The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-05-30
Methods of Developing Community In
terest Among the Employees of Mines

State Bureau of Mines)
The development of community in
terest is a phase of welfare work into
which the metal mines of the west
have gone but little. The time has
come, however, when it is beginning to
be regarded as one of the most inf!u-
entail means of reducing labor turn
over, stabilizing mining communities,
and preventing strikes. as well as of
securing good legislation.
Developing such interest means
arousing interest in the community
other than the job. The interest may
lie in the owning Of home, or in any
thing which would cause financial
loss to the workman were he to leave
the camp or were the company that
employs him to shut down.
The increasing cost of labor turn
over, the present condition of unrest
and other factors have drawn atten-
ton to the need of a remedy. High
wages and general prosperity make
this an opportune time for creating
community interest and habits of
thrift, both of which the miner mu;t
have before he will take financial
interest in the locality where he Is
employed.
Necessity of Promoting Community
Interest.
In such a state as Arizona, where
all mining companies are paying
pIa 70 Of 4,
no ties has nothing to prevent him
from moving as often as he pleases.
With the shortage of labor, this has
greatly increased. The loss thus
caused the companies warrants the ex-
penditure by them of considerable
sum to develop an interest that will
check it.
1t is not difficult to imagine the
possibilities for better laws and more
stable conditions where the shifting,
irresponsible vote is reduced to a min
imum. In many mining communities
where the number of taxpayers is but |
a small percentage Of the voters it is |
perfectly possible to have laws passed |
which are distinctly injurious to the |
taxpayers. A legislature controlled |
by those who pay no taxes usually |
has little regard for the money which |
il spends. Good government would |
be a direct result of the development |
Of community interest. Employe and |
employer are on common ground when |
both are taxpayers in the same COM
munity.
Bonus Granted for Tenure of Service.
There are various ways of charging !
this interest. One is to grant re-
ward for tenure of service. The mines
of the Warren district, in Arizona,
have recently announced the distribu +
ton of $287 900 as a bonus for con-
tinuity of service and as a direct re-
ward for faithfulness. The Copper /
Queen branch of the Phelps Dodge +
corporation, the Calumet & Arizona |
Mining company and the Shattuck
Arizona company on New Years day |
paid 500 to every underground en-
rloye or mechanic who had been con-
stantly in their employ for one year,
and $50 each to those who had been
with them six months. They also +
paid $50 to every surface man in
their service for one year and $50 ,
where the service was six months.
A precedent has thus been set, and .
it Is believed to be but the beginning ,
of an elaborate plan of similar pay
ments. Were this an established Gus
tom, man who has been at work
for 10 months would think twice be-
fore quitting and thereby losing the
500 which he would gain by staying
two months longer likewise with the
other men. Naturally the labor turn
over would be reduced. Recognition
Of tenure of service would not be as
effective under the old method of hir- !
ing and firing" by the shift boss, but /
with a central employment bureau,
which Is gradually being put into all
of the mines of Arizona, and the elm
nation of discharge for petty, person
al grievances, it should be productive
of results.
Efficiency Merits Increase Compensa-
ton.
Unquestionably recognition of ten
ure of service makes for greater eff
fciency, for which additional COM
pensaton should be paid. 1t has been
argued that the ideal way of paying is
according to individual merit which,
in DAYS of scientific mining, is per-
fectly measurable. Such a method |
of payment however, would contain |
SO many factors difficult for the work.
man to figure that it would be unsat-
isfactory, and so would cause suspl-
cion. Average efficiency, it Is believ-
ed, is the only thing that can be salts
factorily taken into consideration
From the company's viewpoint
there would be a saving in the cost
of hiring and breaking in new men. !
There would be increased efficiency
and production, fewer accidents, with
an attendant decrease in compensa-
ton paid, and smaller likelihood OF
strikes. From he.spoint of view OF
the workman. there would be def- |
mite financial reward and share IN