MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.

I have had my orders from the club to get busy again and like a good soldier I obey.

No, Brother Macalister, the ladies of the club did not lose their grip, but we had an awful time keeping our "other halves" (not better) from losing theirs (during the holidays). No, indeed, lose our grip? Yours truly kept the grippe she got for five long, weary weeks.

The Elevator Constructor is certainly some magazine. It is much more attractive in appearance than formerly and also in composition, and the International is to be complimented on its editor.

While visiting in Chicago just before the holidays I called at the office of Local No. 2, but was unfortunate enough to find Mr. Snow out of town, and his substitute out to lunch, but anyway I had a short pleasant chat with some of the members of No. 2, but did not get their names.

The Women's Club celebrated their fifth anniversary on Monday, February 14, 1916. They met at the home of Mrs. Alrick Carlson, 2804 Bloomington Avenue, where they partook of a bountiful noonday dinner, each member contributing some part of the menu. After dinner games were in order, each member contributing a game and giving two prizes a first prize and a consolation prize. The secretary's mother, Mrs. M. J. Wisehart, who is visiting here, gave each of the club members a string of China berry beads, which she had gathered in Florida.

The games and the fun took up nearly all the afternoon, but still we had to have our afternoon cake and coffee. We certainly had a royal time. All members were present.

The club surprised Mrs. Wisehart at the secretary's house with a party and lunch February 21st, in honor of her seventy-seventh birthday and presented her with a beautiful leather handbag.

It was also a surprise on the secretary, although that was not on the program and she did not get a handbag either.

But she certainly received a beautiful plate from the club for Christmas, as did the president and treasurer also.

Now you see why I haven't had time to write.

There is one time when some of the members of Local No. 9 have to wait for their evening meal and that's on club day. But we should worry.

Mr. Editor, tell Mr. Macalister for me that he writes some good articles in the journal, and I don't see why he doesn't get busy and organize Club No. 2. He seems to be the only elevator constructor interested. (Oh, yes, I know there are others, but they are bashful.)

It is late for New Year's greeting, but better late than never, so I am closing with best wishes for the new year to the Constructor and all its readers from the club.

MRS. F. PIERCE, Secretary,
Lady Elevator Constructors.

BOSTON

The supply of labor is increased with the growth of population, and to this there is no limit save the means of subsistence. Fear has been expressed that the growth of population may outrun the means of subsistence. At the present time nothing more in the way of restraint to population seems necessary in the United States than to keep from our shores the lowest classes of foreigners and to exercise in contracting

marriage that prudence which has long characterized the really best classes of American society. Nevertheless, it must be admitted that by no human possibility can population long continue to increase in the United States as it has done in the past, for in a comparatively short period there would not be standing room on the surface of the earth for all the people. It is said that our population is now doubling in less than twenty-five years. Let us suppose it is now one hundred millions and that it doubles once in twentyfive years. How terrible a thing a geometrical progression is has been shown more clearly still. Let us suppose that there are only two people on the fact of the earth, and that population doubles only once in fifty years. At the expiration of three thousand years the whole surface of the earth, land and sea would be covered with people piled one on top of the other. Manifestly the present rapid rate of increase of population cannot continue forever, yet it does not cause great uneasiness. It has been urged by some that as man develops more highly, his fecundity will decrease and the growth of population will become slower. Others think that prudential and moral restraints will be ample to prevent an undue increase of population. The chief cause for anxiety is this:

For some reason or another it seems to be more difficult for a large population to live peaceably together under present industrial conditions than for a small one, and there is ground for the anticipation that the growth of population will test the worthiness of our civilization to endure, as other causes have tested older civilizations. We may be sure that if there is a moral governor of the universe, modern nations, like ancient nations, will be called upon to show their fitness to survive. Every time the sun rises it looks upon a larger population than ever before in the United States, and consequently upon a more complex industrial civilization. A force mighty, and it al

The tide appears to have changed and we are about to start on a season which promises to be very successful. This will be greatly appreciated by our men, especially those who have been idle practically all winter.

Some years ago a mechanic who worked for a firm which has been absorbed by the Otis Elevator Company, on his return to this city, after having completed a job, was requested to make out an itemized account of his expenses. Here was his answer:

"When I left Philadelphia I had so much of my own money in my coat pocket. I had so much money belonging to the company in my pocketbook, and now it is all spent."

This is about the condition most of us find ourselves in. We get so much, on pay day, and we are fortunate if we have any spare change when the next pay day comes around.

It is hard to answer Brother Dunn's question without taking a lot of time and space.

The elevator constructor is fortunate if he has ten months' work in the year. Then the cost of living varies in different localities. In West Philadelphia rent, provisions, in fact everything is more expensive than in Southwark. Then in Germantown and Frankford it costs still more.

About fifty of our members, some mechanics and some helpers, have given me their estimate for their table alone for an average family of five, $10 per week. Add to this your rent, average at $16 per month, coal,

gas, clothing, lodges, insurance, car fare, medicine; of course we need shoes and your better half must have at least one new hat at Easter, and so must you, and then a thousand and one incidentals. One of the kiddies will be imitating Home-Run Baker, but instead of knocking the ball out of the lot he will perhaps drive it through a pane of glass, which price is $1.

as

All the large department stores in this city, with only one exception, employ members of our union maintenance men. The largest being the Wanamaker store, where, including the store, warehouse, garage and laundry, they have over 100 machines and employ a large force of our men at union rate and hours. This is considered one of the best jobs in Philadelphia. The Curtis Publishing Company's plant of sixteen electrics, which is looked after by our men, is one of the places where prospective customers are taken to see some of the latest and best equipped machines in the city.

The Otis Elevator Company has three inspectors, also members of our union, who inspect and keep in running order a large number of machines where they have no occasion for an engineer. Ten of our members are connected with the City Bureau of Elevator Inspection, so you can see that practical elevator mechanics are a factor in maintaining the high standard of efficiency and safety in this city.

Already the writer has heard of five men who are candidates for election as delegates to our next convention at Washington, D. C. Of course we expect to be there, and the committee will not be disappointed.

There is one article in the Baltimore and Pittsburgh agreements which has something on Philadelphia, that is, a mechanic must have a helper on every job.

If we had that in our agreement, none of our helpers would be idle.

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.

I hardly think it necessary for me to preface my remarks or correspondence to the Journal by an introduction as correspondent from No. 8, International Union of Elevator Constructors, as many of the readers of the Journal have often heard from the Golden Gate through the same source.

I met with a very painful accident the 14th of February, which broke the small bone of the leg and as you can readily understand I will have plenty of time to write for the Journal, play cribbage, smoke the pipe, or any other household amusements that do not require any physical exertion. The break, while not serious, is very painful, and will no doubt keep me from active duty for two months.

While remarking on this accident. I wish to make the statement that too much credit cannot be given to Lieutenant Quedens for his coolness in freeing me from the position in which I was caught, by replacing a blown fuse with his screw driver.

While enjoying the position of being the pet of the household during repairs, I'll have plenty of time for retrospection, observation of the present and contemplation of the future. Looking back to the time I was carried out of the building my heart fills with pride to think so many of our membership were so solicitous of my welfare and take this means of thanking them, one and all.

In past writings I have spoken of the fraternity that comes from long associations as fellow-workers and the pleasant or otherwise happenings of years gone by. Such a one amused me as related by Bro. J. Grierson the the other night "when we nearly burned an apartment house down by setting fire to a can of gasoline." This story and many others have helped me to forget pains in my leg as they were related by the boys while calling.

Observations of the existing laws of the State of California, of the ex

isting laws of the local and of the personal offerings of help have given me reasons for thinking the world is getting better and the time has arrived when workingmen are protected whether they will or not. Liability laws of the State, the benefit laws of No. 8, and the big heartedness of the boys are self-evident facts to the otherwise unprotected.

I do not wish to discourage joining fraternal societies (I belong to two), but I do wish to give praise to the kind of laws (made by union legislators) and union laws of No. 8, that make protection obligatory on the part of both the employe and the employer.

In contemplation of the future of Golden Gate City I am optimistic. Considering the advertisement of the 1915 exposition year and the geographical situation of San Francisco it is hardly possible that capital will lie dormant and hibernate. Rather I believe that the era of prosperity is near at hand and vaults of the overstocked banks will open and money long hoarded will be invested in the further reconstruction of our city.

The fire restrictions placed on buildings in certain sections of the city have been the cause of retaining many and many a lot or even a block in the same state it was left after the fire of 1906, and has been the cause of much outlying investments in factory sites, but this will soon be overcome by economical regulation.

Local No. 8 news will no doubt interest many of the readers of this article, so I will condense the "report."

Bro. C. S. Applegate is in Seattle, also J. E. Dinwiddie.

Bro. J. Buckley has forgotten his old friend Larson, and is staying in San Francisco.

Bros. F. A. Buckley and Geo. Wolf are in Fresno.

Bro. Z. Carlyon goes to Honolulu this week for Otis Company.

Brother Grimes did not go on the police force, but Bro. C. Johnson is leading him over an inspection route for the Otis Company.

Brother Hibbard is now a resident of Stockton. "Rabbits and sidewalk elevators is his hobby."

T. C. Hall quit the elevator business and is in Honolulu for an electric firm.

S. L. Johnson has become a seafaring man as marine engineer.

Inspector James, of Sausileta, is a member of the repair department of Superintendent Geo. Walkmiester, late of No. 8, International Union of Elevator Constructors, for Otis Company.

C. Leatham is solicitor for Otis. Bro. S. J. Magor went back to the old elevator farm in Grass Valley.

A. B. Moon and Brother Stem are with insurance companies, traveling over the State.

Our German friend, Bro. Ed. Maring, is still financial secretary.

C. W. Pierce has quit the game. Bro. A. Wilson is arranging for a trip to the mountains in his new car. C. G. Wells is in San Diego for the Otis Company.

Bros. Ed. Phillips and V. S. Pozzo were sold with the Van Emon Company, and Bro. Ed. Owens thrown in for good measure. Note, I am not responsible for this, as the news was imparted to me by Brother Larkin.

Brothers Archer, Long, Sauder, Mitchell, Armstrong and Carlin are working across the bay in Oakland.

Brothers Sealock and Grimm are fast becoming rich in the inspection game.

Bro. M. Took, "Our Vocalist," is with the Spencer Elevator Company. So is our worthy Brother McAllister. He is on inspection.

C. Cartwright and J. P. Washington have quit the game.

Bro. Robert Traynor is an active member and working on inspection with Brother Hanbridge.

Those who have passed beyond the great divide in the past few years are Bros. Wm. Smith, Tim Buckley, O. Whaley, F. A. Macomber and Frank McMillan.

One hundred and thirty-nine members is the last roll call of No. 8. Meetings are well attended as a gen

eral rule and we do not agree by a long shot when we do meet, but neither does his honor, Wm. Jennings Bryan, or the President, and none of us have the dome to spout in a fili

buster for more than an hour at a time, so we generally get home before it is time to start to work again. No. 8. ED. POOLE.

CINCINNATI, O.

I suppose it will be surprising to receive a few words for insertion in the journal from the Queen City of the West, and Local No. 11; as I have been called upon to perform this painful operation, and it being the first time, I sincerely hope that the readers will rally after same.

Local No. 11 is enjoying comparatively steady employment with but a few brothers out of work. The Otis Elevator Company have several good jobs under way here. The Warner Company also are getting their share of the work, and the J. J. Cox Company just completed the installation of three elevators in a ten-story building here for the Kaistner & Hecht Company, of Chicago.

Brother Ball, of Local No. 2, and Brother Newman, of Local No. 17, are here with us. No. 11.

W. H. BRANGAN.

SEATTLE, WASH.

Well Seattle has broken another record. It has experienced the longest and coldest spell of weather recorded since Noah sailed in his little ark on the placid waters of Puget Sound. It snowed a part of each day from December 31st until February 1st, and totaled a snowfall of fortyeight inches. There was coasting and skating almost six weeks, something unheard of for this part of the country. It is such an unusual thing in Seattle that no one was prepared for it and so the damage to property was very great, but it certainly helped out all the unemployed, as there was a great demand for snow shovelers. Of course, it tied up all elevator

work, as no one could get material delivered. Street cars were blocked, some of them on the main streets of the city, and rich and poor had to. walk to town.

Several of the brothers of Local No. 19 live out here at a suburb called Green Lake, about six miles. from the shop. Well, Bro. Charley Stokes came into the shop one morning all out of breath and face all red. Brother Darnell asks him what was the matter with him and Charley said. there was a man driving his team to town and he told me if I would push the wagon up hill, why he would let me ride to town. Well, every one knows that Seattle is one d-d hill after another.

And then Brother Thurman had the bunch out in the alley throwing snow balls. He said he was getting them all limbered up for the baseball season, which will begin about June. Then there was our old comrade, Bill Cox, who is now on the police force. He had to walk in to the station one day, about an eight-mile hike, and when he went to his beat he felt so bad he went to a hotel and got a room and called up police station. They sent up a doctor and doctor says Brother Cox was only exhausted. But Bill thought he was sick.

Well, all the boys are working at present and local No. 19 turned out another helper into a mechanic, Bro. Jim Stokes, who has joined the Wright Elevator Company. Brother Jim, we sure wish you luck.

Well, business along the building lines is beginning to look a bit better now. The bad weather held everything back considerable, but we look for the best. No. 19.

JOE MCLEOD.

COLUMBUS, O.

Business has been very good for the boys here this winter so far. None are idle so far as I know, unless because of sickness. The fellows all seem happy and are glad that they are getting some of the pros