Hemingray Glass Company - Muncie, Indiana

AMONG INDIANA FACTORIES.

Mr. Gauding Tells of Trade at Many

Places.

ALBANY, IND., Nov. 7. - The North Baltimore Bottle Glass Co. are rushing matters, the plant which consists of a large continuous tank and two day tanks, being operated to the fullest capacity and Supt. I. W. Richardson reports a very heavy demand. Twenty-eight shops are being employed, and judging from the expressions let drop by the men while we were making our rounds all are doing very well financially.

The firm have plenty of orders on hand and a steady season's run is anticipated. All the tanks are running in a satisfactory manner, and thus far the glass has been of a quality above the average. The plant, taken as a whole, is in much better shape than on any of our previous visits, and much credit is due to Mr. Richardson for the splendid system which characterizes his administration of the company's affairs. The mold shop is looked after by Thomas t. McCoy, the popular former Smoky City boy.

The Model Flint Glass Co. closed down on last Saturday to invoice the stock and material now on hand before being operated by the National Glass Co., which now owns the plant. They have been giving employment to nine press shops, and Manager Wm. F. Russell said they had plenty of orders booked. There are now sixteen good pots in the furnace. The stop will likely be a short one according to A. L. Strasberger, one of the leading members of the firm, who returned from Pittsburg last Saturday after a long conference with the members of the combine. The men at the Model have been faring very well lately in the matter of making good time and all are hoping that the factory will continue to operate steadily.

There are no mold makers here now except W. P. Parsons, the head of that department. The others left a short time ago for Gas City, Muncie, and Pittsburg where they secured situations. The Model have been running four shops steady on pressed syrups on which line an unusually heavy demand is reported.

At Daleville, Ind., the flask factory which is being operated by the Daleville Bottle Co., of which W. H. Cox is president; H. G. Hays, secretary and treasurer, and Flory Toms, manager, is giving employment to eight shops at present. The number will be increased to twelve as soon as possible.

As is the case in many places the management has been handicapped by a scarcity of small boys, but Messrs. Hays and Toms are now working on a scheme to do away with some of this labor, and they expect to have things in shape in the near future. Mr. Hayes is a well known former Bellaire, O., boy and Toms was at the head of the Millgrove venture before becoming connected with this company. We understand the new firm have plenty of business in sight, and they look forward to a successful season. The factory is operating on a union basis.

Ball Bros., at Muncie, put in a complete electric light system last week and it is hard to find a dark spot in any corner of the plant. Mr. Frank C. Ball informed us that they expected to operate the machinery in all the departments, outside the press and blow houses, with electricity. Improvements are being made here continually, and the plant is one of the most modern in the country. They are up-to-date here at all stages of the game. All the tanks are being operated in full.

At the Hemingray Glass Works a good business is reported and an especially heavy demand for lamps is noted. The usual force is being employed in the tableware department and eighteen shops are working on the two insulator tanks. This department is being pushed to the fullest capacity night and day.

Muncie glassworkers are showing commendable interest in the battle for a fair trial which is being fought by the Idaho miners. A demonstration was held a short time ago and after the parade President Boyce, of the Muncie Union, addressed the large audience which assembled. Local Unions Nos. 23 and 2 worked up the affair which was an unqualified success. The following committees had charge of the matter: No. 23 - Thos. Mocklar, James Burke, B. J. Grant, and Wm. Finan. No. 2 - Martin Joyce, W. Clark, John Clark, and George Cahill. Too much credit cannot be given these gentlemen for the splendid manner in which they discharged their duty. The success of the demonstration amply proved their ability. A handsome sum was realized for the relief of the imprisoned miners. All the influential officials of the state have been asked to use their influence to procure a fair trial for the miners and many have already returned favorable replies. There is no question that much good is being accomplished by the Muncie glass workers and they deserve all the praise that can be bestowed on them. They are hustlers from the word go.

The Skillen-Goodin Co., at Yorktown, are still operating nonunion. Eight shops, most of them apprentices, were working on flasks when the writer visited the works.

During a talk with J. W. Port, the well known Muncie fruit jar manufacturer, he informed us that his works would in all probability be in full operation by the end of this month. Mr. Port is considering putting in a number of machines. We understand he has conferred with his employees on the subject and that a definite understanding will soon be reached.

The Alexandria window glass factory made a start a few days ago and the men are now buckling down to work in earnest.

Quite a number of boys from New York and New Jersey are working at the North Baltimore Glass Works this season.

Harry M. Nash left Albany for his home at Clayton, N. J., last Saturday having received a telegram informing him of the serious illness of his mother.

Thos. Fennell, formerly of Milwaukee; E. Morton, Newark, O.; Joseph Hussk, Louisville, Ky.; F. Doughty, Millville, N. J.; and Messrs. Ed Murphy and A. Gilmartin, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., are at the above plant this season. S. Ramsey and Thos. VanDeusen, who spent their vacations at Ellenville, N. Y., are also on the North Baltimore Co.'s roster.

A.C. Spear, of the above works, is making a great reputation as a marksman these days. It is said he fired 16 shots at a rabbit last week and never touched him.

Among our friends working at the Flint this season we noticed J. Elliott, Chris Braun, W. Flannery, Anthony Tighe, Richard Matthews, and J. E. Hill. - Thos. Robinson and Elmer Muhleman, former Ohio Valley boys, are still finishing at the Model and Leonard Strichel is holding his old position pulling the leaver. Mr. Strichel, John J. Allen, and P. H. English (the last two of the Muncie Flint) have been getting THE COMMONER AND GLASSWORKER for about 18 years.

John Bushor and Jess O'Neill are in Hemingray's mold shop and Chas. Hawk has charge of the blacksmith shop. Wm. Graves holds a similar position at the North Baltimore works.

Oliver Hickebottom, Geo. Roberts, Thos. J. Conway, John Bacman, T. J. McElherron, and Wm. Labay are popular former Ohio Valley boys now at Hemingray's. J. C. Prevost, Ott Palmer, Fred Wehle, John Oliver, and John Williams are gathering in the insulator department at this plant.

John Staab, formerly of Hyde Park, Pa., the three Estlow boys from Millville, N. J., and the Spillane boys of Clyde, N. Y., are at the Muncie Flint.

Aug. Schuh, Bert Weir, and John Rigby from a fast express shop on catsups at the old Nelson plant in Muncie. John Layburger, the well-known former Pittsburger, is also holding a place at this factory.

Patrick Harkins, the former Butler, Pa., boy, who was off some time on account of an attack of rheumatism, is again on duty and occasionally entertains the boys with his jolly singing. His side partner, Maurice Collins, is getting quite a reputation as an agriculturist and can often be seen driving down town on his buckboard behind his prancing plow horse. He is raising an immense number of chickens and Paddy says he expects to entertain all the traveling flints in fine shape when they give him a call. They'll get chicken for breakfast, dinner, and supper at Maurice's, according to Harkins.

Alf Paul, the hustling Bellaire, O., bottle blower, is with the Muncie Flint people this season.

W. J. Sheanan, the popular former flint executive officer, who is now in business in Albany, was one of the sports who took in the Columbia Shamrock yacht races and reports a very warm trip.

Prof. J. W. Schofield, of Martin's Ferry, O., father of P. W. Schofield, the well known head of the Standard Co-operative Glass Works at Marion, is training a chorus of 60 voices and will put on the beautiful cantata "Queen Esther" in a number of Ohio Valley towns during the holidays. His attraction has been booked at Martin's Ferry on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 and 2. The Professor's well known ability as a director insures a thoroughly up-to-date presentation and crowded houses will doubtless be the rule wherever the cantata is presented. A double chorus of children, 40 in number, will be used in the production.

John B. Pieiffer, the genial and talented Streator bottle blower, took part in a theatrical performance in that city a short time ago and delighted the audience with his neat song and dance turn besides doing several other specialties. "A Father's Curse," a drama in four acts was rendered. The cast included a number of glassworkers, including the Becker brothers.

Thos. Kenny, the popular Marion chimney worker and executive officer, stole a march on his friends this week, leading Miss Lulu Soutler, the accomplished daughter of August Soutler, the well known veteran of L. A. 300, to the altar at Elwood, Ind., yesterday morning. The ceremony took place at St. Paul's Cathedral at Elwood. Mr. Kenny's many friends in the trade will join us in wishing him and his bride many years of unlimited happiness.

A strike that was of very short duration occurred at the Lippincott Glass Works at Alexandria on the first turn this (Tuesday) morning. There was some question about furnishing the men with suitable irons to make six-ounce chimneys on and the matter was satisfactorily adjusted after losing a turn on each shift. We understand the afternoon shift is working as usual.

Below we give a clipping from the Alexandria Times anent the introduction of females in the blowing department of glass factories. It effects the sentiment of most of the gas belt editors. As we noted in a previous issue the sentiment among the workers is decidedly against the employment of girls in this part of the factory:

"The glass factory is no place for the wage earning girl. Her influence upon the workmen might be good, but the surroundings could not and assuredly would not benefit her. That many girls and young women must earn a living is admitted. That every chance should be given to earn it honestly is true. But keep the girl out of the glass factory. The unnatural heat, the nature of the labor, and every other feature of the position must prove demoralizing."

"The men who face the furnace can not remain clothed with comfort. Girls who seek employment in the terrible heat of the glass house most certainly could not so labor and wear the raiment that is fitting modesty should wear. The future of the girl and young woman must be taken into account, and the child of the future cannot be ignored. It is a big question of social importance. It involves many principles that are as old as the social order. The boy must continue at the glass factory. It is no place for the girl. She is to be a wife, a mother, a teacher of babes and it is not right that she should be encouraged to place herself in a position to disqualify herself utterly for all that is best and most desired by the healthy young woman. The man who employs the girl in the glass house robs her of health, though he pays her fair wages for her work; he takes from her the bloom and gives her recklessness; he will employ modesty and discharge flippant immodesty. There is only one ending, as the people see it, for the young woman who takes boy's work in a glass factory. She may influence a few men for good, but she must face her own undoing." - H. W. GAUDING.