The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-04-11
WHAT ONE
" PLANT DID
Editor Labor Journal:


In connection with our work, in this
department it is sometimes necessary
that we pay the different plants in the
state visit especially if there is SEEM
ingly an excessive number of acci-
dents in comparison with other plants
of a similar nature.
My last tour of investigation took
me to the plant of the Crown Columbia
Paper company located at Camas, on
the Columbia river, who from the
number of claims filed would appear
to have been very derelict in the mat
ter of safeguarding the lives and limbs
of the men in their employ. l may
say, here and now, that Mr.. Pratt had
made two or three investigations of
this particular plant since the law be-
came operative; made a number of
suggestions for safeguarding which
were carried out in a very friendly
spirit by the employers and a great
many things voluntarily installed that
their operations. They have, however,
of late been reconstructing a great
deal of the old machinery, tearing
down the wooden buildings and erect
ing in their places concrete structures.
Such construction work, being re-
sponsible, in a large measure, for the
seemingly excessive accident list.
We were conducted through the
premises, in person, by Mr.. LamoureuX
who was very courteous, painstaking
and obliging, showing us all parts of
the works in operation, the safeguard
ing installed since Mr.. Pratt's previous
trips, asking for suggestions here and
there as we went along, in order, if
possible, to make more safe the work
of the men employed.
This plant has in operation seven
Ipaper-making machines, the eighth be-
ing now installed the largest of its
kind in existence. About five hundred
men are employed, besides fifty girls;
the plant having an output of one hun
dred and twenty tons of paper, fifty
tons of sulphide and thirty tons of
ground wood per day of twenty-four
hours.
The system of working is two shifts
of twelve hours each, with wages
running from $500 for the common
laborer to $4.75 for machine tenders.
We learned from the superintend-
ent that before he had taken hold Of
the plant, wages had been reduced to
such point that the surprising thing
to me is that the workers tolerated it.
Immediately after he took charge,
however, he had conference with
the man and requested them to do
what they could to raise the standard
of efficiency, increase the output and
he would take care of the wages. In
a very few months they had received
an increase of Csc per day, three
times, bringing the wage to where it
now is and now I come to the part
which will be the most interesting to
you as it was to me, for in six or eight
weeks this concern is going to adopt,
voluntarily, the eight-hour day, run
ming three shifts, at eight-hours each
instead of the two of twelve as at
present, the scale of wages remaining
as of present
Asked as to why they were adopt
ing this system voluntarily the super
intendfTtr otBgRTgGd me, tbfd plot, fRa
a Confederate spy-is captured In
emotional acting of the highest ty
secures his freedom through the no
want who faces the firing squad and
by his devotion to his mistress. Tn
coming to a climax in the spectacul
eral Lee, who captures the city in &
nonading that throws buildings to
streets between the burning struc
) wholly indescribable.
KAY BEE LEAD;
s'---s---e