EXCELSIOR 431 



side of the machines. It is either moved by hand to the baling press or 

 carried on a belt conveyer directly to the press. 



Two men are usually employed to operate the press and weigh the 

 bales. They are then rolled on trucks directly into the freight car or to a 

 shed for storage. The minimum car load is usually 10 tons. From 100 

 to 125 bales weighing from 175 to 240 Ib. apiece make up the average 

 carload. 



Labor employed at an excelsior mill is entirely unskilled and, there- 

 fore, only comparatively low wages are paid. In the South the men 

 receive from $1.25 to $1.50 per day. In the North the prevailing wages 

 are from $1.50 to $2.50 per day. A ten-hour day is usually observed and 

 night shifts are used when the demand for the product justifies them. 



Depreciation and insurance charges are usually heavy. The former 

 is written off at the rate of about 10 per cent per annum. Owing to the 

 highly inflammable nature of the product and the generally cluttered con- 

 dition of the mills, the fire risk is rather high. Some companies pay 81.75 

 insurance per $100 valuation even when equipped with automatic 

 sprinklers. 



The following is an approximate estimate of daily labor and other 

 expenses incurred at a plant equipped with four 8-block horizontal 

 machines as manufactured by the Kline Co. of Alpena, Mich. This 

 plant will use between 20 and 24 cords of wood per day and turn out about 

 20 tons of common fine grade or mattress stock in ten hours. 



4 machine operators at $1.50 each $ 6.00 



2 balers at $1.50 3 .00 



2 helpers (boys) at $1.00. 2 .00 



2 tyers and weighers 3 . oo 



i sawyer to square blocks i . 50 



i assistant sawyer 1.25 



i assistant to pile bolts i . 25 



i grinder to sharpen knives and spurs 2 . oo 



i assistant to grinder i . 50 



i foreman to look after machinery 3 . oo 



i cart driver to bring in bolts i . 50 



i man to load cars or pile goods in warehouse .... i . 50 



i fireman and engineer 2 . 50 



fuel 7 . oo 



i general helper i . 50 



oil and repairs 2 . 50 



$41.00 



