The Iron Age 1920-09-02: Vol 106 Iss 10

Sixty-nine Manufacturing Opera- tions Now Performed in That City by the Sightless, Princi- pally in the Metal-working In- dustries—Workers Prove Efficient ~BY EVA B. PALMER . have in our employ a totally blind man wno has been with us since Sept. 23, 1918, _ assembling compensator switches. This rk is being done on piece work, and the fact that is making his rate is proof positive that he is j efficient at this work. It is, I believe, a very ere test for a blind man. The fact that his work eriect and that his speed is high enough so that makes out on a piece work rate, which is the same he rate lor a man with all his faculties, is pretty “ proot of the fact that he has been able to mas- a difficult ob very satisfactorily. He also is a versal favorite, and I believe is respected and _— than any other man in the factory.” The adove statement, signed by J. F. Lincoln, yeaa { the Lincoln Electric Co., is an in- daly e ue placed upon blind workmen by ome , ( nployers. This city was among — ountry to see the possibilities in y 10 ‘ artisans, and a start was made { preary, 13. when the Society for the Blind lid hang the Lake Erie Bolt & Nut Co. and ng, and his pay ranged from 80c. le remained two years and left of ving given entire satisfaction. progressed slowly until war time a shortage of labor, and since 1.25 a da DWN ace, he mover itions Recuti: Cleveland Society for the Blind. New York, September 2, 1920 (SAS Alibi siti 4 Cleveland Shops Open to Blind Workers 569 VOL. 106: No. 10 wee . een armen Wg ie PR fez King ‘ ring nd Facing Shac kle Bolts on No. 2% Warner & Swasey Tur ret Lathe at Plant of jowen Products Co then many openings have been secured. To-day there are 81 blind men and women working in 40 different factories, and each placement makes the next one easier. The employer finds himself sup- plied with a dependable worker, for the blind man realizes that chances for him are not numerous, while the man without sight declares that he would far rather have a man’s job than a blind man’s job. The time-worn trades of chair caning, broom making and carpet weaving are still useful, but to the man who asks no odds of the world because of his affliction, a regular man-size job is preferred. The electrical field has so far revealed more practicable operations than any other, but the auto- mobile industry, with its necessary machine shops, will undoubtedly take the lead in time, especially since machine operations have been proven feasible for blind workmen. Nutting bolts is still being done in several shops, and W. B. Alexander, general superintendent of the National Screw & Tack Co., has this to say: “We have employed as many as ten blind men at a time, and now have very close to that number. They are employed in nutting bolts by machinery and hand, and we are well pleased with their work and produc- tion. I might also state that they are very prompt and lose very little time. During the winter months we had five of our blind employees form an orches- ne elle nape ae ee aa TE Tt Pm 570 tra, composed of piano, drum, violin and two saxa- phones, for the benefit of our office help. It was very enjoyable, and furnished very good music.” Three questions are nearly always raised when the matter of employing blind labor is brought to a concern for the first time. One is the danger of accident. A large percentage of Cleveland factories carry State insurance, but many insuring with pri- vate companies are interested to experiment with blind workers. In 1919 the following modification was made in the Ohio law: “No agreement by an employee to waive his rights to compensation under this act shall be valid, except that an employee who is blind may waive the compensation that may be- come due him for injury or disability in cases where such injury or disability may be directly caused by or due to his blindness. The Industrial Commis- sion of Ohio may adopt and enforce rules governing the employment of such persons and the inspection of their places of employment.” It is interesting to note that only two concerns employing blind workers have availed themselves of this opportunity to escape paying compensation for possible injury. The blind man is easily the most careful in the entire plant, as loss of sight has doubled his caution, and as a result there have been no accidents so far. As employers become educated to consider a man according to what he has left rather than by what he has lost, people with handi- caps will not find it so difficult to obtain work. The second query raised is the one as to produc- tion. The person having the responsibility of fitting the blind man into his job must not only be familiar with labor conditions, but must know blindness, its splendid possibilities as well as its painful limita- tions. When the blind man’s production is up to THE IRON AGE Septem normal it is because most careful sele: made, first of the job for the man and then of +h. man for the job. A general error of the uninformes public is to consider that blind people have trait in common, owing to a common han the employer realizes that their ab 9 varied as possible, and when he has been shown that lack of sight is no hindrance on certain operat he is willing to try one worker after another the right person is found. Much of t} the Cleveland work is due to the skill ality of the young demonstrator who is s at work in one of the accompanying illustrations. He wept blind in January, 1919, and had had no factory ex. perience whatever before losing his sight. He js thus able to meet every objection on the part of en ployers, as he has learned the use of tools since becoming blind and goes everywhere alone. He tried out 150 operations in 31 Cleveland factories during a period of three months, and proved near\; all of them practicable. In many instances he ex- ceeded the average speed for sighted workers. This is not exceptional, as in several cases blind men are maintaining a higher speed rate than seeing people on the same jobs. In one large plant a blind mar arranging carbon brushes on trays does almost twice as much as any one else, and is paid according In the same factory a blind man does all the work formerly performed by two sighted girls with per- fect vision. In each instance the blind worker conforms to the rules of the shop. If piece work is the rule, he receives the same rate as the other workers, while if day work is the rule he is paid in proportion to his production and receives his bonus if such is given to others in his shop. E. G. Greene, superintendent of the Ferry Cap & SUCCESS OT 1d person- Stacking Commutators at Plant of Reli Engineering Co tember 2, 1920 TN Screw Co., made the following statement which shows the production of the blind men in his shop: “In regard to the two blind men employed at our factory I will say that they have proved very satisfactory in every way. They are running drill presses and produce as much work as those who can see, The third question raised is as to transporta- nm. “But how in the world will he get here?” asks the skeptical employér. Here again the skill or the placement agent must be shown. Every ef- ort is made to place the workers in shops accessible t r homes, and while most of the blind men int ‘the women go to and from work alone, ” nstancés this is impracticable. There are s of handling this difficulty. Sometimes r of the family is placed in the same is made throughout the factory for vho lives near the blind person’s home as guide. In several cases the entire een moved near the factory. nent of blind women in Cleveland fac- dertaken at their own earnest request. ravels fast and the girls learned with { the high wages being earned by the ne of the operations now being done Counting by weight on balanced small coils, assembling small parts partus and of sewing machines, run- ndle drill presses on small work, cking candy, stacking commuta- minations, setting up cartons and r blocks. at the end of this article shows of operations which have been e Snr es earch THE IRON AGE 571 Dr ng Oil Holes Spring Bolts on Single-spindle Drill Press for Ferry Screw found entirely practicable for both blind men and women. Contrary to the expectation of many em- ployers, the impression. made by the blind worker on his fellow employees is good and one superin- tendent stated that the standard of promptness and also of neatness had been raised throughout the en- tire department as “Gus” was always on time, clean shaven and smiling. Gus is now earning $40 a week. A good friend of the Society for the Blind, in its efforts to provide every employable blind person with a well-paid job, is C. L. Collens, president of the Reliance Electric & Engineering Co. He has promoted the undertaking among Cleveland elec- trical concerns and writes the following letter: “1 am very glad to comment on the work of the blind employee in our plant. He is employed on the opera- tion of stacking commutator segments and we can speak very favorably of his accuracy and speed in this work. One noticeable feature is the steadiness with which he applies himself to his work, as there is no tendency to be distracted or interested by other work going on around him in the plant.” The blind have long been an object of charity—and injustice. The new movement demands that the community do for the blind what it does for the seeing: Judge each individual according to his merits and give him a fair chance to make good. Operations Successfully Performed by Cleveland Blind Arranging carbon brushes on trays. Assembling: Ball-bearing cups for Ford cars. Chimneys for oil stoves. DB ea ota oo % e Me 572 Compensator switches. Control levers. Controller slates. Door bell transformers. Drive flanges and shafts. Generators. Grease cups. Ground wire telephone clamps. Hot air boxes. Junction boxes. Kelly handle bars. Locks. Pittman rods. Plug, nut and bolt in oiler. Radiator parts. Steering gear. Tension studs and shuttles for sewing machines. Tools. Trolleys for electric cranes. Vacuum cleaner parts. Vibrator spark coils. Vacuum gas tanks. Wick Wire rope clamps. Bench Work: Cleaning castings. Cleaning fire brick. Clamping wicks in metal rings. Counting by weight. raisers for oil stoves. Creasing boxes. Cutting and skinning cables. Etching electric light bulbs. Foiling mints. Inspecting separators in storage battery cells. Making hand-woven hats. Nutting bolts by hand and machine. Operating: Broaching machine. Centering and counter sinking machine. Drill press. Grinding machine. Lathe for facing brake hubs. Milling machine, power and hand. Nut facing machine. Polishing machine. Porter-Cable lathe. Punch press. Single-spindle and multiple-spindle drill presses. Spot welding machine. Stamping machine. Tapping machine. Warner & Swasey hand screw machine. Warner & Swasey turret lathe. Packing: Heel plates. Tools. Packing and sorting metal stampings. Setting up cartons. Splitting mica for condensers. Stacking: Laminations. Commutators. Straightening wire brushes. Taping: Field coils. High-speed magneto coils. Open armature coils. Shunt coils. Stator coils. Wrapping and packing: Butter. Candy. THE IRON AGE Septemhy 2, 1920 ENGINEERING FOUNDATION What It Has Done and Its Appeal for Ada; tional Donations Engineering Foundation, based on a established by United Engineering Societ) of Ambrose Swasey and other donors, research organization for the engineerin; An appeal for endowment has now been f by Charles F. Rand, 71 Broadway, New Yo. man. With an income of $10;000 for thr: $15,000 for three years, Engineering Four pointed out, has: 1. Aided in establishing National Resea) ( and in supporting its division of engineering 2. Financed an investigation of fatigu of metals, now in progress, in which a leadi; trial corporation has recently joined, makin, financial contribution. 3. Financed a hydraulic research which result an improved weir with a straight-line formu 4. Participated in a study of spray camouflag ships. 5. Supported a study in mental hygiene of industr 6. Compiled for National Research Council! a field directory of industrial research laborato: United States. 7. Financed tests of wear of gears, now in progress 8. Investigated practicability of a testing station f large water wheels and other large hydraulic equi; ment. Work Proposed for Engineering Foundation Numerous large and important research projects which promised valuable results could not be under- taken because of lack of funds. Some of these are as follows: Organization of industrial research laboratori t r researches in problems common to many indi Establish engineering research laboratori« Train (in th Engineering Foundation labo of high scientific and business ability for int yperation of better methods of production. Collection, classification, condensation ar f records of results of scientific research, relat: t ng neering Cryagenics Particularly researches in chat is mixtures in relation to liquefaction ar rases for industrial purposes; liquid air, oxyger rg nit x gen, helium—for metallurgical processes, welding , t} tion, lamps, airships, balloons, and many Fundamental scientific facts on which to bas design of internal-combustion motor for vel stationary power plants Principles of heat transfer: Fundamental ipplication of results to engineering purp¢ Improvement of utilization of all kinds of f conservation Colloidal lubricants and fundamental pri cation Study of bearing alloys Metallurg) fundamental study of laws metals, atomic structure and other probler Corrosion of metals, especially ferrous met for prevention Researches in metal cutting, drawing al Experimental study of stress distributi perforated plates and in machine members failures of materials + Investigation of machines + Refractories and other ceramic produ ing industries Enterprising corporations, Mr. Rand e! each spending hundreds of thousands, mill‘ons every year for researc cases, stricted fields of industry. Engineering wr sires to serve the nation and the engin adequately, but to do so must have adi res - It has $300,000, with assurance of $250,' ee of $1,000 or more are desired. Ea een - \ ¥ $250,000 or more will be honored as } . booklet about Engineering Foundation ané (¥ "Flinn formation may be had by addressing A'iree D. secretary, 29 West Thirty-ninth Street ember 2, 1920 Th om MILITARIZING” OF LABOR Russian Metal Trades Strike Resulted in Prison Penalties for Idleness WASHINGTON, Aug. 26.—Advance sheets have ar- r ¢ another series of chapters of the International I ‘fice “Studies on Labor Conditions in Russia” Tur IRON AGE, Aug. 26, 1920, page 525, dealing with rn rking industries), covering the complicated on s of compulsory labor which the Bolshevist Russian industry forced upon the workers of intry. According to the document, the Bolshe- f Russian industries was followed by a procla that strikes would be considered treason. The ving Bolshevist decree is quoted: now, the organized forces of the proletariat, the ns (professional associations) will be under the of the Council of National Economy, which will management and production of industrial enter- er these new methods of management, the work to discipline and the increase of productivity, and onomic disorganization. Under these conditions ge of work and all strikes will be an act of proletarian revolution, vertheless,” says the review prepared by the ational Labor Office, “strikes seem to have con- * and it quotes the following items from an official organ of the Bolshevist Govern- \ cal syndicate of metal workers has struck with- t \dministrative Council’s taking measures to put an ike, the Regional Council of the Metal Workers’ rdered the Syndicate of Toula to elect a new Admit rative Council. No wages will be paid during the t It has also been decided not to pay the workers wages during the two days’ strike at the Metal Products Factor t Podolsk The Administrative Council of the Metal Workers’ Syndi- t lecided to pay the wages to their imprisoned com- s for the periods of the strike and imprisonment. Other authorities are quoted declaring that strikes Russia are punishable by death, but the document reports that it has been unable to find any official in- formation bearing on this contention. It does quote a ng series of Bolshevist decrees and proclamations which demonstrate that labor in Russia has lost all ¢ of freedom under the Bolshevist Govern- Labor the State’s Property \t the beginning, the Russian constitution adopted + > } . ‘ 2 Bolshevist Government proclaimed merely the principle: Socialist Soviet Republic considers it the duty f the republic to work and adopts as motto: work will not eat.” rinciple thus formulated was in no way ‘ys the review. “The moral duty of work Trumbull Steel Extensions ¢ of a 9-in. hot strip mill under con- e Trumbull Steel Co. at Warren, Ohio, r November and a 14-in. hot strip mill The company is also doubling jts cold : These extensions involve an expense i ‘ely $3,000,000, financed from earnings. tallations the Trumbull company will production capacity of 400,000 tons of products, including tin plate, sheets, strip steel. Its aggregate yearly strip vill be about 200,000 tons. nas a wide range of uses in the auto- ' In other commercial ways, while hot lely for deep stamping purposes. ntinuous type strip mill will be house s Ww) + ft. long and will be driven by two is u ir 800-hp. direct-current motors. This g reich te Neted, will roll 30-ft. bars of various A 1100.4 In. hot strip mill is being installed in a 7? "ing, paralleling that housing the 14-in. ld strip department is to be enlarged THE IRON AGE 573 is recognized in every civilized country, and it is only as a moral duty that the obligation to work finds a place in the Russian constitution. “Lately, however, the Bolshevist Government pro- claimed a principle much more far-reaching. This prin- ciple is the following: Work is a social obligation. The state has a right to oblige the citizen to work and even to assign to him the work he must do, and to punish him if he does not obey. Human labor is the property of the State.” This startling doctrine of state slavery is traced by the report through various stages. At first, the idea of obligatory labor was merely introduced to force the “rich” to work for the state. Idleness in factories was merely put under control of workers’ tribunals and the only punishment was dismissal from the factory. The workers in the cities complained that compulsory work would merely force them to work for the profit of the peasants. But the progressive collapse of Russian in- dustry soon resulted in prison penalties for idleness, following on the creation of “labor distribution sec- tions” with power to send workmen from one part of Russia to another. “Toward the middle of 1919,” says the review, “nationalization was an accomplished fact. The Gov- ernment found itself with 3000 factories which must be made to function. To make them function workers were necessary, but the workers were inclined to avoid work owing to low wages and the lack of foodstuffs. “The state, according to the Bolshevist idea, feeds the population by making itself the organizer of a colossal exchange of industrial products against agri- cultural products. To insure the success of this ex- change the state had to have full and absolute control over all the existing economic forces, including that of labor, and had to combine as it desired all the factors of production by diverting labor from one part of the country to another according to the necessities of the moment. “The state was then obliged to have recourse to com- pulsory labor in order to find the necessary man power, and to employ it at a low price. We see thus that the nationalization of industry and commerce brings with it in its train compulsory labor.” This was quickly followed by the militarism of labor, for all other efforts to compel the workers to produce anything approximating the normal needs of the coun- try proved a failure. The reasons which actuated the 3olshevist Government are paraphrased thus by the review: “We have embarked on a colossal enterprise. We have taken over all the industries, we have the food monopoly; we are therefore obliged to feed our work- ers. In order to buy the products necessary to feed the workers the latter must produce and produce much, for the peasants sell dearly. Therefore, if we do not produce we shall die of hunger, so we must oblige the workers to produce; that is to say, man power must be militarized.” by adding a 20 x 24-in. tandem mill, a 16 x 20-in. and an 8 x 10-in. tandem mill with two 8-in. combination mills, three 8-in. single mills, three 12-in. single mills and one 12 x 20-in. single mill with auxiliary equip- ment. Annealing capacity of the cold strip department is also being doubled. In addition a 600-ton blast furnace is being erected at the Trumbull plant by the Trumbull-Cliffs Furnace Co., formed by the Trumbull! Steel Co. and the Cleve- land-Cliffs Iron Co., Cleveland. Freyn, Brassert & Co., Chicago, are acting as consulting engineers for this project. The Edward Schwartz Mill Supply Co., Inc., recently organized at 520 Toulouse Street, New Orleans, La., has purchased the surplus valves, pipe, fittings, etc., in the Southern district from the U. S. Shipping Board, and plans to embark in the general mill supply busi- ness on a large scale. The members of the firm are E. and I. Marx of A. Marx & Sons, and A. Deifenthal and L. Seidenbach of the Southern Scrap Material Co., New Orleans, and Edward Schwartz, president and general manager. 7 Drennan 7 he Magnesite Industry of Washington Extensive Deposits Near Spokane—Develop- ments Resulting from the War—Future of Plastic Magnesite in Building Construction BY R. A. LAIRD - OUR years ago large deposits of crystalline mag- nesite were discovered in Stevens county, Wash., 50 miles north of Spokane. These are believed to exceed in size and purity any deposits previously known. The world supply of magnesite had come formerly from Austria and California. To-day the Stevens ‘ounty industry has reached such successful develop- ment that there is every reason to believe that Spokane, as a radiating center for the northern fields, will soon become the magnesite center of the United States, which alone uses over $10,000,000 worth of the product annually. California produces 200,000 tons a year from com- paratively small bunch and stringer deposits which have been worked for over 20 years. The same ton- nage can be produced in Stevens county fields for one- third the California cost of production, and in less time, while the freight saving on shipments is much in favor of the Spokane territory. The Stevens county material, being so free from lime and with a generally low and even iron content, can be made into a product with the exact percentage of iron desired more cheaply than it can be produced in Austria but, although the market is now calling for a capacity output of refractory mag- nesite from American mines, the industry will need a protective tariff when Austria, waking from after- war inactivity, speeds up production. At present, owing to lack of coal, most of the Austrian product goes to England, which controls the coal supply of that country. The Stevens county magnesite quarries are laid out on mountain sides, surrounded by primeval forest and mountain lakes; they are particularly beautiful and spectacular. At night, because of the huge furnaces and brilliantly lighted grounds the works can be seen for miles. Day and night shifts are run, the quarries being lighted. A conservative estimate of the already developed Stevens county deposits puts them at 50,000,000 tons, but much larger deposits are known the magnesite presents and white. It is all leavage In color pink, gray bright, shiny texture of granu- In burning it does not crumble to powder, but dead-burns easily in lumps a foot through, in an ordinary lime kiln. It is quarried In open cuts and is mined at low cost owing to its oc- to exist. many shades; red, crystalline, with faces, varying from the ated sugar to very coarse crystals. The Magnesite Quarry Near Spokane, Wash. This gives an idea of the huge deposits encountered in t 574 currence in immense beds. There is also little in handling and sorting. The developed territory of workable deposits in Stevens county is about evenly divided between the American Mineral Production Co., the Valley Mag- nesite Co. and the Northwest Magnesite Co. The Northwest Magnesite Co. has a million dollar plant which is now producing 8000 tons of calcined product a month, which sells at $25 a ton. Six miles of aerial] tramway have been added to connect with the old quarry, which is as yet hardly touched, and with the newly acquired Keystone quarry. The American Min- eral Products Co. is'completing a new $50,000 kiln for the burning of magnesite for plastic trade, in addition to its old plant which was valued at $500,000 when con- structed. It owns a $400,000 railroad, running from the mine into the town of Valley. “We have been conducting for many months a series of tests in our laboratories at Valley looking toward the manufacturing of plastic magnesite,” said Howard F. Wierum, vice-president and general manager of t American Mineral Products Co., before leaving to at- tend a meeting of the board of directors of the local company at Chicago, where matters concerning the ex- pansion and development of the local fields were taken up. “Foreign magnesite would be unable to compete with this new market, even if the tariff did not pass Congress. As a first step to the manufacturing of plastic magnesite which will be used for the manufae- turing of flooring and stucco work in building opera- tions, the new kilns will be used. Our investigations show that there is now a normal consumption of |! tons a day of plastic magnesite in the United States while the demand is growing rapidly. Within a year look for the demand to be 200 tons a day with a stead) increase. “Plastic magnesite is prepared by a process som what similar to the refractory magnesite except that the furnaces: or kilns it is not brought to the sam high degree of heat as the refractory rock, the burning being done with very closely controlled temperatures After the lumps come out of the kiln they are gt nd to a powder of 200 mesh, which is of the same fine! as cement. The powdered product will be pla barrels or boxes and shipped out in carload_ wholesalers. Plastic magnesite has passed the period in structural work and for some tim waste fn his formation Rotary Kilns at the Northwest Magnesite eproof buildings. Just to show the high f plastic magnesite, it is possible to cover ard with a half inch layer of this product, then lay the ends of the board on chairs Ferrocerium, Its Manufacture and Uses r 2, 1920 THE IRON AGE 575 ‘o.’s Plant at Chewelah, 69 miles North of Spokane, Wash. and bounce the center up and down without so much as cracking the magnesite. Likewise it is immune to “3 water or heat and will not contract or expand under any climatic conditions.” * Growing Importance in Metallurgy—A Deoxidizer for Iron, Copper and Bronze BY ALCAN years since, I presented before this paper on cerium and its alloys. At that nd its pyrophoric alloys were more or and curiosities, but to-day they have a stable commodity taking their proper try and commerce, and replacing more natch. During the recent world war, y lighters formed a part of the standard ery soldier, particularly the type of the fuse or wind lighter. lloy manufacture depends for its raw the residues from the gas mantle in- these residues were considered waste iay there are no surplus residues, as produced is used in various other example, the manufacture of flaming and pyrophoric alloys. tration of the Ferroalley preparat.on of ferrocerium is he electrolyte. When it is consid- material contains in varying quan- to 20 different elements this is not What is required is to get the ride which is used as electrolyte free vyhich will subsequently interfere with ilphur, phosphorus and silicon being tionable. The cerium electrolysis is 1 peculiar electrolysis which I have f. There are about eight different e kept in proper relation to each Satisfactory results will not be ob- fore necessary to plot curves con- run to make sure that conditions If one of the factors is out of ented at the spring meeting of the cal Society in Boston, April 10 & chemical engineer, Chemists Build- HIRCH balance, it is not always possible to correct it, but from the curves it is always possible to predict the resuits. The “cerium” or “misch,” as we call it, consists of an alloy of the metals of the cerium group. They seem to form a sort of aggregate or nucleus so that the electrolyte can be entirely utilized. That is to say, there is no selective electrolysis whereby an impov- 1 electrolyte is produced unsuitable for further This does not occur if the electrolysis is properly 1 A erishe arried out. The “misch” can be cast into molds. The metal is soft and tough, can be cut by a strong knife, and is not pyrophoric. It is similar in to lead. The “misch” is next melted and alloyed with iron to form the pyrophoric alloy. The regular alloy contains some properties approximately 30 per cent of iron. This alloy gives a ark. Other alloys, called special alloys, are made W h give a flame, a shower of sparks, etc. The effect can be controlled by the composition of the alloy. Magnesium and zinc are used in the preparation of a special alloy. One of these special alloys is used for miners’ lamps, where the flame effect instead of the spark is desired. The pyrophoric effect depends upon the brittleness of the alloy and its low kindling point. As a Scavenger for Molten Metals The cerium group of metals is exceedingly active chemically, having a tremendous affinity for oxygen and nitrogen. The heat of oxidation is very great, being approximately the same as that of aluminum and mag- nesium. The ,“misch” metal melts about 650 deg. C., or less. It has a density of 7. These three factors, great affinity for oxygen and nitrogen, low melting point, and high density, would recommend it as a scav- enger and deoxidizer of molten metals, so we should expect it to have unusual properties along this line, and it has. -The great heat of combustion prolongs the fluidity of the melt and frees it of oxides, occluded ae i A gn CRC tr SR pene etc. I refer to a reprint from THE IRON AGE, 1920, of a paper by Dr. Richard Moldenke, gases, Jan. 29, presented before the American Foundrymen’s Asso- ciation the latter part of last year. The author ex- perimented with cast iron and obtained excellent re- The deoxidizing action was excellent, the cast- ines were softer and more dense, feeding through the gates and risers was prolonged, and the formation of combined carbon retarded. The conclusion from his work is that the metal be- comes softer, is machined more easily, is freed from gas sults. and pin holes, is under less casting strains, and has less internal shrinkage than where the metal suffers from more or less oxidation through imperfect melting practice. Results with Copper and Bronzes The tunlatic trolyti some results with copper. Elec- under in a graphite following are copper melted charcoal Details of Harvester Stock Distribution Plan Supersedes Former Profit-Sharing Scheme crucible; cast in 1.5 in. (3.8 em.) dia. x 12 in. (30 em.), —Savings Plan _ to NHE International Harvester Co.’s extra compensa- 4 tion and stock ownership plan for employees was outlined in a preliminary statement published in THE IRON AGE of Aug. 5. The complete provisions of the plan, adopted by the stockholders on July 29, now available. The new arrangement becomes effective as of Jan. 1, 1920, and supersedes the profit-sharing plan adopted on Dec. 23, 1915. In an open letter to all employees, Harold F. Mc- Cormick, president of the Harvester company, states that announcement will soon be made of a savings and investment plan which, while having no connection with the extra compensation and stock ownership plan, will afford an opportunity for systematic saving and invest- ment in sound securities. are Extra Compensation and Stock Ownership Plan The International Harvester Co. will set apart out of irnings for 1920, and annually thereafter, for the bene fit ot those of its employees and employees of its affiliated or subsidia companies in the United States and Canada who are not employed in any managerial or executive capac- t (subject to the conditions stated in paragraphs 9, 10, 1 ind 12 herein), an extra compensation fund which will equ I cent of the company profit for the ‘year in exce of 7 per cent upon the invested capital in the busi- ‘ f the company (For the purpose of th plan the “profit’ for each ar sha be the profit shown upon the company’s income vccount for that year approved by its board of directors before deducting the full amount of the extra compensa on payable to all employees under this plan By “in- vested capital’ is meant the sued preferred and common ston ind the surplus of the company as hown in its innual balance sheet of December 31 of the preceding ear proved b its board of directors.) This extra compensation fund shall be distributed to said employees in the proportion which the actual earnings é h employee for the ‘vear bear to the aggregate earnings f iid emplovees (For the purpose of this plan “actual earnings” shall not include extra compensation paid under th } 1.) imount of the said extra compensation for each year sl computed not later than Ma 1 of the following year and shall then be paid to such employees in two parts one part in cash and one part in fu paid up 7 per cent cumulative preferred stock of the International Harvester Co on the basis of $100 of said extra compensation representing one share f said stock As far as possible said extra com- pensation shall be paid one-half in cash and one-half in said stock Under no circumstances hall the company be bound to ue any fractional share of the capital stock under this plar The company reserves the right to pay all of said extra compensation in cash 4. The said employees may, if they so desire, utilize that part of the extra compensation distributed to them in cash n purchasing from the company shares of the said pre- ferred stock of the company at par If the amount deposited with the company by an emplovee under this section is less than $100 the company will allow interest upon such deposit at the rate of 7 per cent per annum until sufficient credits accumulate to purchase one or more shares of preferred stock The International Harvester Co. will set apart out of 1920, and annually for the benefit of those of its emplovees and the or subsidiary companies in the United States and who are employed in a managerial or executive (subject to the conditions stated in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 12 herein), an extra compensation fund which will {its earnings for thereafter, employees of its affiliated Canada capacity and equal THE IRON AGE September 2. 1920 vast iron molds, with %-in. (0.95-cm.) walls ws poured first, then 0.25 per cent cerium-coppey (a: + 90 per cent cerium) alloy added and pou The r spective ingots were machined) 'to).0,505 (13 mn diameter standard tensile test “specimens nd pi with the following results: Physical Properties of Copper Without Elastic limit, lb. per sq. in..... 9,440 ( 6.6 r Ultimate strength, lb. per sq. in.25,500 (17.9 aan Elongation in 2 in. (5 cm.) per oe SE Sa. aCe we Site te eae Ses Seca lee 28.50 Red. of area, per cent.......... 23.60 Physical Properties of Copper After Additi: ( Clastic limit, lb. per sq. in.... 16:900 (11.8 Ultimate strength, lb. per sq. Elongation in 2 in. (5 cent ° Red. of area, in. 26,740 cm.) per 33.50 47.20 (18.7 ii to be very useful for bronzes, monel metal and coppe) It frees the metal from oxides, gases, and tensile strength, elongation and reduction of We have found cerium in the form of “misch” mot: raises area, Be Announced’ Soon 20 per cent of the company’s profit for the yea ot ¢ per cent upon the invested capital in the | the company (lor the purpose of this plan the “profit” f year shall be the profit shown upon the company account tor that year approved by its board o: d before deducting the full amount of the extra com tion payable to all employees under this plar By vested Capital” is meant the issued preierred and comn stock and the surpius of the company as shown annual balance sheet of December 31, of the prece year approved by its board of directors.) 6. This extra compensation fund shall be distribut among said employees who are engaged in a ma! value of their execulive Capacity in proportion to the Ser ices to the company as determined by the board of direct 7. The amount of this extra compensation for eac! Shall be computed not later than May 1 of the fol year and shall then be, paid to the employees eng managerial or in cash and executive capacities in two parts one part in fully paid up common stock or t International Harvester Co. on the basis of extra compensation representing one share As far as possible, said extra compensation one-half in cash and one-half in said stock. Under cumstances shall the company be bound to issue a! tional shares of the capital stock under this plan. Th $100 of sai shall be pany reserves the right to pay all of said extra tion in cash. 8. Whenever in the judgment of the board of dir¢ the company the book value of the common stock distributed under this plan has been substantially) uC per share from its book value on Dec. 31, 1920, through '™ issue of stock dividends, then the board of directors § have the power to make a proportionate reduct price at which said common stock shall thereafter be 'ssu under this plan , 9. The extra compensation funds herein prov be distributed to those employees only who have tinuously in the service of the company during th vear for which such funds are provided a es the follow!!! are distributed on or before May 1 of - provided, however, that if any employee who has continuously in the service of the company throushoy calendar year is discharged for any reason perort of the following year, he shall not thereby fort to receive extra compensation as herein proviece calendar vear during which he served. 10. The extra compensation funds herein. pro’ be distributed to those employees only who the distribution of such funds retain their S possession of the capital stock of the compan) delivered to them hereunder: provided, howeve! board of directors of the company may waive ti in any proper case upon application by the emi 11. If any employee leaves the service of U whether voluntarily or otherwise, during his right to share in either of the said ; funds for said calendar year and all future 2! ately ceases, except that if an employee is rel" sion or dies while in the service, then his dist) ‘off from either of said funds which would have © had he remained in the service throughout § - all vear shall, nevertheless, be payable to him OF vw act The right of employees \retired on pensio! compensation hereunder ‘shall terminate ane aig mentioned payment is made. If any emp. ; worked throughout any calendar vear vo'U Tanuan extra co tar service of the company during the pe riod a n either to May 1 of the succeeding vear. his right C0 oe ajendar yee of the said extra compensation funds for sie and all future years immediately ceases. | + not & 12. A temporary discontinuance of eMPN ' cence, ae ceeding three months, through special leave ©” 'e.. the put of work, sickness or accident disability will nm sontin ; : k he ‘ pose of this plan be considered a break '" : service of an employee. 13. The board of directors of the company may ° Si I er Se 1920 f this plan according to its terms to any em- company or its affiliated or subsidiary com- of the United States and Canada, inderstood that nothing in this plan shall bind remain tor any period in the employ of nor shall it bind the company to retain any ts service for any period. The right of each ve the service of the company for any reaso! the company to terminate for any reason any employee, shall remain unaffected by this ything done under it. nany shall have the right to modify this plan but no such modification shall be effective until « of the following calendar year. the intention of the company to continue ntly, but it reserves to the board of directo terminate the pian at the end of any calendar d that published notice of such decision shall ust six months prior to the date of termination rd of directors of the company shall have operation of this plan. It shall have power provisions of the plan and exercise such i make such decisions as are necessary to the on of the plan. The board shall have power rules and regulations for the effective operation \ll orders and decisions of the said board shall sive and binding upon all parties. t} ‘resident McCormick’s Letter to Employees trengthen the community of interest between any and its employees, and to reward continued ficient service, the directors of the International Co. have formulated and the stockholders ted a plan effective as of Jan. 1, 1920, whereby pensation in cash and in stock of the company tributed annually to such of its employees as ts service throughout the calendar year and 1 of the year following, and company with onditions of this plan. [he executive officers and directors of the company at the community of interest between the com- y and its employees can be most truly and practical- expressed by employee ownership of the company’s ‘The officers and directors are convinced that annual estment by the employees of a part of their extra npensation in the company’s stock and their continued wnership of such stock should and will be distinct in- tives for each employee to contribute his fullest share ward the success of the business. Upon the degree s thus achieved will depend the amount of ex- nsation available for distribution year by ng the employees. ‘Naturally the individual employee will wish to know ll be personally affected by this plan—the imount of the extra compensation fund for year and his prospective share in it. Any ased upon the earnings of previous years erage number of employees who would have with the requirements of the new plan would ng. The results of each future year must hemselves. pany is engaged in a highly diversified and isiness. It cannot know what its profits ar until the results of all operations are ind the earnings definitely determined. This es from three to four months after the usiness, December 31st of each year. company’s business is principally de- ilture, the exent of its yearly earnings ‘ considerable degree by crop conditions nd human control. However, a sub- each year’s earnings depends on in- ng team work throughout the organ- g all the employees and officers. f the extra effort which the indi- it into this team work will largely sunt of extra compensation. the power of each employee to add xtra compensation fund in which he moment of time or ounce of ma- , y effort or suggestion that increases , or improves service, Carries its dis- co nto this fund. re new plan supersedes the profit “a <3, 1915, as amended and extended isch Therefore no new subscriptions for Neates under that plan can be ac- 1920. The company will, however, ms under the plan, with its amend- es who, prior to the close of THE IRON AGE 577 business on July 31, 1920, subscribed for profit sharing certificates or acquired stock under that plan. “Thousands of employees subscribed for profit shar- ing certificates and acquired stock under the old profit sharing plan of Dec. 23, 1915. The regularity and fidel- ity with which the employees have carried out these subscriptions, and their subscriptions for Liberty Loan bonds, have been most gratifying to the officers and directors, and clearly demonstrate the need of continued opportunity for them to accumulate and invest their savings through the treasurer’s office. “Announcement will soon be made, therefore, of a savings and investment plan for employees which, while having no connection with the extra compensation and stock ownership plan, will afford them the means for systematic saving and investment in sound securities. “The Harvester company and its employees have already learned from their own experience some of the value of genuine co-operation. We have in successful operation a pension plan, an employees’ benefit associa- tion, an industrial council plan and other kindred activi- ties. This new extra compensation and stock ownership plan, together wih the forthcoming savings and invest- ment plan, rounds out a policy of co-operation which the officers and directors believe will be of lasting bene fit to all those interested in this company’s welfare.” Personnel of Wheeling Steel Corporation Changes in the subsidiary companies of the Whee ing Steel Corporation, incident to the formation of the latter, have been completed, and it is now possible to present the personnel of both the parent and subsidiary companies. The officials of the four companies follow: Wheeling Steel Co poration Isaac M. Scott, president; Andrew Glass ce-presider n charge of operations; D. A. Burt, vice-president in chat f finances and accounts; W. H. Abbott ‘ I of sales W J. Stoop am Walter lL). Higgins Stal presidents: G. W. Hocking ecretary I» A. Burt, treasuret W. T. Burt, comptroller I. M. Gro ditor; kk. D. Adan purchasing agent; H. L. Schre ( ef e1 neer Executive Committee Alexander Gla ‘ iirmal \.H Woodward, vice-chairman; ¢ t. Hubbard \. ¢ Whittaker J. J. Holloway, E. C. Ewir iac M. Scott, R. C. Kirl Directors: One year—Howard Hazlett, I M. Work, E. W Oglebay, Isaac M. Scott 4. C. Whitaker, Joseph Coudon Two years—EFdward Hazlett, N. P, Whitaker indrew G s A. H. Woodward, D. A. Burt, E. C. Ewin Three ear J M. Clarke \lexander Glas Ww Y KF. Stifel Ww H Abbott, R. C. Kirk, C. R. Hubbard, J. J. H LaBelle Iron Works D. A. Burt, President: H. D. Westfa e-pre lent and general sales manager: G. B. LeVan e-pl lent and en eral manager W. B. Higgins ecretal R. L Tones i ist ant secretary; H. P. Beswick, treasurer; J. B. A on, assist ant treasurer; J. L. Fisher iditor; F. B. Voorhees, assistant auditor; R. M. Rice. purchasir Wheeling Steel & Iron Oo John Dunean, president: C. J. Hunter, ee resident; H T. Swift, secretary: W. H. Higgins and W. H. Kettler s t- ant secretaries Charl We in purcha igent at Wheeling: J. W. Carpenter, general superintendent at Ben- wood, W. Va Whitake Gls er { Alexander Glas ha And 4 lent I Ewit ind A. ¢ Whit nts: Nelso n | Wi 4 iry W H. M A. Y. Moffatt ind W I I general sa I Vv I (ire pur I i? r it Whe \ J lel I ral pe r G. H. Samps« I outn American Mableables Co., plants at Lancaster, N. Y., and Owosso, Mich., has moved its general sales offices from the plant at Lancaster to the Kresge Build- f+ ing, Detroit. They will be in charge of the vice-pres dent of the company, P. G. Smith. A consolidation was effected on Aug. 10 between the Zahner Metal Sash & Door Co., Canton, Ohio, and the Empire Art Metal Co., New York, under the name of the Central Metal Products Corporation. The busi- ness of both companies will be conducted by the or- ranizations now in the two plants. The Kempsmith Mfg. Co. celebrated its fifth annual outing at one of Milwaukee’s suburban lakes on Satur- dav, Aug. 21. Athletic contests and community sing- ing were features. a 578 Railroads Must Treat Competitors Alike—Dam- ages for Coal Car Discrimination WASHINGTON, Aug. 31.—The Interstate Commerce Commission has just handed down two decisions of im- portance to the steel industry. The first of these in- volves the claim that railroad companies which pay one industrial concern for doing its own spotting service should make the same allowance to others. The other decision attempts to equalize the distribution of coal ears of the Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railway Co. and the West Side Belt Railroad Co. at Pittsburgh, both of which supply steel industries in the Pittsburgh district. The commission found that the latter com- pany had unduly favored the mines owned by its stock- holders. The first decision was rendered in the case of the Riter-Conley Mfg. Co., which does structural and tank work at Leetsdale, Pa., in the Pittsburgh rate district. It charged that the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. made an allowance of $1.13 per car to a competing company, the American Bridge Co., for performing spotting service in connection with inbound and outbound ship- ments at Ambridge, Pa., about 1.6 miles from com- plainant’s plant and also in the Pittsburgh rate dis- trict, while no such allowance was made to complainant for performing similar service with its own power. It asked reparation on 6,912 cars spotted during the two years preceding the filing of the complaint. “It has been a practice for many years,” says the decision of the commission, “for the trunk lines to com- pensate iron and steel industries in the Youngstown, Cleveland and Pittsburgh rate districts for services performed by or through industrial roads. The allow- ance to the American Bridge Co., which has been ef- fective since Oct. 25, 1917, is actual cost, on a monthly basis, with a maximum of $1.13 per car. On June 15, 1919, complainant requested an allowance, but it has made no that the Pennsylvania perform the spotting service. As a matter of economy and venience complainant prefers to do its own spotting with an appropriate allowance for the service, and its responses to the offer of the Pennsylvania to perform request con- such service are so qualified that it does not clearly appear whether or not it would permit the carrier to do so. But in the absence of undue prejudice, what- ever service a carrier can be required to perform it may insist upon performing.” “We find,” says th