The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-02-15

likely to continue for some time after
the conditions that have caused it are
removed. 1t is much easier for the
men to do things in a careless way
which causes losses in recoyeries anG
quality, and it will take long period
Of hard times to make them again
take proper care. The success Of the
spelter work depends more on the in
Gividual care and skill of the men than
in almost any other branch of metal
lurgy, which is my reason for saying
that we have suffered more than 9th
ers
American Smelling and Refining Co
Fl. H. Alexander, manager of the
American Smelling and Refining com
psny's lead plant at Perth Amboy,
N. j.. In common with other metal
had to stand heavy increases in price
for all items entering into the cost OF
operations The increased cost may
be divided into two classes: Labor and
supplies and material.
Labor has been given increases
varying from 20 to so per cent, COM
mon labor getting the greater amount.
Usually when such increases have
less increase in the amount of labor
performed. think it has been the
usual experience that where wages
have been increased there has been a
corresponding improvement in per-
Torrance; but this has not been the
case in this instance. On the con-
trary, there has been a decided falling
off in the amount of work done. With
ton, the fact remains that the employ
ers of common labor have found it to
exist, thus making it an important
factor of cost. Our experience with
ficienoy of between rs and 80 per cent.
AS 40 per cent of the cost of labor in
lead refining comes under this classifi-
cation, it makes the expense more
criticism does not apply to the steady
labor, furnace men, helpers and that
class, who have been long on that par
ticular job. They are doing as much
as ever.
Another factor which adds to the
cost is shortage of labor We estim-
ate the supply at somewhere around
so per cent in our vicinity. That is, if
sired to do his work. We would absorb
90 per cent more than we have. This
means that something is left undone
and has to be done when you can get
around to it. which naturally increases
cost all along the line.
Miami Copper. Co.
j. p. Charming: The only property
which | am actively operating is the
aitions are very similar to those rep
resented by Mr.. Douglas. Our labor
is on practically the same scale, ex
cept that at IA cent copper our base is
cent increase in the price of copper, so
that at present we are paying about
$3.50 a day. ] should say, roughly. |
that. as compared with the early part
s. per cent The efficiency of the la
nor has not increased. nor has ii fall |
an off, so that the tons per man per |
lay remain Just about the same as
We are not particularly short of labor.
although it is rather difficult to get |
good machine men.
Powder has advanced, about 80 per
Ter has gone up Is per cent. Our
,ower is derived from burning fuel oil
md we fortunately have a long COM
ract, so that the price of that article
hing. the cost per kilowatt hour in
ur power plant has been reduced from
.1c to 0.9c per kilowatt hour, because
f certain modifca tons which we
lade in our engines so as to be able
, run the three of them continuous
'. Previously we have operated two
nd kept one as spare.
Wage Adjustment on Outbreak Of the @
War. |
When the war broke out, instead of a
,ducing wages at Miami think we n
ere paying about $3.50-we simply II
ut the men on half time. EACH man o
orked three days week and got his e
III rate. To those men who. of ne c
'ssity, had to work the full week we u
ade n 10 per cent cut. The condi- y
ons very soon adjusted themselves
en- did not care to work half time u
Id they gradually drifted off. so that
ong in January, 1915. we We're work
g our men full time ii
I am very much Inclined to think m
at when the reaction comes, as it is
rely will, we shall have to stop st
obably at higher minimum than la
, had before. The men have in be
eased their standard of living and Sc
10 not think they will be satisfied to de
back to the old one. II the cost of us
ing should very materially decrease, FRI
lich 1t Is not likely to do, they might to
satisfied. In the Globe Miami dis ed