The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-03
Is COLLEGE STUDENTS
MOVE ELECTRIC PLANT
Western Electric Company II Being
Moved Across Gary Street With
I'm Twenty -four Hours.
THREE SHIFTS TO DO THE WORK
AS Each Shift Goes on Dinner Is
Servcd-Managcr Hall Asserts Stu
dents Are Best LabOrers He Has
Ever Seen-Win Pay Bonus.

Seventy-tive Richmond College stu
dents yesterday afternoon began the
task of moving the contents of the
Western Electric Company's ware
house. Sixth and Cary Streets. to the
new plant in the old Hutchinson build
ing across the street, the work to DE
completed in twenty-four hours. ii.
j.. Melbourne and Robert Whttet, two
students who undertake the recruit
Ing OF the men, brought the first shift
of twenty to work at O'Clock yes
terday afternoon. and they were re-
lieved at midnight by an equal mum
Der.
Between the two buildings. which
lie on opposite sides OF Cary Street
wooden bridge has been built OF
strong timbers as a passageway for
the hand trucks that are used for
hauling. Two men are assigned to
truck piled high with boxes and
electrical supplies of all kinds. and
In this way the companys stock Is
being transferred from one house to
the other.
Better Than Ordinary Labor.
II. w. Hall. manager of the local
plant, stated last night that the COL
iege boys were the best laborers he
had ever seen. Taking the PROPOSE
ton as much of a lark. each nan
yies with the other in physical
prowess. and Mr.. Hall says they can
accomplish more work than twice
their number Of ordinary workmen.
He pays them generous price for
their work. and in addition has prom
ised thenSa % per cent bonus pro-
vided theswork Is finished within the
allotted twenty-four hours This
bonus, he says. Is what does the huSt-
1ess.
Miibourne and NVhittei are respou-
sible for the men being on hand att
the proper time for their shift The
second squad will be relieved at
| o'clock this morning by the last relay.
which is expected to finish the task
by p. NJ Guvernator. the we'll
known local caterer. set up a tempo
| rary "dining-room" last night IN the
new building, and al s o'clock the
boys knocked off for grub" In about
twenty minutes they had completely
cleared the long table Of its burden
OF soup sandwiches, pies end other
things and went back 10 work again.
The } II that followed them was pro
vided with n similar meal AZ \. II.
Signed Fifty in Half an Hour.
This idea. which Mr. Hall and his
associates settled upon because of the
extreme scarcity of labor. Is the first
OF its kind ever tried in Richmond.
The idea originated In Boston, where
branch Of the electric company en-.
pioyed group OF Harvard students
TO perform a similar task The two
students. Milbournc and Whittet were
given the contract 70 collect a sufTi-
cient squad 10 do the work, and they
posted signs on the college campus
calling for men and stating that
lunch viii be served by stcnoEraph
ers. They said fifty men signed up
within half an hour
The old Hutcheson warehouse into
which the company is moving its big
stock of electrical supplies. has been
remodeled and Is now a model plant
The basement is fitted out to be used
by the telephone company a a garage
for its motor trucks used ny linemen
The first floor is a general storeroonn.
where boxes and bales of electrical
goods are stored and on the third
floor arrangements have been made
for one OF the most modern groups OF
Offices in the city. The whole floor
space figures about $1,000 square
feet
VIII Have Job Done ON Time
H. W Hall the present manager,
has been connected with the local
branch of the company since 1911.
when he came here from Denver. The
company's affairs here are conducted
almost exclusively by n group OF efti-
cien, and well-trained college men
from a number of well-known techni-
cal schools.
For the work OF TRANSFERRING the
supplies from one warehouse to the
other. the Administrative Hoard gave
permission for the closing OF Cary
Street at that point The company's
foremen supervise the work of the
students and see TO the loading of the
trucks and to the proper stacking OF
the goods when they are nnloaded
The young men, some of them promi-
nent members of the college athletic
teams, cotillion club, debating socie-
tics and other organizations we'll
known in college life. threw them
selves earnestly into the work. and
worked with untiring energy until re-
lieved. The last squad, to commence
work at O'Clock this morning, will
bear the largest share OF the work
They declare that they will have tho
Job completed on time if it takes the
last ounce Of energy they have. Their
work is decided proof that college
course has not deprived them OF their
capacity for toll and physical exer-
ton.