The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1947-01-30
Behind The Scenes
In
American Business
BY KNIGHT

BY REYNOLDS KNIGHT
New York. - Jobs are a lit
tie harder to get today than
they were six months ago. AS a
result, many workers who have
been holding out for work sim
liar to that which they did
during the war are taking jobs
requiring less technical skill.
The total of employment has
not decreased sharply, however.
Best estimates are that some
ST million are on payrOllS COM
pared with a peak of $780,
900 last July. The decrease may
be attributed in part, at least,
to seasonal layoffs, but the par
amount motlvaing force is
economy. The wave of wage in
creases last year raised total
payrolls substantially and EN-
ployers are taking advantage
of seasonal factors to shave
costs. During the war years,
many industries retained sea-
sonal employees because of the
general shortage of help. To-
day, with more competition for
their products, they are more
conscious of costs. New York
Central, for instance, recently
laid off 1000 track workers,
pointing out that while the men
involved were seasonal workers,
the move was also an economy
one.
RESEARCH SCORES - In
du:trial research, a powerful
arm of U. S. might during the
war, has been delegated to play
no less formidable a role in the
nations peacetime economy.
The goal: To widen employment
and improve earning power for
employees through new products
and chronological improvements
in manufacturing processes.
Typical of results are those at
LiEbey-O wens-Ford Glass COM
pany where some 100000 -
more than $500 per employe -
has been spent in 10 years to
improve glass = making tech
niques and bring out new prod
ucts. From 100000 spent in
1886, the company's bill for re-
search grew to 100000 in 1916.
but better glass resulted for
homes, commercial structures
and consumer products and en-
ployment at LOT in 1916 hit
a new peak. Annual L-O-F pay
roll is more than double the
figures for typical prewar years
and average hourly wages
earned by employees increased
IS per cent over 1888. Research
itself has become a big Gus
toner for glass, using annually
$4,000 worth of glass just to
smash up, batne in acids, bake.
etch, freeze, coat with chemi-
Gals and lombard with cleo
irons. All in the interest of bet
ter glass and more jobs
THINGS TO CONE - A
brush-shredding machine which
may be used to dispose OF
branches and twigs scattered
on the ground after pruning
It chews up the refuse which
then may be disked under to
become m ulch.. turbo
grinder which operates on pow
er created by running water
from the faucet. Action comes
from the water running on a
die-cast aluminium wheel
Miniature kitchen equipment
which may be assembled on the
spot in a small model room to
show prospective purchasers
how various piece will look in
completed form =. An cleo
tronic intrument, housed in &
conveniently handled steel cab
met for testing spark plugs. It
can be operated by non-experi-
enced personnel IA lumin-
Gus sign with interchangeable
plastic letters which is illumi-
mated by a loW-wattage fluor-
escent lamp A plastic filter alb
serbs all visible light allowing
only ultraviolet light to pene-
trate to the sign. This gives ar
appearance of Illumination with
out a light source -. . Air.
conditioned seats for the mo.
vie:; also, a grill in front o.
the doors to vacuum clean
shoe soles. Both are getting {
tryout at a prefabricated Long
Beach, Cal, theater.
RAILR OAD FUTUR
BRIGHTENS - Probably thu
most encouraging development
of the past year, from thu
standpoint of the railroads, ha'
baap tLo eo1orIiI r~ooartion or,