The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-10
TEAMWORK IN THRIFT.
(By w. J. Peck.)

\Dy w. J. F0Ck.J In a recent canvass of manufactur- CTS in such typical manufacturing cen tres of the East as Bridgeport, Wat erbury, Ansonia and Hartford, Conn.,, Wilmington, Del, Camden, N. J., and Philadelphia - manufacturers who employ approximately 15O,O0O we'll paid Workers-a surprising and cheer ing fact was discovered.
 It was found that at least nine out of ten employers are either actively cooperating in thrift plans for the benefit of their employees or looking for the right method of encourage ment. Few are the managers who re- port that they have no interest in what their workers do with their pay.
 This investigation was undertaken in the interest of company recently organized to market small Thrift Bonds to people who can invest $1O or more. On page after page of can- vassers' reports appear such state ments as these:
 Blank & Co.,, Philadelphia: Have three savings propositions for their employees, which provide ample facili- ties to save." I'll. L. w., treasurer of Blank Co.,. interested in having com- pany's employees save, but hasn't yet found practicable way to help.' I'M. K., general manager of x. & F., is president of one building and loan association and a director in two oth- CTS practically all employees are buying shares, and he invests several thousand dollars month for them"
 hicc y,1o phia a beneficial society is operating within the works, and the company maintains trust and savings bank just outside the gates.
 From Bridgeport manufacturer employing 2,200 men and paying out $50,0O0 week, the report is that into a box furnished by a savings bank the men deposit about $500 week-an unsatisfactory showing, which he wants to improve. Another Bridge port employer said he had tried out the plan of having a man from a sav- ings bank at the plant on pay day; it worked for time, then failed because of the banks neglect to get it's repre- sentative out on time.
 The manager of a large traction company is anxious to find thrift plan that will be acceptable to the manager and the men. Stock in the company is offered, on easy terms of payment, by big hardware manufac- turing company, and 80 per cent. of the workers own some of it.
 One of the great steel companies of Pennsylvania is selling. it's own stock to workers, on which 10 per cent. divi- dends are guaranteed for five years. A big hat manufacturer and a big publisher reported plant savings funds on which per cent. is earned.
 The Y. M. c. A. in big cast iron pipe company at Birmingham, Ala, organized an employees savings club, since when not member has had to borrow money from the company. They, borrow if necessary, from their own accounts, and much prefer it this way. It gives a feeling of independ- ence. One man was able last year to save as much as 31 per cent. of the earnings But most significant is the fact that there has been an increase in tonnage per man employed of 13 per cent, while the average lost time from accidents has decreased nearly one-half!
 Fifty per cent. of the men who are seeking to cooperate with their em- ployes in thrift practice are committed to the idea that true thrift means something more than saving. It in- wolves investment as we'll. This at titude was expressed by the treasurer of a company which employs 2,000 men. He said:
 we will give these ten-dollar bonds a trial, because we want our men to learn about good investments. We will cooperate by allowing them to pay $2 a week, toward the bond-if that proves to be desirable" This mans trial order, by the way, was for S5,O0O of the Thrift Bonds.