The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-09
Grain elevators in Chicago.

inC soft Collared cotton or flannel
shirts. The younger element is as
careful of .s clothing as the dcnuded
gamblers who may he seen here re-
newing N aiml".s wandering the assoc
ciat.ons Of their gold tiuged dreams
Gangs average tWenty-eight men. This
means each man receives "A dollar per
load when there Is no overtime: then
their remuneration is greater.
Self-propclled elevators generally get
70 the ship before the tr.mmers arrive.
y portion Of the gang usually remain
aboard their elevator They are needed
to run lines and make fast to their as
signed ship. The boss trimmer receives
orders from his superintendent. The
super Is the buffer and adjuster OF
the various agencies and conflicting in
ter.sts connected with the trade. His
elevator Is but one Of the many elements
Of the river" Others are as eager to
hasten their work as he j.. Genera
cargo and grain have frequently to be
lowered In the same hold damned
dock slips and the shifting entailed to
secure position must be considered.
The troubles OF ship and dock officials
canal captains grain inspectors freight
loading fOremen, as well as frequent
struggles for a more effective position,
demand that "supers" possess unusual
ability. Pipes must be rcadjusted at
every perceptihle tide change. Conser-
yative. careful and lowered with rare
initiative, elevator "supers' are alert in
daytime and vlgilant in the gloom to
foil any aggression or unwelcome ad-
venture that the night may bring. They
practically grow up in the business
Boss trimmers are stlckers. The same
super" and boss are frequently to-
ge;her for years. Crises arise when
their relations are anything but ami
cable, yet transgressions from ,he
usages OF orthodox discussion are eX-
cusable.
In the elevator foC's'lc trimmers on
change their street clothing for dusty
outfits. In hot weather many strip to
overalls. A Meunier might find ma
terial in barefoot trimmer naked TO
the torso The eXaCting labor demands
speed and stamina more than strength.
Again the steady swing of the light
trimming SCOOP drags arm muscles fiat,
The boss surveys the first hold to be
filed. InstinCtlvely he computes the
required pipe lengths and over the ship
rail roars commands to the waiting
trimmers standing by the pipe rack on
the elevator deck. Pipes vary from two
foot lengths to sixteen feet Their tops
are wide and provided with Tugs for
lashlng. Pipes tongue snugly and
sufficient number are dashed together
until their combined length permits the
mouth Of the last pipe to deliver salts
factorly into the hold.
Meantime detail has ascertained the
names OF the first canal boats 10 he un-
loaded. The sampler. n trimmer selected
for his tarhfuness. proceeds TO gather
portions Of the carGoes of the grain
boats. HIS shining brass spear topped
sampling rod opens automatically, n
chain holding It's hollow head. The
sampler sinks the rod thrice Mt differ
ent depths into each of one of five diff
ferent boat openings before a single
sample is deemed complete These
.amples are given 10 the super" who
sends them % the cOmpany's Office
Only the International Grain Elevating
Company loads. Tho grain IS bought by
purchasers agents according TO sample,
Within a year boat shovelling has
been practically discontinued, owing to
the substitution of another element OF
steam application. Though these wooden
trimming scoops are as light as Gre
mona violins they have undouc many
a muscular bully. The strongest are not
necessarily the best tr.mmers. In trim
ming grain the ordinary vertical shovel
method IS not used An arc operated
on n more horizontal plane Is required,
Speed Is essential and breathing Is dim
cult. Respiration is affected by the dust
fog Of the pling grain at the leg base
Through ~ the years that steam
wrought wonders the hand worked trim
ming scoop seemed indispensable for this
work
The displacement Of the SCOOP had
| horn debated seriously for decades. In
| he last year wooden contra ptions. opcr-
| 1'cd by steam through the aid Of fric-
| lion gears have been introduced sue
| ccsSfullv as a shovel substitute These
| simple devices are drawn toward the leg
at the operating trimmers signal
! shovels are used only 20 clean UP the