164 Chicago Bureau of Public Efficiency 



receiving hoppers of the mixer. This operation has some ad- 

 vantages over the use of asphalt from barrels. 



The South Park Board has been making use of two mix- 

 ing plants on the same job, thus reducing their overhead ex- 

 pense for foremen, timekeepers, etc., per square yard of pave- 

 ment laid. 



Observation was made by the Bureau's engineers during 

 August, 1911, of the pavement then being laid by each Park Board. 

 Each Board was using the same type of asphalt mixing plant 

 and about the same auxiliary tools. The rates of labor wages 

 paid by each Board were practically the same and the number 

 of men in each gang was also about the same. The salaries of 

 the general foremen in the South, West and Lincoln Park 

 Boards were $140.00, $150.00 and $110.00 per month respect- 

 ively. Observations were made when the weather conditions 

 for each were nearly identical. The mixing machines were all 

 in running order. Moreover, to insure a fair comparison, the 

 stone, sand and asphalt were all considered delivered on the 

 street in close proximity to the mixing plant. 



The amount of pavement laid during the period of observa- 

 tion and cost of labor incident thereto were as follows : 



Square Yards 



of Pavement Total Labor Cost per 



per Day. Cost. Sq. Yard. 



West Chicago 883 $95.85 $.1108 



Lincoln 986 100.77 .1022 



South 2,312 199.55 .0863 



The relative efficiency of the paving gangs is reflected in 

 the above table. If the South Park gangs worked separately, 

 instead of in pairs, it would increase the overhead expense. The 

 cost per square yard under such conditions for each gang would 

 be $.0976, which is also lower than the cost of the West and 

 Lincoln Park tests. 



It was noticeable that there was much lost time in the West 

 Park gang by reason of "horse play" among the men and a 

 general desire to sit down whenever possible. The foremen of 

 the Lincoln Park gang did not give sufficient attention to the 

 men, and consequently the latter shirked their work. One fore- 



