Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1905 — LABOR NOTES [ARTICLE]

LABOR NOTES

Tlie world’s largest dredger Is now docked at Liverpool. It is 200 feet long, and can raise 1,000 tous of hard material an hour. In 19tM the free delivery mall carrier system of the United States employed 20,761 persons iu towns and cities nnd 24,566 on rural routes. First-class masters in the Steel trust fleet, who have signed for 1905, will receive $1,980 per annum us salary. Most of the old mates will be re-engaged. A fir tree was cut in Oregon recently which made nine sawings averaging fourteen feet iu length, scaling 21,483 feet board measure. Tlie product of this one tree will net more than SI,OOO. Chinese capitalists have engaged a number of German engineers to assist them In the establishment of n lnrge glass manufacturing plant in the northwestern part of the province of Hwang Su. 4 During the past twelve years the 100 principal British trade unions have expended approximately $90,000,000, of which amount $21,000,000, or over 22 per cent, has been spent on unemployed benefits. About 1,000,000 telegrams sent over tlie world’s wires daily. In 1903 the total was 384,848,474. England sent 92,471,000. United Stntes was second, with 01,391,000. Germany, Russia, Austria, Belgium nnd Italy followed in the order named. The lifting of massive iron and steel plates, weighing four, six nnd twelve tons, by magnetism is now done every workday in a number of lnrge steel works. The mugof-ts are suspended by chains from craucs, nnd pick up the plates by simple contact and without the loss of time consequent to tlie adjustment of chain and hooks in the older method. It is also found that the metal plates can be lifted by the magnets while still so hot that it would be impossible for the men to handle them. A magnet weigliiug 300 pounds will lift nearly five tous.