PARAGRAPHS 97-98-GLASS AND GLASSWARE. Comparison of systems, production, and cost of production. I have illustrated catalogues of the Jena Glass Co. on chemical wares and chimneys, with estimate of the numbers produced on the unlimited piecework system, and wages paid on the various articles, which I will place in the hands of the committee who have this matter in charge in order that they can familiarize themselves on the subject and offer such recommendations as they deem necessary. The most important feature connected with that which I witnessed is the fact that all their beakers and a large number of beaker flasks are blown in the paste mold, cracked off the pipe, sent through the leer, cracked off behind the leer, and glazed on the edge, and if necessary to be finished in a different shape they were finished behind the leer in a manner similar to the method now used in glazing blown tumblers, except for the beakers they use a lipper shaped like the ring used on a finished pressed lip article. Their work was very nicely done. I saw beakers and flasks up to 1-gallon size finished in this manner. MAKING OPTICAL GLASS. In making optical glass they use a small open-top pot. When the glass is melted, a mechanical stirrer is inserted in the top of the pot and the glass stirred for hours until all the cords and blisters are removed. The pot is then removed from the furnace and allowed to stand for a period of four to six weeks, when the pot is broken and the glass removed in large lumps and selected preparatory to being sawed in pieces and ground to the proper degree. UNSKILLED WORKMEN'S WAGES AT JENA. The unskilled men employed at this factory earn from 19 to 25 marks a week; that is, from $4.75 to $6.25. The highest wage paid to any unskilled man in that factory is $6.25 a week, but not until a man has been employed by that concern for a period of 12 years. The unskilled men behind the lehr cracking off shades and chimneys, crimping shades, finishing beakers, and that class of goods, who are working on piecework basis, are not allowed to exceed 30 marks a week-that is $7.50-and they very, very seldom reach that amount. Carrying-in boys at the factory earn $2.50 a week THEIR HOMES. Glassworkers employed at the Jena plant generally live in two rooms, a small number have three, and a very small number four. The third or fourth room at any of these homes is called a "cabin," which is simply a sleeping room. For these homes the men pay 180 to 200 marks, $45 to $50, a year rent. HOURS OF WORK. They have no regular hours of work except that the week commences Monday morning at 2 o'clock. Each crew of men has a certain number of boys. When the men start to work on Monday morning at 2 they continue at work, except to stop for lunch, until they have worked out the glass in the pot. All articles, you will understand, are produced on an unlimited piece-work basis. When the pots are worked out, the men are through for the day and they are permitted to go home. But all the small boys at the factory are obliged to sleep in the factory, where there is a large PARAGRAPHS 97-98 GLASS AND GLASSWARE. dormitory, with iron beds in tiers of one to three berths. In connection with the dormitory is a bath room and dining room, where food is supplied at exact cost. Immediately after the pots are worked out they are filled in, and when the glass is again ready to be worked a large bell is rung in the dormitory, which arouses the boys, and they are obliged to get up and go out to call the shop for whom they work. After calling the men they report to the dining-room to get their breakfast and then report for work. Every morning in the week after Monday the men begin work any time from 1 a. m. to 3 a. m. according to the time required in melting the glass, and they continue at work until the glass is completely worked out. I enjoyed the privilege of visiting the dormitory and saw the beds, bathrooms, dining-room, and everything seemed to be kept in a very sanitary manner. This system of work amazed me, as I realized the great disadvantage in which it placed the men and their families, but in conversation with the men I found they did not mind it. The system prevailed so long that they considered it perfectly satisfactory, as it enabled them to spend their afternoons around the city and the early evening at home. There is only one shift at this factory, that which they term "day shift." I questioned the men about how they equalized affairs, as I concluded shops making heavy ware would work out the glass quicker than shops making light ware. They asserted that a greater number of shops making light ware were put in one pot and they worked faster, and in that manner nearly all of the shops engaged at that factory finished their day's work at about the same time. You will please understand that when the men finish their work Monday morning, or at noon time, as the case may be, they do not know exactly what hour they will commence on Tuesday morning, as that depends solely upon the time required to melt the glass. Yet that part was quite well arranged and seemed to work satisfactorily to all. Three-fourths of the men employed at this plant-about 350-are members of the union, and one-fourth are nonmembers. The total number of people employed by this firm on April 1, 1910, was 1,175. This means that eggs sell for 30 cents to 60 cents a dozen. Potatoes, according to quality... · 25 .do.... 25 .35 ..... 30 50 · 35 25 .do.... 25 .do.... .apiece.. .do.... per bushel.. - per pound.. 02.05 01.02 .do.... .48-1.56 .30- .50 .50-1.25 .05- .07 .26 HORSE AND DOG MEAT AND HUMOROUS COMPARISON. There is no secrecy regarding the fact that horse meat is eaten to some extent, and it sells from 10 to 12 cents a pound. A number of butcher shops advertise horseflesh for sale. According to official figures it is stated that 187,000 horses were slaughtered during the year 1908 for eating purposes, and lately people are consuming dog, as they seem to have a peculiar fancy that dog flesh is good food for certain ailments. In the official report for Chemnitz, for the year 1908, 580 dogs were killed, and during 1909, 597, and 1,157 horses. It is said that butter is a rare stitutes for it, there is no end. at 16 to 18 cents per pound. poorer districts. thing in the homes of many of the poor people. Of subThe most important is known as butter oil, which is sold There is also a great variety of margarines sold in the As a substitute for coffee, a mixture of coffee and chicory is used and sells for 20 to 25 cents a pound. PARAGRAPHS 97-98-GLASS AND GLASSWARE. QUARTERLY REPORT OF THE AMERICAN FLINT GLASS WORKERS' UNION OF MEMBERS EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYED FOR THE THREE MONTHS SEPT. 1-Nov. 30, 1912. Statement showing the number of members of each department in each local union, total membership, number of employed and unemployed, as far as reported. 1 Brooklyn.. 3 Alexandria. 4 Pittsburgh. 5 ..do.. 6 Marion. 7 Millville. 8 Steubenville. 122 120 35 43 52 10 216 20 3བ; 50 26 10 36 21 1 6 3 42 4 152 1:10 70 :: 32 Sandusky. 33 Shirley. 73 3 26 :88:2 33 64 24 24 46 Millville. 67 8 3 4 8 276 26 24 5 8 49 16 16 85 78 15 15 15 59 Moundsville. 60 Lancaster. 61 Dunbar. 62 Toledo.. 25 65 Bridgeville. 22. 38 38 66: PARAGRAPHS 97-98-GLASS AND GLASSWARE. Statement showing the number of members of each department in each local union, total membership, number of employed and unemployed, as far as reported—Continued. 218 3853 14 28 79 75 31,473 1,365 108 Grand total...2,011 2,045 1,053 767 644 593 476 514 393 60 136 67 46 148,819 8,010 809 |