Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 November 1889 — WHAT INVENTION HAS DONE. [ARTICLE]

WHAT INVENTION HAS DONE.

In the manufacture of boots and shoes the work of 500 operatives is now done by 100. In the manufacture of flour modem improvements save 75 per cent, of the manual labor that once was necessary. A carpet measuring and brushing machine with one operator will do the work of fifteen men by the old methods. In making tin cans one man and a boy with modern appliances can do the work of ten workers by the old process. In leather manufacture modern methods have reduced the necessary number of workers from 75 to 50 per cent. One boy by machinery in turning woodwork and materials for musical 1 l instruments performs the work of twenty-five men by the old methods. The horse power of steam used in the United States on railways, steam*! ers, and in factories and mines was in ISBB, 12,100,000, against 1,500,000 in' 1850. In nailing on shoe heels one worker and a boy with machinery can heel 300, pairs of shoes per day. It would re-, quire five workers to do the same by hand. In the manufacture of brick improved devices save one-tenth of the labor, aud in the manufacturing of fire brick 40 per cent, of the manual labor is displaced, In stave-dressing twelve colaborers with a machine can dress I2 ( 000 staves in the same time that the sqme number of workers by hand could dress 2,500 staves. In the manufacture of carriagss it used to take one man thirty-five days to make a carriage. It is now made by the aid of machinery with the work of one man in twelve days.