptional facilities being INSTALL
ed, there would seem to be no reason
why these estimates should not be
beaten when the plants are placed IN
full swing, with fully completed Or
ganization of workmen.
"This notable addition to Indiana
manufacturing industries, will repre-
sent a total investment of 500, 0OO, 900
in plant, harbor and civic improve
ments. Already plans are on foot for
the construction of other large plants
at this point that will consume some Of
the products of the Gary mills in their
own production with Indiana labor, to
a further higher value. the raw materi-
also brought to this state.
Automobile Industry.
I'm the automobile industry. is noted
the greatest individual activity, and
with the new racing and testing track
at Indianapolis. there seems to be no
reason why Indiana should not be TAX
ing justly earned place as the lead
ing state in automobile manufactur-
ing. All motor car factories are full
Of orders, working overtime and bid
ding higher prices for skilled labor. 1t
is much debated question as to
whether or not we are bringing along
with sufficient rapidity the class Of
mechanics that are being required to
maintain the necessary high mechan-