El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-01-26
SHELTER ADDS
TO EQUIPMENT
Men labor Under Improved
Conditions; Insurance
for ALI EMPLOYEES.

III AL ILL J4ON Cos
All great Industrial undertaking.
where employers and corporations
have let their men in on the profits
by way Of supplying more comfort
able surroundings, better working
conditions and awarded premiums for
effective work Of employees, have been
the most successful. The operations
Of this plan on a liberal scale ex-
plains why the FL Paso smelter-
technically the Kansas City Consoli-
dated Smelling and Refining company
has had no labor disturbances while
Ike Institutions Of neighboring states
have been at times harassed by
strikes and labor troubles.
Good business has enabled the com
pany 20 install many improvements
such as the erection Of a 400 foot
fmokestack TO lberate the choking
fumes from the roasting plant high
above the working men and citizens
Of Fl Paso; a new copper blast fur
mace; completion OF two new convert
ers; the addition Of a new mechanical
improvements, all OF which have been
installed at a total cost OF $1,000, 900.
Large SENS For Safety.
The company has made further e1-
penditure OF large sums on their en-
ployes whose efficiency in war times
IS as essential TO keep up the man.
moth output demanded as is improved
machinery and working processes.
Primarily, large sums have been eX-
pended IN the rsafety first" depart
1nent where movies and lectures are
given to the end OF preventing acci-
dents During past years in large
sInelteTies the percent OF accidents
have been very large. Moreover the
mistakes have often cost workmen
their lives and in many instances
have left the injured cripples. The
nature Of the work IS such that acci-
exercise OF the greatest care by
Worlzmen-
The Fl Paso smelter officials have
proceeded on the theory that two
things have been responsible for most
Of the accidents-imp-operl pro-
tected machinery and carelessness or
Ignorance OF employees Several years
ago the company started to eliminate
both OF these and has succeeded fer
better than Il expected. New machin-
cry. the latest and best protected, has
been installed 10 the extent OF several
millions OF dollars within the last five
years. IN addition TO this, great care
has been exercised IN instruction and
teaching OF employees for the par
ticular department in which they are
I'll lily A4E[AAA . G-Au EAaesE1 L0A
The accomplishment Of particular
kinds Of work, as well as precau-
lions and admonitiOns to overcome the
ments, have reduced the accidents to
common carelessness in all depart
the minimum.
Accidents Costly.
Accidents are costly to the com
pany. That is one OF the reasons they
have eliminated them. They cannot
afford TO lose the services Of skilled
Workmen. At the same time e consid-
cradle part Of the precautionary
measures have been purely humani-
tartan as are the measures adopted
20 protect workmen and their famil-
ies financially. They have in effect
an insurance plan whereby the family
u every employe Of the company who
has been IN their service over one
year. receives a death benefit equal
70 a years wages Of the deceased.
sick benefits are paid 70 the extent Of
half wages and free medical and hos
Dlral services The company has been
accustomed to pay premiums at stated
intervals whereby WOrkmen are en-
TO give their best services.
The 1000 employees OF the plant have
delivered q particularly large output
Of copper and lead during 1917. This
has been accomplished IN the face Of
zandlcaps caused by shortages OF
ears, thus preventing shipment OF
ore from the mines IN sufficiently
large quantities to meet the fun ca
Dacity Of the plant at times.
While Mexican mines have been pro-
ducinE little, this IS not seriously felt
~ the local smelter because during
the last several years many miners
came over into the states and began
operations. resulting IN an increased
output which more than offsets the
shortage from Mexico and is more de-
slrabie from business standpoint be-
= +
permit steady development Of mining
whereas IN Mexico the promoters
never know when their operations
Eiu be shut off Therefore, in some
ways, the smelter here has benefited
rather than lost BY mining inactiTi-
ties In Mexico.
The smeIter is located northeast Of
the city on the mesa and disposes OF
its wastes in such a way that no III
effects are experienced by citizens OF
Fl Paso. Half dozen smokestacks-
reaching from $50 TO 400 feet into the /
sir-discharge fumes from the red hot
metals high into the air where they
do no damage and cause no unpleas- !
There is q copper blast fur
mace, lead blast furnace and a rever-
1eratory furnace. New methods by 4
which copper IS cooked" and shipped |
n large slabs to eastern plants, nas
largely eupplanted the work Of re-
rerbatory furnaces. Another i'm
DrOvement IS that Of mechanical con-
Teyors which have displaced the ola j
steam tramway formerly used 70 carry /
molten metals.
A Coriiss engine plant generates /
electricity for motors and lights. 1
Eight Wedge furnaces compose the /
roasting plant, oil being used for fuel. |
The total capacity OF all these fur i
races IS 1900 tons OF ore daily. Coke 1
& employed IN smelling lead-silver /
IRE.
The smelter IS one Of FL Paso's big /
sest concerns, giving work directly, I
md in handling and transfer Of its 4
oil amounts monthly 70 s125, 0OO It's 1
lutput OF metals in pounds per year is /
$4,000, 900 and the value of its /
PRODUCTS annually amount to about /
100000.
Negotiations With