New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-14
Steel Mills Are
Reciprocating on
Railroad Orders
By Supplying Material for
Equipment They Hope to
Relieve Car Shortage-A
Speed Test for Labor
Pittsburgh, January IL.

1t may sound incredible, but it is
nevertheless true, that the larger iron
and steel interests Of the Pittsburgh
district rank war or peace" as third
in the probable governing factors in
the industry during 1917. In their
estimation the factor of first impor-
lance is adequate transportation facili-
ties. Lacking the latter, II will be
impossible to obtain delivery of raw
materials, especially fuel, and it will
also be impossible to forward finished
material. At mines there are virtually
no facilities for storage, and car
shortage means a partial or complete
cessation Of coal mining from time to
time. Even II there were storage ca
pacity at mines, the double handling
would add considerably to the cost of
fuel at points Of consumption. At fin
ishins mill and factory there is only
limited storage capacity, and IL finished
material cannot be shipped promptly
floor space and shipping yards soon
become clogged. The steel trade is
therefore inclined to favor railroads
with structural material and equipment
now on their order books, because in
doing so it will be helping itself and
the public generally.
Labor Supply Comes Next
The second factor bearing upon 1917
industrial results Is an adequate supply
of efficient labor. This applies to un-
skilled as we'll as to skilled labor. It
is stated on reliable authority that the
Steel Corporation was unable fully to
utilize the sum set aside during the
early part OF 1915 for improvements
and additions because it could not OBJ
tain labor. The remainder OF the APP
preparation will be carried over into
the present year, with any additions
that may be made, but its economical
expenditure and the increase in facili-
ties will depend to large extent upon
the ability of the corporation to obtain
adequate labor. Conditions affecting
the Steel Corporation apply to other
large interests.
1t is probable that with the compile
ton of munition orders there will be
an increase in the supply Of certain
classes of labor. Last week one large
concern released a number of working
men who had been employed in its ma
chine shops, but this release was as
much the result of a winnowing process
as OF completion Of the particular
contract on which the men were en-
gagged.
Some interesting experiments are
undergoing a tryout at one large plant.
the object OF which is to attract and
retain efficient labor. For instance, in
piecework a workman is told that tho
time limit for producing a certain ar
ticle is. say, ten minutes. This limit is
within the ability Of the least compe-
tent man. He is told that il he pro-
duces two such articles in ten minutes
he will be credited with time and half
time; II he completes three OF the ar.
ticles within the time limit, he will be
credited with double time. Il seldom
requires more than two days for the
competent and ambitious man to be
making time and half, and within a
week or less he is producing at the
rate Of double time.
Bonus for Promptness
The inducement to efficiency is sup.
plemented with the inducement 70
promptness. In the plant referred to.
which employs many thousand skilled
workingmen, the loss OF a few minutes
by each every day in being ready for
duty when the day begins and power is
turned on amounts to a large sum. To
eliminate this loss or reduce it to