Opr # 316
Friday Jan 23-1920
Special Work
While on my way to the plant this morning I met workman 
Pharr of the machine shop, during the course of our conversation he 
told me that he heard some of the machinists say that most of the 
machinery was in very bad shape in the plant, and that was the 
reason for so much repairing being done constantly and if it 
was thoroughly gone over before it broke down completely then t
he firm would save money, both in repairs and time.  Further 
remarked that he had seen a lot of hanging around in the 
different departments and heard a lot of talk between the fellows
that they were not satisfied with the working conditions, I 
asked him in what respect, and he said the wages were too 
small and the hours too long.  Here I said as long as the firm 
is paying by the help by the hour there should be no dissatisfac-
tion.  This ended the subject.

Arrived at the plant at 6-45 AM changed into my 
working clothes and hung around with the fellows in the 
machine shop, nothing of intent was said.

7-AM the whistle blows and work was started, I went 
to the Boiler room as did Helper Morrow, later the mechanic 
showed up who is doing the repairs in the engine.  After, 
we had worked together for a few hours, the mechanic complained 
to the Machine Shop foreman that he did not want Morrow 
around him as he was too ignorant and careless, and 
absolutely knew nothing and was not a safe man to have 
around the plant. I heard Bevil the Foreman tell this 
mechanic that he knows this fellow was no good and 
he could hardly get anything out of him.  Why have a man of 
this kind on the payroll and around machinery where he 
makes it dangerous for himself and those he is working with.
machinist Price was then assigned to work with us, this man 
is a very good conscientious hard working fellow, and knows 
his business.  Garrison and Price engaged in a conversation in 
which a Mr. Fowler the former mechanic's home was mentioned 
they both agreed that if a man similar to Fowler could be 
procured in place of Watkins the machinery would 
be in far better condition and the help throughout the 
mill would be more pleased, as it seems nobody has any use 
for Mr. Watkins.  Since I have been in this plant I have not 
heard a single workman say a good word about this man.

About 11-45 AM I noticed a crowd of colored help 
and a few white people standing at the main entrance gate, I 
assumed they were waiting for the 12 o'clock whistle to blow.

At noon I had lunch with Price, Godfrey, Gremli and 
Roach, there fellows seemed to think that Bevil foreman of 
the machine shop done too much chasing around the plant 
and did not spend enough time in the machine shop, which 
was a loss of time to the firm in the fellows having 
to stand around waiting for orders.

Upon returning to the Plant I hung around the carpenter 
shop with some of the Carpenters, they claimed that they were 
always busy as there was only a few of them and for that reason 
never had a chance to kill any time, I took particular notice 
that there was not a single electric light burning during the
lunch hours in the carpenter shop.

During the morning and afternoon both the safety 
valves were popping off in the boiler room about the 
same as yesterday and Price remarked that the Fireman had 
no respect for expenses or they would not shovel a [...] 
of coal in the boilers at any time.
I heard a conversation relative to somebody almost being hit 
by me of the elevators during the morning.  They stick their 
head under the gate or through a hole in one of the gates 
and the elevator was within a foot of striking them on 
the head.  I would suggest that cloth signs be printed 
prohibiting any body from raising the gates or touching any 
of the apparatus belonging to any of the elevators and have 
those signs tacked on all gates as a precaution to all employees.

During the afternoon Gibbs the timekeeper in the 
machine shop told me that I had been credited by the cash 
clerk from the office with having made four wheel-
barrows in a half day, I told him that was wrong as I 
had only assembled them, they were all in parts, he said 
he knew that but the office had made it appear in their 
books that I had made them in the machine shop.

The service is very bad in the stockroom where supplies 
are kept for the machine shop, considerable tome is lost there 
in having to wait until some one arrives to wait on you, and 
then they are very slow in getting you what your order calls for.

I returned to the Machine shop at 5-35-PM and in a 
few minutes Bevil left to wash up, the men began washing 
up in Ceil and about 5-50 some of them started out of the 
shop for the washroom and when the whistle blew at 6PM 
not a man was in the shop.  

After washing up, I left the plant, nothing more of 
interest was seen or heard and I discontinued.