12 



the seaward staith. Here a new shipping staith with 

 a set of chutes to serve all stages of the tide will be 

 erected almost immediately, as a large force of men 

 has been recently engaged to carry out the work, and 

 the completion of this extensive structure will enable 

 the loading of coal into two hatches of the large 

 freighting steamers at the same time, and will also 

 admit of two gangs of coal "trimmers" working, 

 where now, only one can be usefullly engaged at 

 trimming in the ship's hold. The Nanaimo Free Press 

 of March 2, 1898, states: 'The first vessel to load at 

 the enlarged dock of the New Vancouver Coal Com- 

 pany was the steamer Burma, which yesterday even- 

 ing completed her cargo of 4,600 tons of coal. The 

 Burma arrived at 7 o'clock on Monday evening, and 

 at five o'clock last evening had completed her cargo 

 in the reduced time of twenty-two hours. The best 

 previous record had been twenty-eight hours. It is 

 stated that as soon as all the contemplated improve- 

 ments are completed, the time of loading will be re- 

 duced to twelve, if not ten hours." 



After about 1,500 tons, more or less, according to 

 the size of the vessel, has been put on board, it is ne- 

 cessary to trim, or shovel, the coal that is subse- 

 quently put on board, into spaces of the hold, where 

 it will not find its way by gravity, and this service is 

 performed by a body of stevedores who are hired and 

 paid by the hour a liberal wage for an exceedingly la- 

 borious task these men have formed themselves into a 

 "union" which has hitherto worked satisfactorily, and 

 the rapid trimming of vessels at the company's 

 wharves has long gone on without a hitch, which is 

 so far creditable to their "unionism." Apropos of 

 union organization, the workmen in the employ of 

 the New Vancouver Coal Mining and Land Com- 

 pany, Limited, are organized and regulated according 

 ing- to trade union principles the miners and mine 

 labourers have their "Protective Association" and the 

 artizans have their "Club," and for years no serious 

 disagreement has occurred between the company, as 

 represented by Mr. Robins, and the large number of 

 employees under his governance, nor is there any 

 symptom of future difficulty likely to disturb the har- 



