13
N ew Ideas and Improved Methods
By FLOYD QUERY
PATCHING COSTS: During the war
years as everyone knows, the labor
shortage was acute. This shortage af
fected state departments as well as in
dustry, and, as in industry, forced the
adoption of new methods.
The State operates several paving
crews whose function it is to patch
highway surfaces. Prior to the war the
rock used by these crews had been
moved from the stock pile to the plant
by wheelbarrow. However, with most
of the young men in the armed forces,
competent labor to do this type of
work became unavailable. Tractor load
ers were secured to move the material,
but to use the loaders it was necessary
to make changes in the plants.
Several of the paving foremen exper
imented with various devices with
varying success. Their ideas and others
were put together with the result that
hoppers and power skips were installed
on the older plants. John Harnsberger
and his crew in the blacksmith shop
contributed a great deal in the con
struction of the attachments and in
working out the "bugs.” These plants
have now been in operation two years
and the cost figures demonstrate the
value of the various ideas submitted by
State employees.
Mixing cost in 1943 with the old
methods was $1.64 per ton, in 1944,
using loaders and skips it was reduced
to $1.56, and again in 1945, using the
same equipment, was further reduced
to $1.51. This trend it should be noted
is downward during a period when
most other costs were increasing. The
plants with the new equipment laid
over 100,000 tons in the two years.
MAGNET OPERATION: The State
Highway Department operates a truck
equipped with a power operated magnet
to pick up nails and other metal objects
on highways which might puncture
tires. During the war when tire con
servation was an item of major import
ance, it was necessary that the magnet
be operated as continuously as possible.
Difficulty was experienced, however,
in securing two men who had the
proper qualifications who could work
together, and who would stay on the
job for any length of time.
Late in 1944, at the instigation of
the Maintenance Engineer, E. A. Col
lier, and using suggestions offered by
I. A. DeFrance, Office Engineer; Leo
Ordway, Magnet Operator; E. F. Halik,
Master Mechanic; and others whose
names are unknown, revisions were
made to the magnet operating mechan
ism so that one man could operate both
the truck and the magnet. The revised
set up proved to be successful in opera
tion and after being in use a year, it is
possible to determine the savings in dol
lars and cents.
In 1943 the cost of operation over
6000 miles of state highways was $1.18
per mile with the old arrangement. In
1945 the cost was reduced, by use of
the suggestions offered, to $0.86 per
mile. This means an actual saving of
$0.32 per mile, or approximately $1920
in a year.
NEW OFFICE HOURS FOR STATE
EMPLOYEES CREDIT UNION
For the convenience of state em
ployees, the State Employees Credit
Union announces that until further
notice office hours will be from the
4th to 10th day of each month, ex
clusive of Saturdays, Sundays and holi
days, from 12 to 1 at room 518 and
from 5 to 5:45 at room 206, State
Office Building.
Any state employee desiring appoint
ments may call W. J. P. Farrell, Treas
urer, at 4171, ext. 303.