2 57] MACHINERY 125 



The actual amount of displacement occasioned by the 

 new appliances varied with the size of the plant and the 

 extent of the improvements made. In some cases, the 

 number of workmen thrown out of employment was large. 

 For example, in 1885, improved machinery was installed in 

 the Edgar Thomson Steel Works, Braddock, Pennsylvania. 

 The company immediately decided to run double turn, of 

 twelve hours each, instead of the three eight-hour shifts. 

 On the heating furnaces, at which 23 men per turn, or 69 

 men on the three turns, were formerly employed, 6 men 

 per turn or 12 men on double turn were required — a dis- 

 placement of 57 men on the furnaces. On the rail-mill 

 train, 21 men were required for each turn, or 63 men for 

 the three turns ; to operate the improved train, only 6 men 

 per turn, or 12 men in all, were necessary — thus displacing 

 51 men on the rail train. By putting the blooming and nail 

 mills on double turn, there was a labor-saving of 62 chargers, 

 helpers and others workmen. Consequently, in the bloom- 

 ing and nail mills alone, there was a displacement of 170 

 men. By introducing the two-turn system in the convert- 

 ing and blast-furnace departments, it was estimated 300 

 men were obliged to find employment elsewhere.^ 



The effect of the improved methods of operation was not 

 only a reduction of the number employed but also a change 

 in the piece rates of those workmen who were retained. 

 Since uniform scales for steel mills were impracticable, 

 special agreements were drawn up for individual plants. 

 The problem of machinery was likewise a disturbing fea- 

 ture at the annual conference between the union and the 



3 National Labor Tribune, February 7, 1885, p. 4, col. i. For the 

 reduction of wages occasioned, see ibid., February 14. 1885, p. 4. col. 

 2. For a description of this mammoth automatic rail train, see ibid., 

 October 13, 1888, p. 4, col. 3. The immediate effect of the new 

 machinery was the dissolution of two local unions at Braddock 

 (ibid., March 14, 1885). For other instances of Kreat displacement 

 of skilled men due to the introduction of machinery, e.g., in the 

 manufacture of iron and steel bolts, nuts, rivets, washers, chains, 

 forgings, and wrought iron pipe, see Thirteenth Report of the United 

 States Commissioner of Labor, i8t>8, vol. i, pp. -'91-296. 



