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U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
CHAS. P. NEILL, Commissioner
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES ) , . . / W H O L E 1 1
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS )
iNUMBER 1 1 V
WOMEN
IN
INDUSTRY
SERIES;
No .
2
WORKING HOURS OF WOMEN
IN THE PEA CANNERIES
OF WISCONSIN
MAT 5, 1913
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1913
CONTENTS.
Working hours of women in the pea canneries of Wisconsin:
page.
Introduction and summary.....................................................................
5-8
Sources of information............................................................................
8,9
Occupations of women in pea canning..................................................... 9,10
Reasons for haste in the canning of peas..................................................
11
Conditions of special importance as related to congestion and hours of labor
in pea canning.................................................................................... 11,12
Possibility of harvest control and reduction of congestion by study of
weather conditions, soil selection, etc.................................................. 13,14
Working capacity of a “ line” of pea-canning machinery.......................... 14,15
Planting in relation to working capacity of equipment............................. 15-18
Usefulness of records to determine acreage which may safely be carried___18-20
Opinions of canners as to acreage which may safely be carried................. 20,21
Relation of acreage and working hours....................................................
22
Distribution of plantings as a means of controlling harvestings................. 22-25
Shortness of harvesting season in relation to congestion............................25-27
Proportion of days when working hours exceeded 10................................ 27,28
Losses due to congestion......................................................................... 29-31
Labor supply and possibilities of employing a second shift.......................32-43
Canners reporting shortage of both male and female help................... 34,35
Canners reporting shortage of female help only.................................. 35,36
Canners reporting shortage due to low wages or working conditions---- 36-40
Cost of female labor per can of peas.................................................40-43
Emergency equipment........................................................................... 43,44
Opinions of canners as to restriction of working hours...............................44-46
Working hours in canneries in the absence of restrictions......................... 46-49
Continuous working hours according to statements of canners............ 46,47
Working hours as shown by pay rolls................................................ 47-49
Concluding summary.............................................................................. 49,50
BULLETIN OF THE
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
WHOLE NO. 119.
WASHINGTON.
MAYS, 1913.
WORKING HOURS OF WOMEN IN THE PEA CAN
NERIES OF WISCONSIN.
BY MARIE L. OBENAUER.1
INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY.
The purpose of this study was to discover the relation between the
problems of pea-cannery administration as presented in Wisconsin *
and the working hours of women employed in the pea canneries of
that State. It is a matter both of record and of common knowledge
that the distinguishing features of all fruit and vegetable canning are
the shortness of the season and the violent and extreme fluctuation
of the working hours.
The contention of the canners is that these conditions are due to
the uncertainty of the weather and the high perishability of the
product; that because the weather is not subject to control, and
because of the greater perishability of fruit and vegetables over
other products, no restrictions can be placed on the working hours
of cannery employees without doing serious injury to the canning
industry.
It is plain that steady working hours would be much more advan
tageous to the canner than the present extremely irregular hours, for
uncertain hours of work when a piece or hourly rate of pay prevails
are a distinct handicap in the competition for labor. It is equally
plain, however, that when a factory is congested with perishable
product the most obvious solution is to keep the force at work until
the goods are safe; that alternative solutions are to man the plant
with a second shift where the labor supply will permit, or to use such
cold-storage devices for surplus product as have been proved prac
ticable. The tendency is always to apply the obvious and apparently
i A part of the material for this report was placed at the disposal of the Bureau b y the W isconsin Indus
trial Commission. In the preparation of the report valuable assistance was given b y Miss Ida M. Peck
and Miss Bertha von der Nienburg.
* W isconsin canners packed 1,520,000 cases o f peas in 1911. The next largest “ pack” was reported by
New Y ork, whose canners put up 1,446,000oases, according to the agricultural department of the Wisconsin
State University.
6
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
simple solution, particularly when such a course is in the line of least
resistance and along the “ beaten way.” Alternative solutions are
not likely to be adopted in emergencies unless the obvious measures
of relief have become unavailable. Much less likely are solutions for
the difficulties to be sought outside the factory in an industry as
comparatively new in its organized form as is the canning industry.
In this study, therefore, not only was an effort made to discover
to what extent the two alternative solutions mentioned above were
available and were availed of by Wisconsin pea canners, but careful
study was made of available data on the subject to see what bearing
the method of dealing with the field problems has upon the need of
overtime work.
It should be said that not only did the Wisconsin canners give the
information requested, with access to their records without reserve,
but in a number of instances they frankly stated that should a careful
study of the records develop any other solution than the exemption
from the law restricting the working hours of women, the information
would be welcomed as a distinct advantage to the canning industry.
In view of the plea so often made by the canner for special exemp
tion from restricted hours on account of the necessity of overtime
work, it is significant to find throughout the industry so little use
made of the available records of previous years and so little considera
tion apparently given at the time of planting to the acreage which
can be carried by the factory equipment. The capacity of a line of
pea-canning machinery is no greater than that of the slowest machine
in it. Both the potential and the practicable daily capacity of a
standard line is fairly uniform and well understood by practically all
the canners. Yet in spite of this, it was found in a study of the
records of 35 canneries during four years—1908, 1909, 1910, and
1911—that most of the canners seemed to pay little regard in their
plantings to the capacity of their plants, and many of them planted
or contracted for acreage which obviously involved the carrying of
a load in excess of the full capacity of the plants if operated through
out the entire season for a full 10-hour day. This, it will be observed,
left no margin whatever for congestions due to weather conditions.
It is apparent that the conditions thus voluntarily created by the
canners made it a practical certainty that without a reserve equip
ment, including labor supply for emergencies, much overtime work
would have to be done in order to take care of the product.
That this acreage did actually result in such congestion and exces
sive hours is shown by the fact that the average working hours
exceeded 10 in 87 per cent of the plants in 1908, in 74 per cent in 1909,
in 67 per cent in 1910, and in 63 per cent in 1911. The canners’
records showed that working hours in excess of 10 prevailed on
approximately two-thirds of the days of the entire season in 1908,
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OF WISCONSIN.
7
1909, and 1910, and on more than half the days in 1911. Many days
in excess of 15 hours, and even reaching to 19 and 20 hours, are
shown by the employers’ own records.
In the occupation employing the greatest number of women (pickers)
only a little over three-fourths Were at work on those days when the
working hours exceeded 10 during 1911. In all but one of the 29
plants reporting for 1911, the pickers worked some days in excess of
10 hours, but in only 3 of the plants was the entire visible supply of
pickers used on such days. In 10 cases only from 45 per cent to 63
per cent were used, and in one other plant the records showed that
only 29 per cent of the visible supply of pickers were at work. The
record also shows that a number of firms whose plants were equipped
with two or more lines of machinery did not use all their lines even
when the daily working hours were in excess of 10.
Of the 48 firms reporting in regard to labor supply, 9 reported an
actual shortage of both male and female labor, 12 reported a shortage
of female labor only, and 27 reported an inability to secure a second
shift because the present rate of pay with the short hours would not
be sufficiently attractive. Of the 12 canners reporting a shortage of
female labor for a second shift, 4 definitely stated as an objection to
employing men for overtime work the necessity of paying more for
male help; 1 had tried boys but regarded them as inefficient.
The average cost of the female labor in 31 canneries during the
year 1911 ranged from one-half of a cent to 4$ cents per case of 24
cans. The actual overtime cost was only 10.8 per cent of the total
cost. Thus the ccfet of a second shift of either men or women at a
higher rate for the period during which overtime was worked would
have been very small; the rate could even have been trebled for the
hours in excess of 10 without increasing the cost of female labor
as much as one-fourth. In other words, trebling the rate for over
time would have raised the cost of female labor at the lowest from
one-half of a cent to three-fifths of a cent per case of 24 cans, and at
the highest from 4$ cents to 5$ cents per case of 24 cans. In this
estimated cost no account is taken of the probable gain in efficiency
as the result of eliminating overtime work.
While a number of the canners said that it was obvious that inspec
tors could not do as good work at the end of a long run, few of them
appear to have considered the losses due to faulty inspection in com
parison with the relatively small cost of additional inspectors for the
overtime demands.
In spite of the seriousness of congestion to the canners because of
the high perishability of the product, little study appears to have
been given by the canners to the possibilities of control of the harvests
and the reduction of congestion to a minimum. This is the more to
be wondered at in view of the fact that so much progress has been
8
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OP LABOB STATISTICS.
made in the application of scientific methods to the processes of
canning. Yet in the careful selection of his soils and in the regula
tion of his plantings the canner has ready means for a considerable
measure of harvest control and of the reduction of congestion.
Certain devices are in use which facilitate the canning process and
are of importance during heavy runs, some of them saving the work
of a considerable number of hand workers. Storage tanks are also
in use for preserving temporarily any excess supply of shelled peas.
Only 9 of the 50 Wisconsin canneries visited had equipment of this
character, although it was generally agreed that such equipment
was of decided advantage in emergencies.
The opinions of canners as to what legal restrictions on working
hours of women could be fixed without doing injury to the industry
are of interest. Of 39 canners expressing an opinion, 3 were satisfied
with the existing law, 7 others were satisfied with the weekly limit
of 55 hours but objected to the 8 and 10 hour restriction per day and
believed some provision should be made for emergencies. A number
of others, while not objecting to the 55-hour limit for the week, were
of the opinion that a long day was necessary in emergencies, some
considering that in such cases a 12-hour day would be adequate,
while others desired a 15-hour day and others even an 18-hour day.
Several thought that a 72-hour week was not unreasonable, while 13
frankly declared themselves for no restriction either of the daily or
weekly hours.
In view of the number of canners who objected to any restrictions
on the working hours of women, there is peculiar interest in the state
ments from some of the same canners as to what actuallyhappened
in their own plants during the five years prior to the enactment of
the 55-hour law. Thus, among the 26 canners reporting in regard
to this matter, days of 15,16, and 18 hours were frequent, and runs
of even 20, 22, and 24 hours were reported by several canners.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION.
The report here submitted is based upon data secured from 50 of
the 78 Wisconsin canneries engaged in packing peas, and listed as
members of the National Canners’ Association.1 Such data consist of:
1. Pay rolls for four years* showing hours actually worked and
rate of pay for women in 31 of the 50 canneries visited.
2. Records of acreage and yield per acre for the same period from
35 of the 50 canneries visited.
* Canners’ Directory and A llied Industries of the United States, 1912 edition. As the 78 pea canneries
in W isconsin are owned by 62 firms, the data secured may be regarded as representing the policy of over
four-fifths of the pea-packing establishments in the State.
* I f a cannery had been in operation less than four years the records for the entire period of operation were
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OF WISCONSIN.
9
3. Information as to mechanical equipment of all the 50 canneries.
4. Verified interviews as to the labor supply and other operating
problems with managers, proprietors, or superintendents of all estab
lishments visited.
This information was supplemented with data drawn from the
agricultural department of the Wisconsin State University as to vari
eties of soil in pea-growing districts and from the Bureau of Plant
Industry of the Federal Department of Agriculture as to methods of
controlling the harvestings. Information was also secured from man
ufacturers of cannery machinery as to capacity of equipment. No
information whatever was secured from the cannery workers.
OCCUPATIONS OF WOMEN IN PEA CANNING.
Perhaps in no industry has invention more completely transformed
the character of labor than in the canning of peas. From the days
of planting, hoeing, cultivating, picking, and podding rows of peas by
hand to the present method of sowing and vining the pea vines (i. e.,
shelling the peas on the vine by machinery) is only a span of 25 years,1
but it marks a change from the employment of thousands of women
and children as “ field pickers” to the employment of a comparatively
small corps of men to run the mowers or reapers, load the vines upon
the wagon, and attend the ingenious cylindrical machines that burst
the pea pods without bruising the peas. Men now attend the ma
chines that clean and wash and grade the peas according to size and
weight, and run them on to tables or moving belts. At this stage in
the process of canning women still retain a foothold. As the peas
are spread out on the tables or moving belts, girls pick out foreign
substances which have escaped the previous cleaning and washing
processes and remove also the obviously imperfect peas. Of the 614
women (exclusive of labelers and field women) employed in the 31
canneries during 1911, from which pay roll data were secured, 404,
or 65.8 per cent, were employed as “ pickers.” According to the
standards of some canners, however, the canning process has not
really begun until after the peas have left the picking tables and are
conveyed to the blanchers, where they are partially cooked. These
big cylindrical parboilers are regarded by canners as the first device
in the “ line” of canning machinery proper. All the processes up to
the blanching are considered as merely preliminary to the real busi
ness of canning. The series of machines beginning with the blancher
and ending with the tipper is called a “ line.”
The blanchers are attended by men, but when the peas have passed
through the blanchers and have been filled by machinery into the cans,
girls are again employed. As the filled cans pass on a moving con
1 Madame Fam e, of France, invented the podding machine, or viner, in 1885, and the
tically duplicated in this country a few years later*
was prac
10
BULLETIN OF THE BUBEAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
veyor, little caps or lids are placed on the opening in the top of the
cans by women or girls, usually two cappers to each “ line.” It is
necessary that these caps be accurately placed, otherwise they will
not be properly soldered and there will be a leak, which means a
spoiled can of peas unless the inspectors—usually girls—discover the
imperfection before the cans are taken to the retorts for the final
cooking or “ processing.”
When the machines are actually in operation the girls must cap
and inspect 50 cans or more a minute. On one day during the season
of 1911 one company packed 48,000 cans in a 15-hour day. That
meant capping and inspecting an average of 53 cans a minute. To
maintain such an average involved spurts of 80 to 90 cans a minute
at times. The cappers, therefore, must have a good eye and a sure
touch to put the light caps in exactly the right position. When there
are two cappers—or, rather, cap placers—they sometimes “ spell”
each other and sometimes work together, each girl placing caps on
alternate cans or alternate dozens of cans. In some establishments
there are cap-placing machines which require only one girl to keep
the machine filled with caps and correct such misplacements as it
may make.
In the center of each cap there is an opening the size of a large pin
hole, through which the air is exhausted after the cap is soldered on
by the solderer. This hole is then tipped with lead, hermetically
sealing the can preparatory to the final cooking. It is the business
of the inspector to watch for “ tip” and “ cap” leaks, for sometimes
the soldering is imperfect even when the cap has been properly placed.
Such leaks are frequently not larger than a pin point, and make
demands upon the eyesight and concentration of the inspectors, par
ticularly if the natural light is not good, or if there is much work by
artificial light. The inspectors must also watch for the “ side leaks”
found in imperfectly made cans. In the majority of canneries vis
ited it was the rule to have two inspectors to a “ line”—one relieving
the other at intervals or each looking continuously for one kind of
leaks.
The three occupations of picking, capping, and inspecting consti
tute the chief field of employment for women in the Wisconsin pea
canneries1 during the active canning season. There is a good deal
of labeling and miscellaneous work done by women, but much of it
is after the peas are canned. The figures in this report bearing upon
working hours apply only to pickers, cappers, and inspectors, who
numbered 518, constituting over 84 per cent of the 614 women em
ployed in the 31 plants from which pay roll data were secured in 1911.
* That mem constitute the majority of employees in the modem pea cannery is shown by the fact that in
11 representative canneries where comparisons were made there were 670 people em ployed, o f whom 475, or
70.9 per cent, were men and 195, or 29.1 per cent, were women.
11
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OP WISCONSIN.
REASONS FOR HASTE IN THE CANNING OP PEAS.
The object of every canner is to can crops at their prime, i. e., at
the time when they will yield the maximum proportion of a given
grade of goods. When the pea vines have been mowed there is
urgent need of hastening them through the vining or shelling machines
and along the line to the final “ processing” or cooking. Before the
shelling process, when the pods are on the vines, it is possible to keep
a cutting of peas until the next day by spreading the vines out lightly
in order to prevent souring. But after shelling the peas must be
rushed through the canning process to preserve their quality, which
rapidly deteriorates1 after a few hours unless subjected to continuous
baths in cold water. This perishability of shelled peas is at the root
of the operating difficulties of the canners. It is the business of every
canner also to secure the largest output of which his plant is capable
throughout the entire harvesting period. In other words, he is actu
ated by the purpose, dominant in all business, to secure a maximum
return on capital invested.
CONDITIONS OP SPECIAL IMPORTANCE AS RELATED TO CONGESTION
AND HOURS OP LABOR IN PEA CANNING.
The problems which confront the pea canners of Wisconsin have
many factors common to the problems of all fruit and vegetable can
ners, some of which factors tend to bring about simultaneous ripening
of crops, consequent congestion of the plant, and a fluctuation of
working hours chiefly remarkable for extremes in both long and short
working days. The factors which the canners regard as involving
special difficulties are:
1. The uncertainty of weather conditions which affect not only the
work of planting and harvesting, but have a controlling influence upon
germination, maturing periods, and amount of yield.
2. Variety and quality of seeds, also causing variable results as to
germination, maturing periods, and amount of yield.
1 Bulletin 125 o f the Bureau o f Chemistry o f the U. S. Department of Agriculture gives the following table
as the results of experiments in the deterioration of peas left in the pods on vine that has been out and in
the same grade of peas after they had been shelled:
EFFECT ON SUGAR CONTENT OF LETTIN G PEAS STAND BEFO RE CANNING.
Time elapsing before canning.
Hours,
1..........................
6..........................
After cutting: •12........................................
24........................................
36........................................
Percent
o f sugar.
2.19
2.25
2.75
2.45
2.23
Time elapsing before canning.
Hams,
JO........................
A podding:4in
J
I .......
.. ...
After
(24.....................................
Percent
o f sugar.
2.19
1.05
1.24
.90
12
BULLETIN OP THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
3. Variations in character and condition of soil resulting in the
same variables and also in varying degrees of responsiveness to
weather conditions.
4. The pest and blight peculiar to peas, particularly toward the
close of the harvesting season. This risk puts the canner under
pressure to plant for early harvesting. Shortening a canning season
means either that the canner must cut down the acreage planted,
increase his equipment, or lengthen the working day.
5. The difficulty of enforcing contracts with farmers (when can
ners do not control land) as to time of planting and harvesting.
6. The ordinary risk of breakdowns in machinery, common to all
industries.
7. Difficulty of seeming an adequate labor supply at the proper
time, a difficulty which is much greater because of the short season
and highly fluctuating hours.
In addition to the foregoing should be mentioned the legal restric
tions on working hours for women limiting those over 16 years to 10
hours a day and 55 a week for day work, and 8 a day and 48 a week
for night work.1 Girls under 16 are prohibited from doing night work
at all and are limited to 8 hours a day and 48 a week for day work.
This restriction applies to all industries, but the canners regard it as a
particularly difficult limitation for them to observe.
It is plain from the foregoing list that to secure an entirely satisfac
tory solution of the problems confronting the canners will tax the
resources of scientific study, expert judgment, modem equipment,
efficient organization, and skillful management.
For the sake of clearness these factors have been stated as separate
and distinct difficulties with which the canner has to deal. Some of
them are, however, so intimately related as to present their most
serious problems in relation to one another. For example, the rela
tive productivity of various pea-growing soils with normal conditions
and under proper treatment is not a difficult matter to determine.
If this productivity were not influenced by other factors it would not
be difficult to measure the acreage to be safely carried by any given
equipment. But the weather conditions alone may completely upset
calculations—made on soil conditions only—as to productivity and
as to time of ripening. Under proper preparatory treatment, and if
not subjected to heavy rain followed by a baking heat while the peas
are still under ground or very young, clay loam is a highly productive
soil for peas. But its productivity is enormously diminished if it
becom es caked before the peas are well above ground, because the
caked condition of the ground deprives the plants of air which is as
necessary to growth as light and moisture.
i Under the Wisconsin law if a woman works two evenings a week after 8 o'clock she is regarded as
working on a night shift.
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OP WISCONSIN.
13
POSSIBILITY OF HARVEST CONTROL AND REDUCTION OF CON
GESTION BY STUDY OF WEATHER CONDITIONS, SOIL SELEC
TION, ETC.
Obviously the canner can not control the weather, and it is equally
obvious from the foregoing paragraph that because of this fact the
rest of his problems are seriously complicated.
But if the canner can not control the weather he can at least study
the weather records for average conditions and degrees of variation
from this average and make his plans to cover as much of the area
of uncertainty as possible.
In addition to knowing the probable range of variation in the
factors not under his control, the canner has within his reach some
measure of actual control over the factors in the field problems of
his business. He can know the character and condition of the soil
he has chosen for pea planting and has much expert information
within his reach and easily accessible resources for treating each soil
to correct deficiencies.1 Not only so, he can know the peculiarities
of each soil under given weather conditions and on the basis of this
knowledge so arrange his plantings as to reduce the uncertainty
concerning the productivity of his whole acreage. For example, a
canner who has half his acreage in soil most productive in a rainy
season and half most productive in dry weather may not have a
chance for as big a harvesting as the man who has just one kind of
soil, but he has the advantage of a greater certainty of having an
adequate crop under a wide range of weather conditions. In other
words, he has provided for himself a measure of insurance against
the risks involved in the weather.
Of course, soils can not be made to order nor altered to suit the
weather, but the canner who undertakes to do his own planting
meets his first problem in the selection of his pea-growing land. Of
the 50 canners interviewed in Wisconsin 37, or nearly three-fourths,
rented or owned their pea-growing land; 6 other plants owned part
of the land but contracted for some of their peas. All but 8 of these
43 plants, according to information furnished by the Agricultural
Department and in some instances confirmed by the canners them
selves, were in a locality described as having a mixture of soils. In
these cases at least the possibility of expert grouping and balancing
of soils is not a theory, but a condition no less real than that recog
nized by the Wisconsin pea canner who told one of the agents of the
Bureau that by judicious planting on his four varieties of soil he con
trolled his crops better than those who have only one kind. Even
the man who has only one kind of soil, and that the risky clay loam
heretofore mentioned, is not entirely at the mercy of the weather.
According to an expert in plant industry, if a smooth harrow is
run over such fields shortly after a heavy rain to prevent the caking
» See article by Henry G. Bell in the Canner of Feb. 8,1912, on “ Growing profitable crops for canning
purposes—How crop yield may be increased.’ !
14
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
of the soil and consequent smothering of the peas, not only will the
yield be much less influenced by the effect of the rains, but the ripen
ing schedule will not be so seriously disturbed. The expert referred
to explained that the smooth harrow could be run over the fields with
beneficial results after heavy rain, even when the peas are 2 inches
above ground. Of course, to get this steadying result the harrowing
must not be done so soon after the rains as to “ puddle” the clay.
The variety and quality of seed are also important factors in the field
problems of the canner, and the selection is fairly within his control.
All these factors affect not only the productivity of the soil, but
the periods required for ripening the crops. The success with which
these problems are handled bears directly upon the problem of
providing adequate equipment not only for average demands, but for
the emergencies.
These field problems have not hitherto received the same expert
study and management as have been brought to bear upon the factory
problems because of the earlier custom of buying the peas outright
from the farmers. The number of acres necessary to yield 100 cases
of peas was not very material to the canner so long as he had an
adequate supply. But when he began to buy or rent his pea-growing
land he acquired with it the unsolved field problems. It is not
strange, therefore, that the scientific study of factory problems has
resulted in a standardization of factory methods, which is not apparent
in the equally important management of the field difficulties.
WORKING CAPACITY OP A “ LINE” OF PEA-CANNINQ MACHINERY.
The manufacturers claim for the complete line of pea-canning
machinery a capacity of from 32,400 to 45,000 cans in a 10-hour
day.1 While the machines often do maintain that rate of speed, the
figure does not represent the actual output of the line under present
conditions, because it must operate against many impeding circum
stances. According to the judgment of a committee of Wisconsin
canners, which met in conference with the Wisconsin Industrial
Commission and representatives of the Federal Bureau of Labor
Statistics, a complete line of pea-canning machinery under present
conditions has an output record of about 18,000 cans, or 750 cases
of 24 cans each, in a 10-hour day.
The records from 35 plants submitting data as to pack and number
of working days showed for the three years previous to 1911 an
average output of 17,647 cans per working day. The average work
ing hours for pickers, cappers, and inspectors for the same period
i “ It is im practicable to equip a factory for properly handling peas with a capacity in the principal auto
m atic machines (which it is imperative to use to accomplish satisfactory results in cost and quality) of less
than approximately 40,000 cans in a 10-hour day.” * * * “ The necessary equipment for pea canning
is standard, varies but little in detail, and involves a considerable expenditure in machinery.” Daniel S.
Trench (president of the Sprague Canning Co.) in “ Remarks on the pearcanning industry/’ as an introduc
tion to a reprint of Bulletin 125, Bureau of Chemistry, deeding with the subject of pea canning.
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OP WISCONSIN.
15
were 10.15 per day. This output would indicate an average capacity
in a 10-hour day of approximately 17,400 cans, or 725 cases, a
fairly close approximation to the canners’ estimate. This does not
mean that the prevailing number of cans packed per working day
was approximately 17,400. It means that if the pack could have
been spread evenly over the total number of working days that
number would represent the output each day, but in judging of the
practicable capacity of a line it should be borne in mind clearly that
under present conditions the pack is not so distributed.
There are, of course, devices which facilitate the canning processes,
and though underlying difficulties, which are discussed later, reduce
the average output of a line to less than half its rated capacity these
devices become important during heavy runs, particularly where
there is a shortage of labor supply. In general it should be said that
the work of canning is a continuous process, the peas being constantly
moving, and that the whole line can not go faster than the slowest
machine in it. Both the potential and the practicable daily capacity
of a standard line of pea-canning machinery is fairly uniform. This
uniformity or working standard of daily capacity suggests a corre
sponding standard of “ load ” which a line can carry for the harvesting
season, a period which does not vary greatly in different parts of the
State because of the slight variation in climatic conditions. Thus it
would seem that the “ load” which can be put upon a line of peacanning machinery for a season could be figured upon the basis of the
line’s practicable daily capacity and the average number of working
days in a season, with such reasonable allowance for congestions and
other emergencies as the records of previous years indicate as probable.
With these factors determined, the acreage which could safely be
planted per line would be measured by the seasonal capacity of the
line as above deduced and the productivity of the soil.
PLANTINQ IN RELATION TO WORKING CAPACITY OF EQUIPMENT.
It is not difficult to understand that the variable factors of weather
and soil conditions greatly complicate the problem of determining
how much acreage of a given range of productivity can be safely
carried for each line of cannery machinery.
As the working hours of cannery employees depend upon the degree
of success achieved by the canners in dealing with this difficult prob
lem, the first thing sought from the records of the Wisconsin pea
canners was the acreage per line and the productivity of the soil as
shown by the crop records for three years previous to the season of
1911. From 35 of the 50 firms visited data were secured showing
acreage and yield per acre for four years previous to 1912, or for as
many of those years as each had been in operation. As this study
was made before the close of the 1912 season figures for that year
were not available. In order to see what relation plantings in 1911
(the latest year for which data were obtained) had to previous
16
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
records and to determine what the results of such plantings were upon
the working hours during 1911 it was necessary to compare the acre
age and yield of 1911 with the data for the previous years.
The data secured from the 35 canners in regard to acreage and
yield show the demands made in each plant upon a line of cannery
equipment. In order to make perfectly clear the relative load car
ried by each canner, the average acreage from 1908 to 1910 has been
computed for each plant on the basis of the average yield for all
plants during the period. These averages are presented in the fourth
figure column of the table which follows and are obtained by divid
ing the average pack per line for each plant by the average yield
per acre for all plants. The per cent of excess or shortage of the
average acreage thus computed for each plant as compared with the
average acreage per line for all plants is also given. The acreage
per line carried in 1911 is shown in the last column of the table.
COMPARISON OF ACREAGE CARRIED PE R LINE FOR 3 Y E A R S, 1908 TO 1910, B Y
IN DIVIDU AL PLAN TS, W ITH AVERAGE ACREAGE CARRIED B Y A LL PLANTS FOR 3
Y E A R S, 1908 TO 1910; ALSO ACREAGE CARRIED IN 1911.
Actual average acreage and
yield, 1908 to 1910.
Plant number.
Average, all plants
1 ....................
2 .....................................
4 ....................
6....................
7
8
9.....................................
10.....................................
12.....................................
1 5
1 6
1 7
1 8
19.....................................
21.....................................
22.....................................
2 3
2 4
2 5
27.....................................
2 9
3 0
3 2
3 3
3 4
3 5
3 6
38.....................................
40.....................................
4 2
4 3
4 5
4 6
4 7
Average
Average yield
dot
acreage acre,in
per line.
cases.
1333.5
275.0
300.5
262.5
141.7
295.6
244.0
300.0
333.3
370.0
400.0
400.0
173.3
212.5
250.0
212.5
383.3
291.0
589.0
290.0
224.5
200.5
400.0
265.0
300.0
311.1
454.0
301.4
137.5
300.0
350.0
500.0
593.8
Relative value (measured by
productivity) of plant’s av
erage acreage, 1908 to 1910.
Percent
of excess
over
average,
all plants.
pack per
line, in
159.4
19,810.9
70.1
46.1
67.5
76.5
60.4
37.0
29.2
92.7
80.8
66.7
55.8
83.8
65.0
30.4
89.5
74.5
101.3
58.0
48.0
42.8
69.0
57.8
63.3
26.4
47.2
58.3
85.1
57.8
43.6
83.7
87.9
76.9
48.3
45.0
48.7
18.819.2
17.909.8
18.573.5
22.979.2
15.847.1
11.041.2
4,142.4
27.411.0
19.707.9
19.998.0
18.613.2
30.998.6
26,000.0
12.152.0
15.513.0
15.822.8
25.332.5
12.333.5
18.411.3
12.466.4
40.641.0
16.750.4
14.219.8
5,285.2
18.868.0
15,460.1
25.533.0
17.978.5
19.789.9
25.227.5
12.087.6
23.070.0
16.891.0
22.500.0
28.918.1
Acreage
Percent per line
of short carried
age less in 1911.
than
average,
all plants.
1308.8
316.8
301.5
312.6
386.8
266.7
185.8
69.7
461.4
331.7
16.0
38.4
......
5.0
9.6
6.3
*20*9
44.3
79.1
.5
380
250
328
267|
334*
140
320
224
*6.‘l
313.3
521.8
437.6
204.5
261.1
266.3
426.4
207.6
309.9
209.8
684.1
282.0
239.4
89.0
317.6
260.2
429.8
302.6
333.1
424.6
203.5
‘i65.*l
284.3
378.7
486.8
13.6
45.0
56.5
31.2
27.9
38.7
21.7
20.1
*37*7
7.1
37.1
is.4
28.2
73.3
48
28.9
27.3
*i6.*5
22.0
'*9*3
.1
39.0
*ii*7
400
300
235
233
260
275
400
350
213
2121
400
225
300
420
366|
310
187|
300
248*
500
i As the averages here given are based on records of 35 plants, they do not agree with the averages shown
in tables on pages 19 and 22, which are based on the number of plants from which specified data were
secured.
WOMEN IN PEA CANNEBIES OP WISCONSIN.
17
The significant feature of the foregoing table is the lack of any
standard of load carried per unit of equipment, although it will be
recalled that the working capacity of a line of pea-canning machinery
is practically uniform.
The average acreage carried by all plants for the three years pre
vious to 1911 was 333.5 per line, and the average yield for the same
period was 59.4 cases per acre. This is interesting in view of the
fact that all the canners interviewed on the subject regarded between
50 and 60 cases per acre as normal, though a large number reported
their own yield as considerably at variance with the normal. By ref
erence to the fourth figure column of the above table, showing the
average acreage of each plant as measured by the average produc
tivity of all plants, it is seen that 12 of the 35 plants carried from about
3 to 350 acres more than the average, and 23 carried from less than
1 acre to 263 acres less than the average. In only 3 cases was the
individual acreage within a range of 10 of the average, measured by
the productivity of the field. In only 8 cases was it within 25 acres
of the average. It is plain, therefore, that the average acreage does
not even approximately represent the prevailing acreage carried.
The average acreage does, however, approximate very closely the
load which by inference the canners’ committee named as practicable
in a 10-hour day.1 For 18,000 cans per line a day for an average of
26.94 days would amount to a pack of 484,920 cans, or 20,205 cases.
On the basis of the average yield of 59.4 cases per acre, which also
is regarded as normal by Wisconsin canners, this would mean an
average of approximately 340 acres per line, compared with 333
actually carried for the three years previous to 1911.
It becomes pertinent here to translate this acreage load upon a
line of pea-canning machinery in terms of working hours.
As shown on page 14 the average working hours necessary to pack
17,400 cans a day during the three years was computed to be slightly
more than 10 a day, i. e., approximately 10.15 hours, or an excess of
1£ per cent. Reducing proportionately the average acreage carried
would leave a load of 328.7 acres per line to be carried in 26.94 10-hour
days, the average number of days worked from 1908 to 1911.
But the problem is by no means so simple as this, for with the
present failure to control the ripenings, discussed later,2 the problem
is not so much one of averages as of variations and emergencies.
This fact makes it not only a risk but a practical certainty that load
ing for a full 10-hour day every day in the season will result in con
gestion and consequent long runs unless there is reserve equipment—
including labor supply—for the emergencies.
That this acreage did result in such congestion and excessive hours
is shown by the fact that the working hours exceeded 10 on more
*
91553°—13-----2
See p . 14.
* See pp. 22-25.
18
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
than half the days in 1911 and on approximately two-thirds of the
days in 1908, 1909, and 1910.1 Many days in excess of 15 hours and
even reaching to 19 and 20 hours are shown by the employers’ own
records.2
USEFULNESS OF RECORDS TO DETERMINE ACREAGE WHICH MAY
SAFELY BE CARRIED.
Of course, there is no telling from the records of previous years
exactly what the yield for the coming season will be. The canner in
determining the amount of acreage which can be safely carried by
his equipment has to solve a problem in probabilities and possibilities.
He has, however, a measure of control over his risks through the
choice and planting of seeds and the skillful treatment of soil, includ
ing, of course, the methods in vogue for guarding against soil
exhaustion.
The foregoing table does not indicate a scientific treatment of the
question of acreage and equipment by developing a standard “ load”
for a line of canning machinery. There is—on the basis of soil fer
tility—no uniformity as to acreage which is actually carried per line.
For the sake of emphasis it might be stated again that what a man’s
acreage has yielded in the past three years will not tell him with cer
tainty what the yield for the approaching season will be. The man
who would provide his equipment only on the basis of such an average,
without taking into account the variations, would be little wiser than
the shoemaker who made all his shoes according to the average
dimensions of the human foot. What the records show as to varia
tions is quite as important as what they show in averages. That a
consideration of both would have been useful in determining the
probabilities as to yield per acre and consequent demands upon
equipment is shown by the following table. It should be said that
while the canners decided that four years would be sufficient to show
the range of difficulties under which the pea canners operate, they
are not more than enough to illustrate the advantageous use of
records in deducing probabilities. Records for many more years are
accessible to the canners, for even if a firm is operating for the first
year a careful study of the character and condition of his acreage
renders available the records of productivity for other acreage of
similar composition and condition. However, though the deductions
are made in this table from four years only, there is yet a clear demon
stration of the advantage to be gained by the careful and skillful
study of records.
‘ Seep. 28.
•Seep. 48.
19
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OF WISCONSIN.
Y IE LD PE R ACRE FOR 1911, OF PLANTS HAVING TH R E E YEARS* RECORDS, COMPARED
W ITH YIE LD S FOR PREVIOUS Y E A R S.
Yield for 1911.
Yield for 3 years.
Plant
number.
3 years.
Average,
all plants.
7 ...
8...
9 ...
10 ...
1 6 ...
1 7 ...
1 9 ...
21 ...
22...
2 3 ...
2 4 ...
2 5 ...
2 9 ...
3 0 ...
3 4 ...
3 6 ...
3 8 ...
4 0 ...
4 2 ...
4 5 ...
4 7 ...
4 9 ...
Per cent of ex
Per cent o f varia
treme variation
tion from average
in specified years
for 1908 to 1910.
from average for Average
cases per
1908 to 1910.
acre.
Average cases per acre.
1908
1909
1910
158.58
160.00
1 62.81
152.39
10.6
7.2
149.46
60.37
37.03
29.24
92.73
55.84
83.78
30.38
89.50
7446
101.33
58.04
48.03
69.00
57.76
47.17
85.11
57.79
43.59
83.69
76.90
45.00
48.70
67.30
42.63
28.80
100.41
67.50
86.35
23.33
90.63
56.97
108.00
75.00
35.00
75.78
82.50
44.00
96.67
52.32
56.01
95.55
93.61
63.00
42.17
57.14
51.85
28.55
115.01
42.50
87.67
38.80
97.29
87.45
100.00
60.00
50.67
66.81
81.25
60.00
85.33
64.66
43.10
105.87
46.18
44.00
51.78
56.37
17.85
30.58
70.27
57.50
77.92
36.05
81.04
72.00
100.00
42.10
59.85
68.64
22.14
37.50
73.33
53.94
27.56
49.94
89.99
28.00
56.39
6.6
51.8
2.3
24.2
23.9
7.0
23.2
9.5
23.5
1.3
27.5
27.1
3.2
61.7
20.5
13.8
9.5
36.8
40.3
40.0
37.8
13.4
11.5
40.0
4.6
24.0
20.9
4.6
27.7
8.7
17.5
6.6
29.2
24.6
9.8
42.8
27.2
13.6
11.9
28.5
26.5
21.7
40.0
15.8
56.63
38.41
25.90
57.82
62.22
51.76
16.00
78.37
60.54
92.30
42.10
39.24
43.48
54.29
57.50
73.33
56.44
24.98
59.41
82.88
43.00
43.28
Below.
Below.
Above.
Above.
15.6
6.2
11.4
37.7
38.2
47.3
12.4
18.7
8.9
27.5
18.3
37.0
6.0
.........
13.8
2.3
42.7
29.0
........
4.4
11.1
3.7
11.4
21.9
7.8
i As the averages here given are based on records of 22 plants, they do not agree necessarily with the
averages shown in tables on pp. 16 and 22, which are based on the number of plants from which specified
data were secured.
The average yield per acre for 1910 was less than in 1908 or 1909.
This fact might be an indication of a declining quality in the soil, but
it would require records for a longer period to warrant reasonable
deduction. As an actual fact, the records for these plants showed
a decrease of 15.6 per cent in yield for 1911 from the average for the
three years previous to 1911. Only 22 of the 35 plants submitting
data are here shown, as no plants submitting data for less than
four years are included in this table. The very unusual weather
conditions of 1910 greatly extended the range of variation, and it is
therefore especially significant that the records of 14 of the 22
plants showed that the yield per acre in 1911 varied less than 20
per cent above or below their respective averages for the three pre
vious years and that the records for 12 of them showed a variation
of less than 15 per cent above or below the average yield for the
three-year period.
As this discussion has place here only as it bears upon the problem
of equipment, the feature of this table which becomes of paramount
importance is the fact that not a single firm would have overtaxed
its plant if the equipment had been provided on the basis of the
yield shown in the three years previous to 1911.
That the installation of a complete line of cannery machinery as
reserve equipment is not an impracticable suggestion is shown by the
20
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
fact that 7 of the 50 canners interviewed had lines “ which were used
only for emergencies.” Five of these operated regularly but one line,
so that the emergency equipment amounted to 100 per cent of the
regular equipment. The greatest excess in yield over the average of
any given plant shown in the foregoing table is 21.9 per cent. Even
if in this case the cannery had been a five-line plant, one additional
line would have practically met the corresponding excess demand upon
equipment. For these marked variations it should be said, however,
there are usually obvious causes, some of which are within the con
trol of the canner, making it possible, therefore, for him to reduce the
apparent area of uncertainty. The records for many years from many
plants operating under similar climatic and agricultural conditions are
required for safe deductions, but the four years and the compara
tively few plants submitting data of this nature serve to illustrate the
possibilities which lie in the study of the records of previous years.
While the foregoing tables show that the records are useful in
determining the probabilities as to yield, thorough knowledge of the
character and condition of the soil and seed and expert cultivation
and planting are necessary to their correct interpretation. Infor
mation as to the character of the soil was known to the Bureau,
but the condition of the soil and the quality and variety of seed
used—which might in themselves explain the few conspicuous varia
tions and which, of course, were known to the planters—did not
form a part of the information upon which this report is based.
OPINIONS OP CANNERS AS TO ACREAGE WHICH MAY SAFELY BE
CARRIED.
Finding that the crop data submitted did not show any standard
of acreage per line in actual practice, opinions on the subject ex
pressed by Wisconsin pea canners in the course of interviews were
compared for such information as they might reveal. It sometimes
happens that there is a standard in theory which has not as yet
been readied in practice. Of the 50 canners interviewed, 17 ex
pressed an opinion as to the capacity of a line in a given number of
hours. In all but one instance the capacity was expressed in terms
of acres per line. Where the planter did not specify a yield or
qualify his estimate by reference to the “ normal yield” in making
a statement as to the number of acres a line could carry, there has
been added to the quotations below the average yield from his land
for three years previous to 1911, as shown by the records.
OPINION OP CANNERS AS TO NUMBBR OP ACRBS WHICH A LINE OF PEACANNING MACHINERY CAN CARRY.
1. Three hundred and fifty acres are enough for one line in a 10-hour day. [Yield,
70.09 cases per acre.]
2. Two hundred and fifty acres are enough for one line on the basis of a 12-hour
day [i. e., 208 acres on the basis of a 10-hour day]. Should have a 14-hour day for
300 acres in a normal season.
21
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OP WISCONSIN.
3. One line can carry 350 acres easily on a 12-hour basis [i. e., 292 acres on the
basis of a 10-hour day. Yield, 76.47 cases per acre].
4. Consider plant of two lines equipped to care for 40 acres (20 acres per line) in a
10-hour day on the basis of a normal yield of 60 cases per acre. [This would amount
to approximately 540 acres per line for the average season of approximately 27 days.]
5. Could care for 300 acres per line. [Yield not reported.]
6. Two hundred and fifty to two hundred and seventy-five acres are enough for
one line to care for. [Yield 80.77 cases per acre.]
7. Canned 20,000 cans (833 cases) in a 14-hour day. This amounts to about 600
cases in 10 hours, which, on the basis of 50 to 60 cases per acre, would represent a daily
acreage of from 10 to 12 per line, or approximately 270 to 324 acres in a 27-day season*
8. One line can carry 500 acres. [The average yield per acre during the 3 years of
company’s existence was approximately 57 cases.]
9. One line can carry 350 acres working 10 hours a day. [Yield 89.50 cases per acre.]
10. Three hundred acres of peas will crowd a line in a normal year. One line can
not carry 300 acres in a 10-hour day.
11. Five hundred acres are all one line should care for in a 12-hour day (i. e., about
417 acres in a 10-hour day). [Yield 69 cases per acre.]
12. One line will carry 400 acres of peas in a 10-hour day. [Yield 57.76 cases per
acre.]
13. One line can care for 500 acres on a 12 or 13 hour basis, but not more than 300
acres on a 10-hour basis. [Yield 63.34 cases per acre.]
14. In a normal season a line can care for 300 acres as they have been running, but
not in a 10-hour day. [Yield 26.36 cases per acre.]
15. One line can carry 350 acres in a 10-hour day. [Yield 83.69 cases per acre.]
16. In a normal year one line can carry 250 acres; but in a dry, hot season three
lines will not take care of that amount of acreage. [Yield 76.90 cases per acre.]
17. Three hundred acres is all one line should carry. [Yield 48.26 cases per acre.]
In general the one-line plants cany a larger risk of congestions
than the plants equipped with two or more lines, providing that
the acreage per line is the same in both cases. A breakdown in
a one-line plant stops all proceedings until the break is mended, while
in a two-line plant the force from the broken line may work as a
second shift on the sound lines till the equipment has been restored.
The table below shows acreage per line carried in 1909 and 1911 by
plants equipped with one, two, and three or more lines. Two years were
considered as sufficient to indicate the attention paid to this factor of
equipment problems. It is plain from this showing that the greater
risk in a one-line equipment is not consistently taken into consideration.
ACREAGE PER LIN E CARRIED B Y ONE, TW O, AND TH R E E OR MORE LIN E PEA
CANNERIES OF WISCONSIN IN 1909 AND 1911.
One-line plants.
Two-line plants.
Three or more line
plants.
Years.
Average Number Average Number Average
Number acres
per
of plants.
of plants. acres per ofplants. acres per
line.
line.
line.
1909...............................................................
1911...............................................................
19
19
318.4
282.2
10
18
269.4
293.3
4
5
411.6
325.0
22
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
RELATION OF ACREAGE AND WORKING HOURS.
Just how much effect on working hours is exerted by the load car
ried per line is shown by the following table, which gives the acreage
carried for each year, the corresponding yield, and the average work
ing hours.
ACREAGE CARRIED PE R LIN E AND CORRESPONDING W O RK IN G HOURS OF WOMEN
IN 1908,1909,1910, AND 1911.
[A s the averages here given are based on records of plants reporting specified data, they do not agree with
the average shown in tables on pages 16 and 19, which are based on the number of plants from which
certain other specified data were secured.]
Years.
1908..........
1909..........
1910..........
1911..........
Num
ber of Aver
plants age
re
port num
of
ing ber
acre acres
per
age
and line.
yield.
22
33
34
42
367.9
323.9
318.5
297.9
Aver
Pickers.
Cappers.
Inspectors.
age
Aver num
age ber of
Aver
Aver
Aver
yield days
age
age
age
per plant Plants num
Aver Plants num Aver Plants num Aver
acre, was report ber age report ber age report ber age
in
in
of hours. ing.
of hours.
of hours. ing.
cases. opera ing.
wo
wo
wo
tion.
men.
men.
men.
60.0
65.6
52.8
52.3
‘ 31.4
*28.9
*21.9
*24.8
*17 plants reporting.
17
23
24
29
18.9
17.1
15.0
13.9
10.4
10.0
9.8
9.7
15
19
18
23
* 25 plants reporting.
4.9
3.5
3.2
3.0
10.4
10.5
10.1
10.0
8
11
14
19
4.2
3.8
3.4
2.3
10.4
10.5
10 4
10.2
Aver
age
hours
for
all
occutlons
com
bined.
10.4
10.1
9.9
9.8
* 29 plants reporting.
The striking feature of the foregoing table is the descending scale
of acreage, average number of women employed in the specified
occupations, and the average working hours for all three occupations.
The table indicates the direct bearing of acreage upon working hours,
because if the load per line is so great that it would take more than
10 hours a day to care for it, even if it could be distributed in a
perfectly level supply throughout the whole season, and over all the
plants, of course it is impossible to charge days in excess of 10 hours
wholly to inability to control the harvestings. The proportion of
individual plants whose average hours exceed 10 a day in 1908, 1909,
1910, and 1911 was approximately 87 per cent, 74 per cent, 67 per
cent, and 63 per cent, respectively.
DISTRIBUTION OP PLANTINGS AS A MEANS OF CONTROLLING HAR
VESTINGS.
The problem involved in determining the number of acres which
can be safely earned by a plant of given equipment in the average
season is inseparable from the problem of so distributing the plant
ings that the demands upon the equipment will be spread evenly
over the entire season. In fact, this is the real field problem of the
canner so far as operating difficulties are concerned. Wisconsin can
ners, as well as other canners in rainfall States, are under a handicap
in this particular as compared with canners in irrigated regions. In
response to a direct question from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OF WISCONSIN.
23
to the effect of the irrigating systems upon the problem of pea grow
ing, an officer of a company controlling three large Colorado factories
wrote:
We plant about 5,000 acres per annum and plant as per inclosed contract.1 You
will note that there [are] three varieties mentioned particularly, and we plant other
* The contract w ith the com pany reads as follows:
C o u n t y o p ----------, S t ate op C olorado .
This Agreement entered into th is-------- day o f -
191—, between -
, party o f the first
SGConu psTv nereinairer Svv iorui^ uoos H6rcuy proiiuso aim
«uiiv no win piduv« cuiuvft™ p 8Uu
for said second party, in good formerlike m anner.during the season of 191—, a crop o f peas o f about acres o f Alaskas, ab ou t-------- acres o f Richard Seddon. o f abou t--------- acres o f Admirals, ab ou t--------acres o f-------- , on land subject to irrigation, situate in the county o f-------- , and State o f Colorado.
Party of the first part agrees that he w ill harvest and deliver the peas grown under this contract at the
threshing plant o f the party o f the second part a t -------- in suitable condition for canning purposes. He
further agrees that the party o f the second part may reject without payment any deliveries in which the
largest peas are not tender and suitable for eating, or m which the poos were not green when the vines
were cu t. or in which there are w ild oats or other weeds which interfere w ith threshing, and may also
reject without payment, any load o f vines weighing over 5,000 lbs. A ll peas m ust be delivered as soon as
loaded to prevent heating, and if they are heated they w ill be rejected. Party o f the first part further
agrees that the foreman, superintendent, or other employee o f th e -------- Packing Company, appointed
when notified so to do by the party of the second part, and that he w ill proceed w ith deliveries as the
party o f the second part shall request, and that he w ill not sell or otherwise dispose o f any portion o f said
crop to any other person or persons than the party of the second part without its consent previously given
in writing; nor w ill he give or suffer any mortgage or lien to be placed upon any crop grown under this
contract.
The party of the first part further agrees that he will—
Plant Alaska peas between March 15 and April 10.
Plant Richard Seddon’s peas between April 1 and April 20.
Plant Admiral’s peas between April 10 and May 10.
Plant-------- peas between---------and---------.
I f from any cause the party of the first part can not plant peas between the dates this contract calls for
party of the second part is to be notified and they may agree to a later planting or may cancel contract
aspreferred.
The party of the second part agrees to receive, except as herein provided, all the peas so grown under this
contract, and delivered in proper manner ana condition, and to pay the party o f the first part therefor
on the basis of peas shelled from crops as follows:
-------- per hundred pounds for such Alaskas as will go through a screen H inch in diameter.
-------- per hundred pounds for such Alaskas that will not go through such screen.
-------- per hundred pounds for all other varieties of shelled peas that will pass through a screen flin c h
in diameter.
-------- per hundred pounds for all that will not pass through such screen.
It is agreed between the said parties that samples shall be taken from the shelled peas b y the party of the
second part as often as desired, and the dirt and peas unfit for canning shall be picked out of such samples
and weighed, and the deliveries by the party o f the first part shall be tared in proportion to the waste as
found in the samples.
In case the peas grown under this contract shall become ready for canning and the party of the second
part is unable to can them, it is agreed between the parties the peas are to be left growing till dry enough
for seed, and then harvested and delivered by the party of the first part to the party of the second part,
without additional cost to said party of the second part.
If the crop is damaged by storm between the date it is ready for canning and the date it is harvested
for seed. such loss is to fall on the party of the second part ana the damage is to be agreed upon between
the field superintendent o f the party of the second part and the party of the first part.
For each pound o f merchantable seed delivered to the party of the second part they agree to pay three
times the price that would be paid for the largest-sized peas when ready for canning.
If the crop should be damaged by storm, or if the fields are in such condition that the crop can not be
such crop Som causes mentioned. It is understood and agreed that all peas saved for seed shall be stacked
as soon as the vines are dry enough, and the top of the stack shall be covered with canvas or straw to pre
vent the seed being damaged by storms, and if this is not done there shall be no obligation on the party of
the second part to accept such seed if it should be damaged.
It is furthermore understood and agreed upon by the said parties that if the directions of the field super
intendent of the party of the second part are no t followed by the party of the first part in regard to planting,
cultivation, and irrigation, and the fields should become foul with weeds, the party of the second partis
relieved from any obligation to accept the peas from such field, as the cost of thrashing and handling them
at their factory is more than the crop is worth. It would also be the privilege of the party of the second
part to accept or reject them for seed if they were neglected.
It is agreed between the said parties that the seed peas to be planted under this contract shall be furnished
b y the party of the second part a t-------- per pound, and that the value so advanced in seed shall be deducted
from the price of the first part of the crop delivered, or that if the crop delivered shall for any reason be insufagrees to pay*the p arty of the second part'the amount of suchdeficfency on oHbejfore S eptem lerl ^191^
Payments shall be made by the party of the second part under this contract on the 10th day of each
month for all crops delivered during the month next preceding.
This contract is not transferable by either party without the written consent of the other party thereto.
Party of the First Part,
24
BULLETIN OF THE BTJBEATJ OF LABOR STATISTICS.
varieties at times. Alaskas come first; Richard Seddons, if planted the same day
as Alaskas, will be about a week later, and Admirals, if planted the same day, will
be still another week later than the Richard Seddons. In addition to this, we find
that different parties planting have different kinds of soils, even if planted the same
day, they would not mature the same way, so that taking three or four varieties and
planting them as we speak of, it gives us a season of from five to seven weeks for han
dling peas. Then, too, when it comes time to can them, if we find some of the fields
are going to mature more rapidly than we could handle them, we instruct the growers
to irrigate them, which will start a new growth and retard the maturing of the peas
to some extent. Notwithstanding all these conditions, however, there are many
fields that we are not able to handle some years on account of the excessively hot
weather making many of them mature at the same time, even if planted at different
periods, and we have a clause in our contract for such contingencies.
There are a number of things in the foregoing letter and appended
contract which have a bearing upon the problem of controlling the
harvestings, but the single fact that the canners in irrigated dis
tricts have an advantage in the means of controlling the time of
crop-ripening puts the canners in rainfall regions under the neces
sity of offsetting such advantage by bringing to bear on the field
problems a concentration of skill which shall equal in effectiveness
the skill displayed in the management of the canning processes.
Manifestly, if a plant is equipped to care for 250 acres of normal
yield in 26 actual working days of 10 hours each, and the plantings
ripen in 15 or 16 days, the hours will have to be lengthened accordingly
or there must be an additional equipment and labor supply for the
emergency if there is to be no loss of canning crop.
The methods adopted for distributing the harvestings in Wisconsin
are revealed in the following extracts from interviews with the
canners:
1. Land is platted out in 15-acre tracts, and the plan is to plant 15 acres per day.
2. Tries to control the planting to 10 acres per day, but has never been able to do
so. All planting done on contract.
3. Plant 10 acres per day.
4. Plant equipped to handle 10 acres per day, best yield. Plants 10 acres per day.
If prevented by bad weather or otherwise from planting one day, do not make it up.
5. Begin planting peas April 20 or as near thereto as the weather permits. (The
variation is never more than three or four days either way.) The plan is then to plant
for 30 days, barring Sundays, and a period of about 10 days in the middle of the season;
15 days planting; 10 days rest; 15 planting. The intention is to plant between 30
and 40 acres per day. If prevented from planting one day it is made up as nearly as
possible by additional plantings the next.
6. Begin by planting 10 acres per day and at end of season plant 25 acres per day.
Makes an average of 20 acres a day throughout the season. Start slow, because the
early plantings are liable to pile up.
7. Try to sow between 10 and 15 acres per day, but the uncertain weather makes
very much regularity impossible. Different varieties of soil chief factor in regulating
crop.
8. Plant 25 acres a day.
9. Rule for planting, based on experience, is: Divide the plantings into three
periods—for the first two weeks plant half as many as expect to can after season com
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OP WISCONSIN.
25
mences, i. e., if 10 acres be planted, be prepared to can 20 acres a day. For the next
two weeks plant three-fourths as many as expect to handle—say 15 acres a day—and
the remainder plant about as many acres a day as expect to handle in canning season.
Began planting about April 25 for season of 1912.
In all the foregoing cases the plantings were apparently distributed
upon the basis of so many acres a day, according to the individual
estimate of the plant’s capacity. In a few cases bad weather inter
rupted the actual work for a day or two, but in each of these cases
it is apparent that the interruption was allowed not in consideration
of the effect of the weather on the previous plantings, but because of
its effect upon the actual field work. In other words, there is no
evidence, except in one or two cases, that plantings are made with
distinct reference to the germination of previous plantings. This is
enormously important, for, according to experts in the Bureau of
Plant Industry, if one planting has not had time to germinate before
another planting is made, the probabilities amount almost to a cer
tainty that the ripenings will fall together, if the character and condi
tion of the soil and the quality and variety of seed for the two plant
ings are the same. Whether these conditions are similar, the planter
of course is in a position to know and can adjust his plantings
accordingly.
It is evident that the plantings are distributed with little or no
regard to the germination of previous plantings, each man planting
so much a day, one or two suspending work Sundays and for 10 days
in the middle of the planting season—presumably to relieve con
gestion almost sure to occur in the midst of the harvesting season as
a result of this method. In the early part of the planting season the
frequent cold snaps prevent germination and plantings made on
successive days during such cold snaps might just as well be made
on the same day. That the interference of cold snaps with germina
tion and the consequent conflux of ripenings are largely confined to the
early season is reflected by the statement of canner No. 6 (see p. 24),
who said he “ started slow” because the early plantings were more
liable to “ pile up.” The same influence is reflected by canner No. 9.
An expert of the Federal Bureau of Plant Industry said to the
agent of the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Regulating each planting by the date of the previous planting will not regulate the
time of ripenings. If the planter could hold up each planting until the previous plant
ing had germinated the control of harvesting would be a comparatively ample mat
ter, providing that the character and condition of the soil and the quality and variety
of seed were taken into consideration.
SHORTNESS OP HARVESTING SEASON IN RELATION TO CONGES
TION.
The shortness of the pea-harvesting season becomes an important
factor, therefore, in the distribution of the crop, and the danger of
blight and pea louse which threaten the peas toward the end of the
26
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
season complicates the problem. A man who plants to the capacity
of his equipment one day and has to wait five days before he plants
again because the weather has been so cold as to prevent germination
of the previous planting has lost five days of the harvesting season if
the two plantings are on the same soil and of the same variety and
quality of seed.
Even under the present method of distributing the harvestings,
however, a considerable portion of the harvesting season is lost,
according to the table below, which is drawn from the harvesting
data submitted by 29 plants, and shows the average duration of the
season, the average number of days worked, and the percentage of the
harvesting season during which the equipment was idle.1
LEN GTH OF HARVESTING SEASON, IN DAYS, COMPARED W ITH TH E ACTUAL NUM
BER OF DAYS ON W HICH THE PLANTS W ERE IN OPERATION .
Length of harvesting season.1
Year.
cent
Number
Greatest Average Per
season
c f plants Longest Average number number ofduring
report
of
days
of
days
season length of
which
ing.
plant
plant
reported season
equip
was in
was in
(days).
(days).
ment
was
opera
opera
unpro
tion.
tion.
ductive.
17
25
25
29
60
51
66
56
42.5
37.7
30.5
34.7
49
37
35
39
31.4
28.9
21.9
24.9
26.2
23.3
28.1
28.3
i Sundays are included, as plants were operated whenever emergencies demanded it.
It needs no argument to make clear the difficulty under which the
canners labor to spread the ripenings evenly over a larger part of the
available harvesting season. It is equally plain that unless the
character and condition of the soil and the variety and quality of
seed are taken into consideration, as well as the succession of germi
nations, the time of ripening of successive plantings is the blindest
gamble. For example: A canner has three grades of soil, each known
to mature seeds of the same quality and variety in different periods
of time. This fact, if ignored, is likely to make a riot of congestion
during the harvesting season, but may become a valuable factor in
control if given due consideration. For if a “ cold snap” has pre
vented germination of a planting on one grade, instead of making a
second planting on the same soil and thereby practically insuring a
simultaneous ripening, he can plant on the second soil, and if the cold
continues to prevent germination of the first planting, he has his
i I f a canner puts up peas only—as many do—the use of the entire equipment is measured, of course, by
the pea-canning season; but, if he puts up other products, a part of the equipment used in pea canning
is available for more than the pearcanning season.
WOMEN IK PEA CANNERIES OF WISCONSIN.
27
third soil. A carefully kept schedule of the probable times of ripen
ing from each planting will aid in making effective use of the varying
ripening periods required for the different varieties of seeds,1 other
wise these variations may entirely upset calculations based on char
acter and condition of soil only. This does not make a certainty of
the ripening times, because the three grades of soil may be affected
differently by abnormal weather conditions. The method, however,
would do much to increase control and to relieve congestion.
Only one canner interviewed emphasized the importance of taking
into account the character of the soil in the problem of controlling
the ripenings. While he has been mentioned before in this discus
sion, his comment in detail is worthy of a place here. After saying
that shallow planting materially cuts the yield per acre, this canner
remarked:
After the peas are above ground the depth planted has little or no effect on the time
of ripening. Those planted shallow naturally get above ground first. * * * The
texture of the soil has more to do with the time of ripening than the depth of planting.
Plant on the same day (in different soils) and there will be a variation of 10 days in
the time of ripening.
This is the canner who said that having four varieties of soil he
could by “ judicious planting” control his crops better than those
who had only one.
PROPORTION OP DAYS WHEN WORKING HOURS EXCEEDED 10.
To what extent the failure to control harvestings is affecting the
working hours, is clearly indicated by the following table which shows
the number of days on which the working hours exceeded 10. As
stated in connection with the discussion of the amount of acreage
carried per line,* if a planter has overloaded his equipment in the first
instance by contracting for more acreage than a plant under present
conditions could care for in a 10-hour day throughout the entire
season, he has created for himself an insoluble problem when it comes
to so controlling the harvestings as to keep within a 10-hour day.
He may, however, show a greater measure of success in securing an
even distribution of his harvestings than the man who has not so
overloaded his equipment that his average working hours for the
season were more than 10. The success or failure to distribute the
harvestings evenly is measured by the proportion of days on which
the working hours exceeded the average.
>See letter from Colorado canner printed on pp. 23 and 24, giving the ripening periods for three varieties
of seeds.
* See p. 22.
28
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
DAYS W ORKED, AVERAG E W ORKIN G HOURS, AND PE R CENT OF D AYS ON W HICH
W ORKIN G HOURS EXCEEDED 10 DURING 1908, 1909, 1910, AND 1911.
1908..
1909..
1910..
1911..
118
*25
<26
4 31
Inspectors.
Cappers.
Pickers.
Num
ber of
plants
report
ing
Year. work
ing
hours
through
out
season.
Total.
Per
Per
Per
Per
cent
cent
cent
cent
of
of
of
of
Aver Aver days Aver Aver days Aver Aver days Aver Aver days
age
age
age
age
age
age
age
age
on
on
on
on
days hours which days hours which days hours which days hours which
work
work
work
work
hours ed.
ed.
r 7 . hours
r 7 . hours
ed.
ed.
< $ . hours
ex
ex
ex
ex
ceed
ceed
ceed
ceed
ed
10.
ed
10.
ed
10.
ed 10.
28.4
30.0
22.0
23.4
10.4
10.0
9.8
9.7
68.9
69.2
60.7
55.5
30.6
26.6
21.2
24.7
10.4
10.5
10.1
10.0
67.8
66.7
60.7
53.7
26.4
30.1
21.3
24.1
10.4
10.5
10.4
10.2
67.8
64.1
66.4
53.3
28.8
28.8
21.6
24.1
10.4
10.1
9.9
9.8
68.3
67.3
62.1
54.3
i Of these, only 17 plants reported pickers, 15 reported cappers, and 8 reported inspectors.
* Of these, only 23 plants reported pickers, 19 reported cappers, and 11 reported inspectors.
3 Of these, only 24 plants reported pickers, 18 reported cappers, and 14 reported inspectors.
* Of these, only 29 plants reported pickers, 23 reported cappers, and 19 reported inspectors.
This table reveals what was to be expected, viz, that the percentage
of days on which the working hours exceeded 10 was highest in 1908
when the acreage (see table on p. 22) was greatest and descended
steadily with the acreage decline, the range being from more than twothirds of the time in 1908 to a little more than half the time in 1911.
The load per line has decreased even more than the acreage, for in the
four years while the acreage decreased by nearly 19 per cent the
yield per acre also decreased by nearly 13 per cent, resulting in a
decrease of 29.4 per cent in the load (that is, average cases per line).
Concerning the foregoing table it may be stated that though the
numbers upon which the computations are based are small the per
centages represent a prevailing condition. Considering the figures
for days worked and for working hours in all plants during the whole
of the season, as shown in the above table, it is seen that 68.3 per
cent of the days worked exceeded 10 hours in 1908, 67.3 per cent
exceeded 10 hours in 1909, 62.1 per cent in 1910, and 54.3 per cent in
1911. Considering the matter from another point of view it was
found that the proportion of the plants in which the hours worked
per day exceeded 10 for at least two-thirds of the season was nearly
three-fourths in 1908, nearly 60 per cent in 1909, just one-half in
1910, and only 34 per cent in 1911. In both 1910 and 1911 the
smaller proportion of plants working at least two-thirds of the season
in excess of 10 horns a day is reflected in the average working hours
as well as in the average per cent of days in excess of 10 hours. It is
also worthy of note that in all the 4 years from half to more than fourfifths of the plants exceeded 10 hours a day for more than half of the
season.
WOMEN IK PEA CANNERIES OF WISCONSIN.
29
LOSSES DUE TO CONGESTION.
Any improvement in the method of controlling the harvestings bears
directly upon almost every phase of the administrative problem
within the factory, because the principal operating problems within
the factory have their origin in the field.
In common with most of the fruit and vegetable canners “ the pea
canners,” said an expert in plant industry, “ have concentrated expert
study and generous capital upon the solution of factory problems,
overlooking the fact that their most serious problems are created in
the field. ” There is no question but that a more effective handling
of the problem of harvesting control will cost as much or more money
and study than were expended in bringing the cannery processes to
their present state of excellence. On the other hand, the records
submitted by the canners, and the verified interviews with them,
leave little room for doubt that such expenditure would be more than
offset by the gains in quantity and quality of output.
One canner told the Bureau’s agent that he “ lost $6,500 last year
through not being able to handle crop. The first part of the season
was cold and later all plantings ripened together. Could have packed
10,000 cases more, but made money last year in spite of loss.” The
risk of losing crop through congestion is too obvious and too well
understood to call for further comment except to say, perhaps, that
loss may be and is somewhat offset by letting the peas go to seed.1
Another loss due to the present frequency of congestion is in a
decreased proportion of high-grade goods. It is the aim of the canner
to pack as many of the young and tender peas as possible, for they
bring the best prices. But when he is confronted with an obvious
crop jam, no matter how he manages during the harvesting period,
some fields are sure to get beyond their prime before he reaches them,
and the consequence is a larger proportion of the lower grades. Fur
thermore, the usual care given to the several processes is likely to be
abated under the pressure of a crop congestion, bringing about a
decrease in the proportion of high-grade goods. In one instance
where the canner reported that the crop “ had been very satisfactory
so far as quantity goes,” he reported that he was “ somewhat disap
pointed so far as quality goes,” because the factory “ was fairly
swamped with product during the packing season,” and it was a
“ hard matter to give the work proper attention in every detail when
overcrowded.”
Intimately related to loss due both to spoilage and restricted pro
portion of high grade goods during heavy runs is the risk of imperfect
inspection for the pin-point leaks when the line is speeded so that the
cans are passing the inspector at the rate of 80 and over a minute.
i The conditions under which the Colorado pea packers let fields o f peas go to seed are set forth in the con
tract printed as a footnote on p . 23 of this report.
30
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OP LABOR STATISTICS.
The concentration involved in the placing of caps on the openings of
the cans is much intensified by speeding of the line, unless a cap placing
device is provided, and even then the girl attending the machine must
be alert to correct the mistakes of a line running at the rate of 80 to
90 cans a minute. The picking of the peas, while not regarded as
skilled work, needs to be done with care to maintain the quality of
goods and excessive speed is not conducive to perfect picking. The
manufacturer of canning machinery before mentioned wrote the Bureau
under recent date:
There has been a tendency the last few years toward high capacity lines, but we do
not believe real efficiency is served by such methods, as the services of the inspectors of
capping, etc., can not be performed with as great efficiency.
Where the congestions have been met by overtime work, the effect
of fatigue upon efficiency becomes important not only to the canner
but to the cannery worker. According to a bulletin of the Federal
Bureau of Chemistry,1 “ Cap and tip leaks become most numerous
when long runs are made and the workmen become tired. When
night runs are made the greater number of leaks are found to occur in
cans handled in the early morning.”
In the interviews with the canners it developed that they were not
all agreed as to the effect of the spoilage due to imperfect inspection
upon the season's profits. The range of opinion is measured in the
following extracts. Where no definite opinion was given as to the
effects of long hours on the efficiency of inspection, any information
gathered as to losses through faulty inspection is given as a side light
on a subject apparently unstudied by a majority of the canners inter
viewed.
1. “ Inspectors and cappers do not do so good work late at night. They get tired and
one of the boys takes the place for a while. Not more than one-fourth of 1 per cent
are spoils due to poor inspection.” This firm packed 22,000 cases in 1911. The loss
through poor inspection was therefore 55 cases. At an average price of $2.40 per case
(roughly estimated from the schedule of prices for Wisconsin peas, printed in the
Canner of Jan. 4, 1912), this canner lost $132 through faulty inspection. The in
spectors are rarely paid more than 15 cents an hour. Another inspector could have
been employed at double the rate for 5 hours overtime during the entire season of
25 days at a total cost of $37.50. If the second shift inspector cut down the spoilage
by one-third, she would have saved her own cost and put money in the firm’s till.
2. “ If inspectors did not pass more than 70 cans a day, company did not complain.”
As this company reported 30 actual working days, this represents a loss of 87J cases,
which at the average price of $2.40 a case meant $210 on the wrong side of the ledger.
The company paid its inspectors 12J cents. Another inspector at double rate for five
hours*overtime during the entire season would have cost the firm $37.50. Though this
canner refused to express any opinion as to whether more leaks occurred during the long
hour runs, it would seem that the loss under the present system of inspection is large
enough to warrant the experiment of an overtime inspector.
3. “ Does not see that more bad cans are passed at night than during the day.”
Light is good. Canner has one inspector for cap leaks and one for tip leaks and thinks
i “ The canning of peas,” p. 50, Bulletin 125, Bureau of Chemistry.
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OF WISCONSIN.
31
1 per cent a liberal allowance for imperfect inspection. Probably fewer are passed.
Each can spoiled means about 12$ cents loss. At one-half of 1 per cent spoilage through
poor inspection this firm lost 108.72 cases of peas in 1911. Taking his own estimate of
12£ cents per can, or $3 per case, the season’s loss amounted to $326.16. The inspectors
were paid 12Jcents an hour. The firm could have engaged another inspector at double
rate for 5 hours overtime for its entire season of 25 days at a cost of $31.25. If she saved
10 cans a day she would have paid her way.
4. “ Bad cans passed by inspector are very small items. Twelve cans per inspector
for each thousand cases. ” On this basis the firm’s loss amounted to 44.6 cases during
1911, or a money loss of $107.04,1if $2.40 a case is taken as the average value. The in
spectors were paid 10 cents an hour, and the firm worked 27 days. Another inspector,
therefore, would have cost $27 for a season of five-hour days at double the rate.
5. “ Inspector should not pass more than from 10 to 20 leaks a day.” It was “ prob
able that these occurred later in the day. It is true with everybody that after they are
dead tired they can’t do as good work, and nobody’s to blame for getting tired.”
6. “ Probably 1 per cent defective cans pass the inspector.” This amounts for this
company to 194 cases a season, or $465.60 loss. Firm pays its inspectors20 cents an hour
and worked, in 1911, 20 days. The cost of an additional inspector for five overtime
hours at double rate would have been $40.
7. “ No doubt but that workers do more inferior work at the end of the day when
tired than at the beginning when fresh.”
8. “ Inspectors should not be rushed. Two dozen cans save wages of inspector.
Loss, 1 in 500.”
9. “ Never estimated per cent of defective cans passed—not more than 1 per cent.”
At 1 per cent the company’s loss would have amounted to $637.20. Another inspector
at double the regular rate of 17J cents for 5 hours overtime during entire season of
23 days would have cost $40.25.
10. “ Girls get used to their work and even when tired make fewer mistakes than a
greenhorn would.”
11. “ One-half of 1 per cent is lost through faulty inspection.” In this case the loss
amounted to approximately 261 cases, or $626.40. If an inspector attended a line alone
she was paid 20 cents; otherwise, 15 cents. The firm worked 26 days in 1911.
Twenty-six 5-hour days at 40 cents would have cost the firm $52. This is the firm
that complained of the “ quality of its heavy runs.”
12. “ Naturally an inspector can not do so good work at the end of a long run.”
13. “ Considers two leaks passed per 1,000 as passable inspection. Girls pass more
as day wears on.”
14. “ Defective cans passed amount to almost one-half of 1 per cent.” This meant a
loss of 107.22 cases, or $257.33. Another inspector at double the regular rate of 11 cents
for 5 hours overtime during entire season of 22 days would have cost $24.20.
15. “ Girls are not able to do efficient work after the long strain of the previous day. ”
16. “ Does not think there is any noticeable variation in the number of imperfect
cans passed at the beginning and at the end of the day. It all depends upon the
person.”
Finally, it may be said that in a previous investigation made by
the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics into cannery conditions the
agents were frequently told by employers that “ after a drive the
work lagged.” It seems plain, therefore, that quite aside from the
welfare of the workers a solution of the problem involved in con
trolling the harvestings, supplemented by such a manipulation of
the labor supply as to avoid overtime work, would make for the
financial gain of the employer.
* Unless otherwise specified, the price per case as estimated from the schedule of prices for Wisconsin
peas in the Canner of Jan. 4,1912, is used.
82
BULLETIN OP THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
LABOR SUPPLY AND POSSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYING A SECOND
SHIFT.
Thus far the bearing of equipment upon working hours has been
discussed without reference to the labor supply. It is a reasonable
assumption that a man will not invest in an equipment unless he is
sure of manning it with at least one shift.
The latest problem with which Wisconsin canners have had to deal
is the restriction of the working hours of women over 16 years of age
to 10 hours a day and 55 a week. While there are but three important
occupations filled by women—picking out foreign substances and
imperfect product from the peas, placing lids on the filled cans, and
inspecting the sealed cans for leaks—the business of canning, as
stated before, is a continuous performance, and under ordinary con
ditions each machine in the line must have its attendants. It some
times happens that some peas will be allowed to go “ unpicked” by
hand, either because the crop is unusually clean and such foreign
substances as it contains are removed by one of the ingenious cleaning
devices or because a lot in the rush has been relegated to lower grades
which are not so carefully searched for imperfections. On the whole,
however, the work must be performed in continuity, and the problem
reduces itself to a question of labor supply for emergencies, when
reserve equipment, storage devices, the methods of determining
adequate acreage, and the system of distributing the harvestings
have failed to avoid congestions.
The extent to which congestions, and consequent demands upon
emergency equipment and second shifts of labor will occur, depends,
of course, upon the degree of success with which the earlier problems
are solved. But, assuming that the plantings have been regulated
with regard to known agricultural facts and that the factory has
been equipped according to the probable demands as revealed by
the records, there will still be emergencies calling for the operation
of the plant for more than 10 hours a day or for the diversion of the
crop from canning to seed purposes, as provided in the contract
submitted by the Colorado canners.1 In these emergencies, under a
rigid restriction of working hours for women, it becomes imperative
to discover whether there are other women to be secured for a second
shift or whether men or boys are available and can do the excess work.
The records and all other information submitted by canners have been
diligently searched for light upon this subject. While it is obvious
that the total number of people that appear on the pay roll for any
one week may not have been available for the long days of that week,
the probabilities, confirmed by a number of canners, are that when
a woman applies for work during the canning season she wants the
3a
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OP WISCONSIN.
money, and as most of the canners say their help is not employed
elsewhere during the rest of the season, the women are presumably
available for the rush days as well as for the slack days, particularly
as they are paid by the hour. In other words, the number of women
appearing on the pay roll for any one week is taken as the visible
supply of labor for that week.
The following table shows the visible supply of labor for 1911, the
number of days where the working hours exceeded 10, and the per
centage of the visible supply of female labor which was used during
those days:
A VERAG E NUM BER OF D AYS ON W HICH W ORKIN G HOURS EXCEEDED 10, AND PE R
CENT OP VISIBLE SU PPLY OF LABO R USED ON SUCH DAYS IN 31 PLAN TS DURING
1»U.
Occupations.
Pickers.................... .....................................................
Canners.......................................................................
Inspectors......................................................................
Number
of plants
reporting
women
employed
Inspect*
fled occu
pations.
29
23
19
Visible
supply of
female
labor on
the pay
rolls.
404
70
44
Average Average
number of number of
days on women
which
working
working days ex
hours ex ceeding
ceeded 10. 10 hours.
13.0*
13.3
12.8
310
67
44
P ercent
of visible
supply o t
labor
used on
days ex
ceeding
10 hours.
70.7
95.7
100.0
The above table shows that in the case of at least one occupation,
the pickers, there was not an even distribution of the load over the
visible supply of female labor. It appears that but a little over
three-fourths of the pickers were employed in the days when the
working hours exceeded 10. In all but one of the 29 plants report
ing for 1911, the pickers worked some days in excess of 10 hours.
There were but three plants where the entire visible supply of
pickers was used on such days. In 10 cases only from 45 per cent
to approximately 63 per cent was used and in one other plant the
records show that 29 per cent of the visible supply of pickers were
employed. Furthermore, the records show a number of firms whose
plants are equipped with two or more lines, but who did not use all
their lines even when the working hours were in excess of 10 a day.
Where the entire visible supply of labor was used the possibility of
a second shift of either women or men must be taken into considera
tion.
In discussing the possibilities of a second shift in the canneries it
should be borne in mind that not only is night work less attractive
than daywork, but that in the canneries night work would be emer
gency work, more highly irregular than daywork, and proportion
ately more undesirable, unless proportionately higher paid.
What the canners had to say as to the supply of labor, either male
or female, has been arranged according to whether they reported an
91553°—13— 3
34
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
actual shortage of female labor so that a second shift was not possible
under any conditions, or an inability to secure a second shift at the
rate of pay prevailing for daywork.
CANNERS REPORTING SHORTAGE OF BOTH MALE AND FEMALE HELP.
1. In --------help is drawn from the school girls and boys principally and is rather
scarce; some of it has to be imported from a town almost 14 miles distant. Male help
is harder to get than female. The company has placed a vining station midway
between two plants and when overloaded or short of help at one plant the peas are
sent to the other. However, as the acreage carried at one plant is less than that at
the other, the overload is more likely to be on the plant with the larger acreage, and a
consequent necessity of sending surplus peas and labor to the other plant.
2. The labor supply is unusually scarce. Last year there were about 7 or 8 girls
in the place (which is a mere hamlet), but for various reasons it looks as though there
would be only 2 or 3 this year and that they must depend almost entirely on neigh
boring town high-school girls—farmers’ daughters who are used to working and do
not mind long hours. It is always a problem to get enough help, male and female, for
one shift; couldn’t possibly run two. If these girls stay in the evening they can not
leave until 11.27 p. m.—no earlier train. Sometimes this is too late to suit, and iri
rare cases they are not through at the factory at that time, but the girls must go and
the work falls more heavily upon the local girls. This latter condition applied rather
to 1909. For the past two seasons the crops have been bad and the work light. Should
always have 20 to 25 girls, but are always short on pickers. Boys could pick, but they
can not be hired so cheaply. Must pay boys 12J cents and they do not do so good work
as girls at 10 cents. Never employed boys as cappers—don’t think they would do.
Help is secured by personal solicitation and word sent by employees.
3. Female help is all local; about 60 per cent from high school, a few married women
and widows. Very few work elsewhere—perhaps three or four at housework or scrub
bing. Expect to have about 30 female employees this season; supply of labor,
however, both male and female, is not equal to the demand, and the hours of night
work too irregular to attract extra force, even if there were a sufficient number in
the place. Not enough money in it for the workers. No housing facilities for outof-town girls. The company has considered running a boarding house for them.
Does not think boys do satisfactory work as pickers or inspectors; does not want
to employ any under 16 years; male help, usually schoolboys and such men as are
about town or can be spared from farms, etc. Normal force about 60, about 40 per
cent of whom are females.
4. No people are to be gotten here. Men employed are mostly of the traveling
troups, but even they are hard to get, because there are no saloons or other attrac
tions. Girls come from neighboring towns. The company runs a boarding house.
All the workers, men and women, stayed here last year, with the exception of two
girls who had an uncle in town and a few people who travel on the train. All boarders
pay $4 per week. A second shift would be impossible. If it were possible
to attract more girls it would be impossible to get men. But their boarding house
was filled to overflowing with one shift, and it would be impossible to accommodate
more. The town contains approximately six other houses, so there are no outside
accommodations. Can not get boys over 16 at all.
5. Get women workers from class who can either change their work profitably in
summer (teachers, dressmakers, etc.) or from high school girls. Have a few women
on the rolls who don’t want to work in the factory all day, but who will come in and
help a few hours of the evening. Superintendent would prefer to work two shifts
of both men and women, but thought the town could not supply even enough women
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OF WISCONSIN,
35
lor a second shift, to say nothing of the few available men. The president of the
company said the hours above 10 hours would not be enough to engage a second
shift, even if they could be gotten, which he doubted. It would not pay the workers
to come.
6. Labor supply sufficient for present equipment—one shift—but would have to
import both men and women if he attempted to run a second shift. Small village.
7. Help is mostly local. They have all the labor employed now that the town
will afford. It might be possible to import some people from a neighboring town,
but it would mean providing housing facilities for them. It would be a very difficult
thing to undertake, and the foreman did not feel that he could try it. Help went
on strike in 1911 because one coUege fellow led them on to it, but came back all right.
8. The girls employed last year (15) represented all that they could get, and this
year the same. There is always difficulty in getting help, both male and female.
Could employ more than they do. No possibility of getting enough for a second
shift. Lima beans are canned after September 1, and the girls usually employed
are in school, but the factory can operate more slowly and they do not need so many,
and some of the girls leave school for the work. The superintendent does not know
just what the firm’s plans are, but supposes when time is up the women will have
to go, but it will be very hard for them, for it is about as difficult to get extra men
as women.
9. Supply of labor, male and female, is ample to run one shift with present equip
ment, but not to add a line or to work a night shift. Majority of the female laborers
are from the high school. This plant is dependent upon the high school. One
year school did not close until several days after they wanted to start canning and
tha plant was much crippled. Has two women, mother and daughter, who are
willing to take the work between them and thus keep under 10 hours a day, but
could get no others who would consent to such an arrangement. If the proprietor
finds he has to run over the 55 hours this year he will man his lines with some field
men who have promised to come in if needed, but he does not anticipate that they
will do very satisfactory work. Night shift tried and failed last year—can’t get the
women or skilled men for a second shift.
CANNERS REPORTING SHORTAGE OP FEMALE HELP ONLY.
1. About half of the workers on peas are schoolgirls, and almost none of the others
work elsewhere. Can just manage to get enough help. Female workers are not
plentiful.
2. Plant is 2 miles from town. Depend on neighboring farmers* daughters for
help. It is hard to get the town girls to go out there.
3. Female labor supply very scarce; 6 or 8 girls exhaust supply in the place, which
is very small. People are poor and want to work as long as possible. Girls couldn’t
afford to come from out of town. Would have to pay 25 cents per meal and does not be
lieve hotel would take strange girls. Hotel has bar—wouldn’t be suitable place.
4. Female help is very scarce. Could not get enough for double shift. The town
is very small and the help is mostly local, though some come from neighboring towns.
The plant was located outside of town (although the owners reside in town) for the
reason that there were two pea-canning factories there and they about exhausted the
labor supply of the place. Possibly one-half of the female employees are teachers
and students; the remainder are generally those from neighboring towns who are
attracted by the better pay for the season, returning to other occupations at the close.
Employed 25 to 30 women last year. The out-of-town women pay $3.50 or $4 a
week for board. Not so difficult to get men, whom they pay from 17$ to 20 cents.
5. The labor supply is mainly from immediate vicinity—generally home girls—
some from school, working during vacation; possibly 40 per cent of all are from school.
36
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
Last year a few girls came from a glove factory in a neighboring town for the additional
pay. Girls can get board at $4 a week. Must have at least 30 girls at the 12 picking
tables; would be glad to have 45 or more. Take all they can get, for female help is
scarce. Generally have all the male help they need.
6. Help, both male and female, is rather scarce. Has enough women for one
shift on one line, but thinks he could not get enough for a second shift. The women
who work in the fields would not be efficient on the line. Some men are imported—
a cottage is kept for them. * * * Stated that if the law continues to interfere
with his “ freedom” he will replace the women with men. Said that he could get
male help in the factory for the same rate that he pays the women. (He would have
to pay the pickers a little more, but would not need so many.) The women cannery
workers are mostly the wives and daughters of artisans there who have only about
six months’ work in the year. The $1 or $1.50 per day earned by the women during
the canning season is a very necessary addition to the family income.
7. Labor supply scarce, drawn from village; very hard to get enough girls. Onethird of girls generally come from high schools, rest generally married women and
widows who do not work elsewhere. Help is obtained by personal solicitation and
by advertising. Normal force 70 to 85, 30 being females.
8. Normal force about 60; one-half this number females. Thinks second shift
not feasible; not long enough to warrant extra shift, and owing to scarcity of workers
it would be very difficult to get the help.
9. Can get enough workers for one shift, but it would be impossible to get enough
for a second shift. They have tried boys, who abound, but the manager said the
peas might just as well have gone unpicked.
10. Can get enough girls for one shift, but it would be impossible for the three
factories in town to get enough help for a second crew. No other industries had
girl employees. Some of help is high school; the rest work at home the remainder
of the year.
11. Labor supply is poor; that is, for a second shift. There is no floating popula
tion—very few foreigners—just the resident population of a small place. They
will not come for the few hours necessary for second shift; want to make more money.
Will employ fewer women because of the labor law; would rather have them. Find
no difficulty in getting men and boys to take their places, but must pay them more.
12. Female labor supply scarce. Could not get enough girls to work a second shift.
CANNBRS REPORTING SHORTAGE DUE TO LOW WAGES OR WORKING
CONDITIONS.
1. This town furnishes an oversupply of female workers under 16, but the man
ager considers such girls too irresponsible for his work. Finds trouble in getting
enough girls 16 and over. Has some difficulty in getting enough boy help. Says
the youths want “ positions” rather than “ jobs.” He thinks the policy of the high
school is largely responsible for this condition. The greater number of girls who
work here do not work elsewhere during the year. The seed store, laundry, and
department stores are the only other women-employing industries in the town. The
department stores have long waiting lists of girls willing to work for a little over $2 a
week rather than work in a pea factory. * * * He has several men around the
factory who are competent to work on the line. With these men and a few of the pick
ers he can “ man ” his second line when he sees that he is going to be caught with a
lot of peas at night. In that way he hopes to avoid night work. This is a tentative
rather than a definite plan; he has no definite plan as yet. When pickers are put
on the line they will get the rate of pay that the job indicates. * * * Such boys
under 16 as are willing to work in the cannery can be had at the same rate that the girls
are paid; boys 16 and over would have to be paid a higher rate.
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OF WISCONSIN*
37
• 2. Plenty of men and boys, and probably could get an extra shift of girls, only the
line girls would not want to give up their places; would rather work right on. Two
of them have been working in this factory for four or five years. It takes fully a week
to break in new line girls. When the manager sees that a capper or an inspector has
worked for a long time steadily, he takes her place and lets her rest. Ten out of 15
of the employees are students. * * * Some of the employees work at the milk
plant at other times. * * * Time is too short for evening shift.
3. Ample labor supply, both male and female. Workers are mostly Norwegians
and Swedes. The manager has no trouble in getting all the women he wants. When
rushed he can send out some girl and get more help than is really needed. Many of the
workers are high-school girls and girls who stay at home the rest of the year. The city
has several shoe factories, a laundry, and department stores, but the canning draws
very few workers from these industries. Does not think a regular second shift
feasible; it will not be steady enough to attract the women.
4. Cannery the only woman-employing industry of any size. Most of the employees
are high-school girls and older women who live at home. Always have more applica
tions than can be filled.
5. Employ few women. Have no difficulty in getting help, either male or female.
All from immediate vicinity and do not work elsewhere.
6. Labor supply good. Plenty of help. All girls live within one-half mile of
factory, i. e., farmers’ wives and daughters; do not work elsewhere for wages.
7. Ample supply of labor, both male and female, for one shift of present equipment*
Not sure that he could get entire new shift of women. Thinks perhaps he could if he
could give work enough to make it worth while. Female help all local, most of them
do not work elsewhere. A few high-school girls.
8. Labor supply, male and female, is sufficient for present equipment. Manager
does not think he could get enough for second shift. He does not pay for the time the
employees are held idle at the factory, so his regular shift would not be satisfied with
any shortening of their hours in order to make a reasonably long shift for the second
crew, and a second crew would not come for a few hours.
9. More than half the employees (female) in pea canning do not work elsewhere,
though a number are employed in the canning of other products—beets, kraut, toma
toes, beans, pickles, etc., consequently have much longer period of employment*
Several are high-school girls; part are married women. There is plenty of help; no
trouble to get, male or female. In fall male help is plentiful (this for beets and kraut);
many woodsmen are anxious to have employment before winter work begins.
10. Help very plentiful, both male and female—are many more applicants than can
be used. * * * If run for less than 18 or 20 hours altogether, girls would not
make enough to induce them to come in two shifts. Wont come for a 4 to 6 hour day.
11. Labor supply ample. “ Yesterday had 75 more people apply than they could
use,” said Hie president, and this was agreed to by the manager. “ Yesterday” was
the trial run. There are woolen and linen mills here and some small cigar factories.
Their women are mostly older women who keep house the rest of the year, and a few
school girls. Boys are not so abundant; would have to pay them 5 cents more than
girls, and then they wouldn’t begin to do the work as well as the girls. The presi
dent said that boys would be too expensive, not because of the extra wage but because
they would do such poor work. * * * His complaint was at the child labor law,
because it made it impractical for them to employ children, thus giving the children
nothing to do in vacation but get into mischief, and preventing them from helping
to support the family.
12. Because of the large number of tobacco factories here, have to pay from 12£ to
20 cents to get women; the most of them get 17£ cents per hour. Can get all the men
he wants at that rate. * * * Prefers women because they are neater and handier
and do better work, but otherwise don’t care. Foreman “ stands in” with men and
38
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
eays if the law stands they will employ all men. Used to employ 150 women; last
year replaced many women with men.
For evening picking will employ boys; would prefer women pickers, but can get
boys for same pay. Can get plenty, as it is in vacation time and they are glad to get
work. If they would employ them, could get women enough to run the whole factory,
except, of course, the heaviest work. If hours were longer would have two shifts.
* * * Not enough money in it for the girls, many of whom are poor and need the
money. * * * Last year employed only 10 women in pea canning; this year will
not have over 8. Women workers are mostly a very poor class who work in the tobacco
factories at other times. They want longer hours, because they depend upon the can
nery for their daily bread.
13. Labor of all kinds is plentiful. They can not employ nearly all the girls who
apply. At the same time he does not think a second shift would work, because it
would not offer sufficient employment to attract the girls. The proprietor stated that
the girls had to work long hours in order to make a living. Some of the girls work in
the shoe factory and some in a candy factory. The larger number work nowhere
else. When asked regarding the availability of boys in girls’ positions, the proprietor
shrugged his shoulders and said he would “ hate to try them.” He gave the impres
sion of not having considered them as a possible alternative and of having no inten
tion of doing so.
14. No difficulty in getting help. Large foreign population; probably more differ
ent nationalities represented than in any other city in the State. Can employ 200
women from the beginning of the pea season to Christmas.
15. Impossible to get a force for night shift; the time each night not long, and
season so short it would not pay anyone to work for such periods. * * * Girls
never complain of long hours for they want the pay, but they do complain if the hours
are too short.
16. There were 30 girls employed in 1911 when two lines were run; will require 40
this year for the three lines. There were about 40 males employed inside factory and
about 60 outside. Expect to have difficulty in getting help on account of the short
day. Barely enough local help for one shift and the hours are not long enough to
warrant outsiders coming in; wouldn’t come for 6 or 8 hours’ work. Some years
ago board could be had for $2.50 a week; last year it was $3 and this year it will be
more. Most of the help live in the village or on adjoining farms; some are school
teachers, high-school girls, clerks in stores who leave in the dull seasons on account
of the better pay in cannery.
17. A large proportion of help is from the schools. A near-by college provides a
plentiful supply, but a night shift could not be maintained on account of uncertain
hours of night work. Must cut down as much as possible the number of girls, though
men and boys must be paid more, 17J to 20 cents.
18. Labor supply of all kinds is more than sufficient. Can employ only about onethird of the female applicants. The canning company and the sawmill company are
made up of the same people, and male help is transferred from one to the other as
needed. The girls are not employed elsewhere duringthe year, but with all of its prod
ucts the cannery gives a part of them about six months’ employment. Some go to
school, others remain at home during the rest of the year. * * * Stated emphat
ically that there were many women and girls who would be glad to take work even
for a few hours a day at the same rate that he is paying the day shift. He plans, how
ever; to give them a fair day’s employment by doing his labeling during the canning
season and allowing them to “ fill out” with labeling.
19. Normal force 10 to 12 females; all from immediate neighborhood. Has always
been able to get plenty of help, but lately is more limited, as some of the girls of the
place work in mills in near-by city. Not difficult to get men and boys.
39
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OF WISCONSIN.
20. Have always been able to get enough help. Probably can this year, but on
second shift would probably have to employ older women, some married, and they
are not so handy. Most of the female help is from nearby and do not work elsewhere
at other times. Three or four are school girls who work during vacation. In com
season little fellows of 8 years can husk, and want to. One little boy of that age will
come. “ Policeman with a club could hardly prevent him, though he was told that
he must not work.”
21. Can get all the help they want, both male and female.
22. Help is plentiful. The company, which operated this plant for the first time
in 1911, supplied its plant in a neighboring town to some extent with help from here.
In both places school girls and boys are the chief source of supply. :
23. Majority of female help school girls (two-thirds of all), and some women who
do not work elsewhere at other times, generally all home people. Can get plenty
of help for one shift, but there is so little night work comparatively, and it is so irregular
that it would be very difficult to get the extra shift. Plenty of male help. Generally
employ 40 men and 20 girls in factory. There are in the place an umbrella factory,
knitting mill, and shoe factory, and with so much competition their advantage in
the past has been the long hours. Will now have to pay more probably.
24. Labor supply sufficient. Much of the male labor is made up of college boys.
Most of the girls are local people who do nothing else during the year; a few are school
girls.
25. Help is all from vicinity; some school-teachers have applied for work this season;
have employed some of the older school girls. While there may be enough for one
shift, he will try to work in more men. Expects to have only 8 to 10 girls this year
because of unreliability of force if 10-hour law is enforced.
26. There are more applicants, both men and women, than are needed, largely
local help. With the exception of a few skilled men, most of the employees (girls
and boys) are high-school students. Has some college boys. Does not believe, in spite
of the oversupply of help, that he could get women to work on a second shift. The
women would rather not “ bother” to work the shorter hours.
27. No trouble to get girls. Girls want long hours in order to make more money.
In tabular form the foregoing symposium of opinions as to the labor
supply and the possibility of securing a second shift is as follows:
SUMMARY OP OPINIONS OF FIRMS R EPO RTIN G AS TO LABO R SU PPLY.
Number. Percent.
9
12
Firms reporting actual shortage o f both male and female labor...................................
Firms reporting actual shortage of female labor only......................................................
Firms reporting inability to secure second shift because present rate of pay would
not make short hours attractive....................................................................................
27
56.25
Total firms reporting on labor supply....................................................................
48
100.00
18.75
25.00
Four of the 12 canners reporting a shortage of female labor for
a second shift definitely stated as an objection to employing men for
overtime work the necessity of paying more for male help. One
had tried boys, but had regarded them as inefficient. But these
cases aside, 56.25 per cent of the canners frankly charged their inabilty
to secure a second shift of female labor to the unprofitableness of
short hours at the present rate of pay. The additional cost of a single
inspector compared with the probable gain to the employer has been
40
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
discussed in connection with the losses due to congestion, but because
it is undeniable that any considerable increase in the cost of producing
an article in one State puts the industry of such a State under a handi
cap in its race for business with its principal competitors, it becomes
pertinent to know how considerable would be the effect of any given
increase for all the female labor working on a second shift.
COST OF FBMALB LABOR PER CAN OF PBAS.
The following table shows the cost of female labor per can in 1911
for 16 of the 31 plants from which pay-roll and pack data were secured.
While this is but half the number of establishments, the information
is as adequate for the purpose as if space were used for all the plants,
since the cost of female labor for the other 15 fell within the range
shown on these tables.
COST OF FEM ALE LA BO R IN 1911.
Establishment No. 1: Total pack, $37,200 cans.
Number
of hours
worked.
Occupations.
Cappers.........................................................
Inspectors.....................................................
}
occu Occupa
Hourly rate Occupa Total
cost
ofp ay.
tional cost. pational tional
per can.
cost.
1,366
127$
10.10
.175
$136.60
|
22.31
$158.91
$0.000218
$144.54
$0.000251
$222.20
$0.000429
$304.82
$0.000462
$652.58
$0.001401
$354.04
$0.000487
Establishment No. 2: Total pack, 576,000 cans.
Pickers..........................................................
Cappers___ ...................................................
Droppers.......................................................
Inspectors.....................................................
374
1821
182}
10.125
.20
.10
.20
$4.69
36.45 |
66.95
36.45
Establishment No. S: Total pack, 517,584 cans.
Pickers..........................................................
Cappers.........................................................
Droppers.......................................................
Inspectors.....................................................
^ioii
105|
10.125
.125
.125
.15
$170.78
25.22
13.19 |
13.01
Establishment No. 4: Total pack, 659,544 cans.
Pickers and inspectors.................................
Cappers.........................................................
Droppers.......................................................
1,872
600f
575}
$0.10
.10
.10
$187.20
60.07 |
57.55
Establishment No. 5: Total pack, 465,600 cans.
Pickers.......... ...............................................
Cappers.........................................................
Droppers.......................................................
Inspectors.....................................................
3,727$
662
4664
227|
$0,125
.125
.125
.20
$465.97
82.75
58.31 |
45.55
Establishment No. 6: Total pack, 727,152 cans.
Pickers............................... ..........................
Cappers..........................................................
Droppers.......................................................
Inspectors.......................................v.............
/
l,635f \
317|
1,017
318|
$0.10 }
.08
.15
.125
.15
$131.51
47.66
127.13
47.74
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OF WISCONSIN,
41
COST OF FEM ALE LABO R IN 1911—Continued,
jEstablishment No. 7: Total pack, 872,816 cans.
Number
of hours
worked.
Occupations.
Pickers1.........................................................
occu Occupa
Hourly rate Occupa Total
tional cost
tional cost. pational
o f pay.
per can.
cost.
1,971
10.10
$197.10
$0.000529
$578.15
$0.000571
$1,071.05 } $1,402.05
331.00
$0.000631
$197.10
Establishment No. 8: Total pack, 1,012,900 cans.
Pickers *......................... ...................
Cappers.........................................................
Droppers.......................................................
Inspectors......................................................
Others...........................................................
1 058J
10.10
.075
.10
.10
997.20
79.37
210.93 |
190.05
Establishment No. 9: Total pack, 2,220,456 cans.
Pickers..........................................................
Inspectors*....................................................
10,710*
2,648
10.10
.125
Establishment No. 10: Total pack, 616,824 cans.
Pickers..........................................................
3,697*
Cappers......................................................... 5221
Droppers.......................................................
722§
Inspectors.....................................................
1,016* /\
Others............................................................
193*
$0.07
.07
.125 I
.10
.07
$258.81
.10 52.25
50.59
111.11
13.53
$486.29
$0.000788
1389.54
10.000881
$541.78
$0.000899
$990.15
149.78 | $1,279.77
139.84
$0.00102
Establishment No. 11: Total pack, 442,008 cans.
Pickers___
Cappers___
Droppers..
Inspectors.
Others------
2’23
379
4404
518*
$0.10
.10
.10
.10
.125
$201.45
41.33
37.90
44.05
64.81
Establishment No. 12: Total pack, 602,472 cans.
Pickers..........................................................
Cappers.........................................................
Inspectors.....................................................
4,«23f
808
911| /\
$0,075
.10
.15
.125 }
$346.78
80.80 |
114.20
Establishment No. IS: Total pack, 1,252,080 cans.
Pickers..........................................................
Cappers.........................................................
Inspectors........................................ ............
6,601
998*
851
$0.15
.15
.20
Establishment No. 14: Total pack, 521,856 cans.
Pickers..........................................................
Cappers.........................................................
Droppers.......................................................
Inspectors.....................................................
4 8881
*550*
528#
504t
$0.10
.125
.125
.125
$488.88 1
68.78 |
66.09
63.09
* Including 1 capper and 1 inspector.
* No pickers since 1908—has cleaning machinery
* Including cappers, who interchange.
J
$686.84
$0.001316
42
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS,
COST OF FEM ALE LABO R IN 1911—Concluded.
Establishment No, 15: Total pack, 459,996 cans.
Number
of hours
worked.
Occupations.
Hourly rate Occupa Total occu Occupa
tional cost
of pay.
tional cost. pational
cost.
per can.
Pickers..........................................................
3 ,139|
Cappers.........................................................
Inspectors......................................................
1,322* \
477J
10.15
.125
.10
.15
.125
.15
$347.37
$593.21
$0.00129
$216.37
$0.00188
174.25
71.59
Establishment No. 16: Total pack, 115,200 cans.
Pickers1.........................................................
Cappers.........................................................
Inspectors........................... ..........................
Others............................................................
2,370|
198
113!
123!
$0,075
.075
.10
.10
$177.81
14.85
11.38 J
12.33
i Including droppers.
The average cost of female labor per can for the 31 canneries for
the year 1911 ranged from one forty-sixth to one-fifth of a cent per
can, or from one-half cent to 4£ cents per case of 24 cans.
While the canners quoted above say that they could not get a
second shift because the hours would not be long enough to hold a
force, their obvious meaning is that the second shift of hours would
not pay the workers enough money at the regular rate. Either men
or women would be glad to work even half the time at double rate.
The table on page 28 shows that the percentage of days on which the
hours exceeded 10 for all the 31 plants in 1911 was approximately 54.
The table on page 48 shows that the average hours for such days was
about 12, or an excess of 20 per cent over 10 hours a day—that is,
the actual overtime cost was 20 per cent of 54, or 10.8 per cent of the
total cost at the regular rate. Leaving out of consideration the fact
that a part of this excess was due to an apparent failure to distribute
the visible supply of labor on the pay rolls, and assuming that the
canners were squarely against the necessity of securing a second shift
of either men or women by paying a higher rate to attract a supply,
the cost could have been even trebled for the hours in excess of 10
without increasing the total cost of female labor as much as onefourth. In other words, trebling the rate for overtime would have
raised the cost of female labor from a range of % a cent to 4£ cents
per case of 24 cans to a range of £ of a cent to 5f cents.
As stated before, New York State is Wisconsin’s chief competitor
m the packing of peas, and whether the rise in the cost of female
labor will jeopardize Wisconsin in the race for business can doubtless
be answered with a little computation from the ledgers. The fore
going increase in expenditures to comply with the restricted-hour
legislation does not take into consideration the probable gains in
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OF WISCONSIN.
43
general efficiency of both workers and administrative organization.
In this connection it is pertinent to quote from a volume1 referred to
in an earlier report on cannery conditions:
The exemption from regulation is also responsible for corresponding deficiencies in
the technical administration of the industry (fruit and vegetable canning). The very
fact that employers are free to make their operatives work without limit * * *
makes them disinclined to put thought and capital into improving arrangements.
The better disposed of them admit that the present system (unrestricted hours) tempts
them to buy carelessly; to make no adequate use of telegraph and telephone in regu
lating deliveries; to dispense with cold storage. * * *
A few firms stand out as preferring the upward way, scientifically organizing their
supplies, providing cold storage, and working their operatives only normal hours.
EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT.
Earlier in this discussion mention was made of the existence of
certain devices which facilitated the canning processes and of their
importance during ‘1heavy runs.” Cleaning machines save much
time and labor. Some of the canners claimed that one cleaning
machine of a certain make did the work of eight girls. A cap-placing
device does away with the need of two skilled workers. Where the
canners are plagued with thistles, the thistle separator will save the
work of many pickers. Obviously the installing of such machines
has a direct bearing upon labor supply and upon the possibility of
securing a second shift for emergency runs.
WATER-STORAGE TANKS.
Of late there has come upon the market a cooling tank in which
to preserve any excess supply of shelled peas overnight. Water is
kept running into the tank through pipes arranged along the bottom,
so that the peas are not only kept cool but are prevented from being
mashed by their own weight.
Nine of the 50 Wisconsin canners visited had equipment for keep
ing excess supplies of shelled peas in storage overnight. Eight of
the nine devices were for cold-water storage. What the canners had
to say about the system is of sufficient importance to report in detail,
quoting verbatim wherever possible.
1. Four cooling tanks used last year proved very successful. Pipes run along the
bottoms of the tanks (which are 8 to 10 feet long, 3J feet wide, and 2£ feet high).
These pipes do not have round perforations, but are sawed through diagonally along
their under surface. The water comes through these slits with a swirling motion over
the bottom of the tank in a continuous flow. When canning these peas nearly onehalf more sugar is used for the “ sweets,” but no more for Alaskas. Firm sent sample
cases of “ tanked peas” to their best buyers, “ who found no difference in them.”
2. “ Have tanks with upward spray. Used them last year; not very satisfactory—
toughens skins and peas also lose flavor.”
3. “ Kept peas overnight last year in tanks of water which was changed every half
hour.” (These are riot the modem spray tanks referred to by canner quoted in para
graph 1.) “ This proved so successful that the coming year they are installing 50
tanks, each of which will hold 1£ bushels of peas.”
i The Case for the Factory Acts, Mrs. Sidney W ebb, p. 52.
44
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS,
4. Tried cooling tanks for keeping peas overnight, and although they thought they
“ were tended carefully” the peas “ had a slightly sour smell.” Expect to try again
this year if necessary, being especially careful. “ It is possible the boys might have
been a little careless in caring for them last year.”
5. “ Sometimes keep large-sized peas overnight in cold water. The large peas are
improved by the treatment, because they swell out and do not absorb so much brine.”
6. “ This year company is installing one large cooling tank at the recommendation
of another canner who has tried cold-water storage in emergencies, with success.”
7. “ Have three tanks for keeping peas overnight.” Had not yet used the tanks.
8. “ Have kept peasin these running-water tanksfor 24 hours without loss of quality.”
9. “ Have attempted to keep peas overnight in weak brine. They lost in quality.
Have never tried running water through them.”
At a recent convention of Wisconsin canners the effectiveness of
this device was under discussion. One expert in canning machinery
who attended the gathering wrote the Bureau concerning the con
ference as follows:
We had quite a lively discussion in regard to the matter of providing cold-water
storage tanks for peas which would enable the factory to put into this water storage
such peas as arrived late at the factory or such peas as would be shelled out by the
viners after working hours. This method of having a ready supply of peas early in
the morning would enable the factory to start up promptly full blast, instead of as at
present, losing some time at the start of the day until the viners are in full running,
and also seems to promise the possibility of shutting down the general departments of
the plant at an arbitrary hour and avoiding overtime. The packers in discussing it
seemed to think that, even if these advantages were shown at the start, there would
be a tendency to drop back to the crowding method; but all who discussed the matter
seemed to agree that there would be advantages in operation, as stated, in using the
water storage, but that the peas held in this water, although the water would be con
stantly changing, would show some slight deterioration in flavor. Others contended,
however, that they had tried this method of storing and that a slight increase in the
amount of sugar added to the liquor which is used in pea packing would readily offset
the slight difference that the water storage might make in the flavor. I was pleased to
note the very keen interest on the part of Wisconsin canners in this, especially in the
point that they raised when it was introduced, that it might enable the Wisconsin
factories to avoid asking for special discrimination in the matter of working their labor
overtime, which the fruit and vegetable packers of other districts seem to think is
absolutely necessary in order that the perishable and raw material may be saved. * * *
The writer of the above closed his letter with the following:
In general we would say that the pea packers are less dependent on unreasonable
hours of labor for their help in order to take care of their product than any other line
of vegetable and fruit canning.
OPINIONS OF CANNERS AS TO RESTRICTION OF WORKING HOURS.
It is to be expected that with no uniformity in determining the
demands which can safely be made upon the cannery equipment
and no standardized method of distributing the planting, there
would be little uniformity in the judgments of canners as to what
legal restrictions on working hours for women could be fixed with
out doing injury to the pea-packing industry in Wisconsin. Of the
50 canners interviewed 39 expressed their opinions on the matter in
words quoted below.
WOMEN IN PEA CANNEBIES OF WISCONSIN.
45
1. Says it will cost a little more to adjust the factory to the 55-hour law but that
it can be done and he believes it will be an ultimate gain. “ Canning is hard work
and 55 hours is a long enough week. Girls are not able to do efficient work after the
long strain of previous day.”
2. Asks for no modification in law.
3. Finds no difficulty in complying with law. Does not ask exemption on own
account. Thinks law will be a hardship to canneries in small communities.
4. Would be satisfied with 55-hour law if the 8 and 10 hour restrictions were removed.
5. Satisfied with 55-hour law if the 8 and 10 hour daily restrictions be removed.
6. Could as a rule manage on a 55-hour week. There are times when it is impos
sible without sacrifice. Asks reasonable provision for emergency during canning
season.
7. He can take care of his com pack under the present regulation. Stated that
while there might be some weeks that he would need to work over 55 hours in peas,
his greatest trouble will be in complying with the 8 and 10 hour daily regulation.
8. Fifty-five hours ample for peas except in case of accident, when need 12 to 16
hours. Fifteen hours per day might be set as a limit.
9. No daily limit; some weekly limit satisfactory. If law continues to interfere
with freedom will replace women with men. Fifty-five hour law harder to comply
with in com than in pea season.
10. Should be no restriction. Possibly 10 hours per day for 6 days, or 64 hours
per week would be sufficient.
11. Twelve hours a day outside limit.
12. Twelve hours a day, 72 hours per week.
13. Twelve hours a day, 72 hours per week. Suggests calling off inspectors for
30 days. The 55-hour law is arbitrary and does not fit conditions.
14. Twelve or thirteen hours per day.
15. Would be satisfied with 13-hour run.
16. Could manage with a 13J-hour limitation. “ Law has no right on principle of
‘Freedom of contract’ to limit hours of women.”
17. Not less than a 14-hour day.
18. Would like some extra allowance for the day rather than for the week.
19. Fifteen-hour day every other day for a week or two; 12 hours rest of time. If
others are planning to disregard the law, he might. Did not wish to be the only one.
20. Eight and ten hour limitation removed; 55-hour law satisfactory. Needs 15
hours for 3 days a week.
21. Seventy-two hours per week, with a 15-hour day limitation.
22. Can’t get help if hours are limited to 55 per week. Thinks there should be no
restriction, or at least a limit of 15 hours per day.
23. Twelve-hour day, with privilege of extending hours according to need. Chil
dren should be permitted to work for short season; boys over 10 in factory, and girls
under 14 to pick.
24. Eighteen hours for ordinary conditions; more for emergencies. Could make
profit on 10-hour day. Thinks Wisconsin does not need restrictive legislation.
25. One week with entire exemption; the rest of the season limited.
26. Exemption during July and August for all vegetable preserving factories.
Law repealed, or any arrangement that would help matters; 72 hours a week might
do. “ Can see how abuses might exist with no restriction, but the class of people
who are in the business in Wisconsin can safely be trusted. Conditions are very dif
ferent from some places in East (Baltimore) in or near congested cities.”
27. Total exemption. Thinks if women are entitled to ballot they should have
right to say how long they shall work. If factory was full of uncanned peas and
legal hours for women’s labor had expired, would keep right on, as it would cost
46
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS*
him $1,000 to obey law; to disobey would be cheaper. All he wants is to let the
women work as long as they want. At any rate, the 8-hour proposition cut out.
28. No daily limit; a 72-hour week.
29. Total exemption preferred; possibly a 72-hour. week. Any modification
should cover all products.
30. Complete exemption not too* much to ask. Any reasonable modification
acceptable. Intend to comply strictly with the law.
31. Wants entire exemption.
32. Tctal exemption. Has figured out no way of complying with law.
33. Nothing short of total exemption in peas and com. Becent legislation unfair.
Announces intention of locating new plant in neighboring State.
34. Total exemption in both com and peas.
35. Total exemption.
36. Total exemption in peas. Plan to evade law. “ No law made but that it can
be bended.” Company not to employ women over 10 hours. Then the superin
tendent’s wife hires them for the evening hours as she sees fit. Stated to State bureau
agents they had “ a fine scheme to evade the law.”
37. Wishes total exemption. If law is strictly enforced, would have to go out of
business. Might get alternate workers.
38. Total exemption. Considers present legislation a3 a great grievance.
39. Total exemption in peas. Object to child-labor law.
WORKING HOURS IN CANNERIES IN THE ABSENCE OF RESTRICTIONS.
In view of the number of pea canners who objected to any restric
tions on the working hours of women, there is peculiar interest in
the subjoined statements from some of the canners as to what did
happen in their own plants within the course of the five years previous
to the enactment of the 55-hour law. Especially does this informa
tion gain in interest when considered in the light of the judgment of
one canner who said:
I can see how abuses might exist with no restriction, but the class of people who are
in the business in Wisconsin can safely be trusted. Conditions are very different
from some places in the East (Baltimore) in or near congested cities.
CONTINUOUS WORKING HOURS ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS OF CANNERS.
1. Frequently run as high as 16 hours and sometimes 18 or 20 hours. Once last year
ran 24 hours one day.
2. Twelve to 14 hours a day were normal during busy season. Girls come to work
at 8 a. m. and it was expected that the work would be done by 10,11, or 12 p. m., but
often continues until 7 a. m. on Saturday nights. (Sunday a. m.)
3. Come at 7 a. m. * * * Generally finish work at about 10 p. m. on three or
four nights a week. Thursday, if possible, they shut down at 6. Friday and Saturday
are long nights, often run until 7 a. m., the girls staying as late as any.
4. Hours 7 or 8 a. m. till 10 or 12 p. m., with one-half hour at noon and supper.
The last car leaves at 11.27 p. m. Girls leave on that car, but the half a dozen local
girls stay until the work is finished. Saturday nights frequently till 5 or 6 Sunday
a. m.
5. Work 14 hours per day when the season is well started. Have worked 20 hours
per day.
6. Hours most often are 12J to 13$. Heavy days 15 hours; has been 20 hours.
* * * Occasionally it was necessary to work night and day to prevent the peas
which should rank as “ fancy” becoming “ seconds.” * * *
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OP WISCONSIN.
47
7. Thirteen hours; 19 to 20 on Saturday nights. One night aside from Saturday
they worked until 2 a. m., and went on as usual next day.
8. Work 14 hours per day in height of season. Rarely work over 18 hours per day.
Fi\e days in 1908 they worked practically all night.
9. Ordinarily work 12 to 14 hours. Twice worked 16 and 17 hours.
10. Begin work at 8 a. m. and work till 11 or 12 p. m., seldom after 12, 4 or 5 times
during the season, 2 a. m. the latest.
11. Girls get to work at 7 a. m. and work until 8, 9,10,11, and 12 p. m. Stay as
long as work holds out, most generally until 9.80 or 10 p. m.; Saturday night once or
twice in the season until 2 a. m.
12. Begin work at 7.15 a. m., generally running until 9 p. m. Sometimes, however,
on Saturday night until 11 or nearly 12 p. m.
13. Average hours in rush season 12; maximum 16 hours; less at beginning and
ending of season.
14. Generally begin work at 8.30 or 9 a. m. Work until about 11.30 p. m. After
11.30 not over 7 or 8 times in a season. Once worked until 4 a. m.
15. In past years have worked 12 to 16 hours; last year never worked after lip . m.,
generally stopped at 10 p. m.
16. Usually begin 7 or 8 a. m. Pickers did not stay after 10 p. m. last year; line
girls stayed longer. Previous years worked usually until from 11 to 12. In 1909
worked once until 2 a. m. One hour at noon and at 6 p. m.
17. 1911 worked 12 hours a day. Other years often worked 15 hours.
18. Girls count on 11 or 12 hours per day. Have never worked over 15 hours per
day.
19. Begin work at 8 a. m., work until 8 or 9 p. m., 1 hour each for dinner and supper.
Worked until midnight (14 hours) once last season; bad season. In a good season
work late much more often.
20. Come to work generally at 8 or 8.30 a. m. A few come at 7. During the last 4
years rarely worked after midnight, perhaps 4 or 6 times each season.
21. 14£ longest hours last year.
22. Count on a 14-hour day. Ran until midnight every other night last year.
23. Average 12 or 13 hours during season. Occasionally they worked until after
midnight; 2 a. m. the latest. When the season is well staked, regular night work is
the rule.
24. If allowed to begin at 6 a. m. and run until 12 p. m., if necessary, could get along,
but there are emergencies that even these hours will not meet. * * * Has him
self worked 72 hours with only 6 hours away from the factory. Girls worked 40 to 42
hours. * * * Once observed a girl asleep at a picking table, she had been working
42 hours at a stretch—told her she had better go home and take a nap. She did so
for several hours, then came back. He added, “ We do not need restrictive laws in
Wisconsin. We could make a fair percentage of profit in 10 hours, but by restricting
hours the canners are crippled just so much and of course the consumer suffers.”
25. Force once (5 years ago) began work at 7 a. m. Saturday, worked right through
Sunday until 1.30 a. m. Monday, 42 hours on duty. During this time the company
served luncheon and hot coffee every three or four hours. Not a girl played out, but
some of the men did.
WORKING HOURS AS SHOWN BY PAY ROLLS.
As before intimated, the hours have decreased (both in averages
and extremes) since the acreage per line has been cut down. But
that even so there were some violent extremes recorded on the 1911
pay rolls is shown by the tables below, giving the average hours of
days when working hours exceeded 10, the maximum days, and the
48
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
number of such days. The first table presents the information for
all plants reporting, as follows:
A V ERAG E HOURS PE R D A Y COM PARED W ITH HOURS FO R D A Y S ON W HICH W O R K IN G HOURS EXCEEDED 10, AND NUM BER OF SUCH D A Y S, B Y SPEC IFIE D -H O U RS,
FOR A L L PLAN TS R E PO R TIN G , 1911.
Occupations.
Aggregate number o f days o f specified hours and number
Per Aver
of plants showing such days.
age
Num Aver cent hours
of
ber of age
on
plants hours days days 13 to 14 hours. 15 to 16 hours. 17 to 18 hours. 19 to 20 hours.
in
re
port per excess ex
ceed
ing. day. of 10 ing
10
hours.
hours. Plants. Days. Plants. Days, Plants. Days. Plants. D ays.
19 10.20 53.3
23 9.97 53.7
29 9.67 55.5
Inspectors...............
Cappers...................
Pickers....................
12.4
12.4
12.0
14
19
24
75
90
108
9
14
13
13
18
28
2
4
4
3
6
9
2
1
3
2
1
3
The following table shows for 10 selected plants information
similar to that presented in the preceding table:
A V ERAG E HOURS PE R D A Y COM PARED W ITH HOURS FOR D A YS ON W HICH W ORK
IN G HOURS EXCEEDED 10, AND NUM BER OF SUCH D A Y S, B Y SPECIFIED HOU RS,
IN SELECTED PLAN TS, 1911.
Plant
number.
Occupations.
Number o f days of specified
Per Average
hours.
hours
Average cent o f per day
hours days in
days
per excess for
to 14 15 to 16 17 to 18 19 to 20
day.
o f 10 exceed
ing 10 13
hours. hours. hours. hours.
hours. hours.
10.4
9.7
10.6
63.3
63.3
66.7
11.5
11.5
11.3
9.5
10.7
48.4
44.8
37.0
12.2
12.2
11.8
8.8
[Inspectors1
{Cappers * ..
(Pickers.......
9.3
50.0
11.0
10..
9*2
* 54*8
*ii.3*
(Inspectors..
{Cappers___
[P ick ers*...
6.0
5.4
5.8
5.3
5.3
10.5
10.8
19.
(Inspectors..
'Cappers—
IPickers, i ...
12.7
12.6
12.0
100.0
100.0
92.3
12.9
12.9
12.3
(Inspectors4
'Cappers—
Pickers.......
8.6
9.0
41.2
11.3
11.3
(Inspectors4.
{Cappers.......
[Pickers........
10.6
10.8
65.5
79.3
12.7
12.5
42.
(Inspectors...
Cappers.......
Pickers........
11.2
11.2
11.0
74.1
73.1
60.0
13.2
14.0
13.5
(Inspectors...
Cappers.......
Pickers........
10.5
9.9
9.5
41.4
39.3
52.4
12.8
45.
[Inspectors1.
Cappers8—
Pickers3—
9.8
53.1
13.7
47.
’ i6*3
"9*8
ii'i
35.
1 Including ca* Included with inspectors,
10.5
12.1
12.7
12.3
M
s Including droppers.
4Men only are em ployed as inspectors.
WOMEN IN PEA CANNERIES OF WISCONSIN.
49
The foregoing interviews, as well as the tables, serve to emphasize
doubly what has been before stated in this discussion, namely, that
the average hours are in no sense the prevailing hours or even the
most frequently occurring hours of work in the Wisconsin pea can
neries. They but represent mathematically the amount of female
labor required to can a given number of peas in a given time. The
interviews and tables put an additional stress also upon the risk of
loading a line for “ an average of 10 hours a day,” until a better
method of controlling the harvestings is devised and the congestion
which prevailed for more than half the time in 1911 is materially
reduced. The alternative, of course, is an equipment—including
labor supply—for such emergencies as the records indicate as probable.
CONCLUDING SUMMARY.
In summary it may be said that, fully recognizing the difficulties
under which the canners labor, because of the uncertainty of the har
vestings and the perishability of the product, and granting that the
working hours for women are the direct effect of congestions due to
these facts, the records of the Wisconsin pea canners nevertheless
show:
1. That a large proportion of the canners created for themselves
their most serious problem by planting so large an acreage per line
of equipment that if the crop could have been distributed evenly
over the entire season it could not have been packed by one shift work
ing only 10 hours a day.
2. That if the canner loads his line of equipment for a full 10-hour
day throughout the season, unless he provides adequate additional
equipment for emergencies, under the present failure to control the
harvestings, congestion is practically sure to result. In the year 1911,
when the average daily hours were even slightly less than 10, the work
ing hours exceeded 10 on more than half the days of the season.
3. That while the canners agree on the working capacity of a line
of canning machinery, yet in practice they have no standard of acre
age of the normal yield to be planted per line of equipment.
4. That the records of previous years are apparently not used by
the canners to aid in determining the reasonable probabilities as to
yield per acre and consequent demand on the cannery equipment.
5. That while the selection of the soil and the regulation of plant
ing furnish means of a considerable measure of harvest control and
the elimination of congestion, yet these factors are at present quite
generally ignored.
6. That reserve equipment, including labor-saving devices and stor
age facilities for excess supplies of shelled peas, is not provided in
many instances to meet emergencies which must fairly be expected
from the planting and harvesting records of previous years.
91553°—13----- i
50
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
These conditions may reasonably suggest that the available means
of providing against congestion and the consequent demand for long
runs of overtime work should be employed before consideration shall
be given to any request for exemption from the law restricting the
hours of labor for women.
With regard to the consideration of any requests for exemption
from the law restricting the hours of labor of women, the situation in
Wisconsin pea canneries, as disclosed by this investigation, suggests
four questions:
(а) Should there be no concession to the pea canners on the ground
of uncertainty of harvestings and perishability of product ?
(б) Should there be entire exemption so that no matter how badly
a canner managed his plantings or how poorly he equipped his plant,
the consequences could be avoided by unrestricted overtime work?
(c) Should there be a limited concession involving an extension for
a certain number of hours per day or per week during a fixed period,
the concession to be available no matter whether the overtime was
required because of bad management or because of emergencies not
reasonably to be expected ?
(d) Should a limited concession be available and the overtime not
regarded as a violation of the law if it could be shown to the indus
trial commission by attested records that such overtime was not
caused by failure to comply with standards of equipment and field
and factory organization established by the commission in conference
with the canners ?
INDEX.
Paget
Acreage planted In peas:
Acreage carried per line by individual plants, actual and relative (measured by productivity),
1908 to 1910, and average carried in 1911........................................................................................
Id
Acreage carried per line b y one, two, and three or more line plants. 1909 and 1911......................
21
Acreage carried per line o f equipment or machinery and corresponding working hours of women,
1
9
0
8
1
9
1
1
■
2
2
Canners’ opinions as to acreage which may be safely carried............................................................20,21
Records, usefulness of, to determine acreage which may be safely carried..................................... 18-20
W orking hours and acreage, relation o f.............................................................................................
22
Yield per acre, average, comparison of, 1908 to 1911........................................................................
19>
Cappers, pickers, and inspectors:
Available or visible supply of, per cent of, used on days on which working hours exceeded 1 0 ...
3a
Hours of work, average daily number of, and of days worked, and per cent of days on which work
ing hours exceeded 10......................................................................................................................
28
Hours of work, average daily number of, compared with hours for days on which working hours
exceeded 10.......................................................................................................................................
48
Hours of work, average daily number of, and average acreage carried per line, 1908-1911..............
22
Labor cost of, per can, by plants, 1911............................................................................................... 40-42
Congestion in pea-canning operations:
Conditions of special importance as related to hours of labor and...................................................11,12
Losses due to ....................................................................................................................................... 29-31
Reduction, of, possibility of, through harvest control....................................................................... 13,14
Contract for pea plantings, form of, used by a Colorado canning firm....................................................
23
Cost of female labor per can of peas, by occupations, 1911....................................................................... 40-42
Days in operation, average ana maximum number of, of pea-canning plants, compared with length
of harvesting season............ ...................................................................................................................
2ft
Days in operation, average number of, of pearcanning plants, average acreage carried per line of
machinery, and working hours of wom en.............................................................................................
22
Droppers, female, labor cost of, per can, by plants, 1911.......................*............................................... 40-42
Earnings. (See Hourly rates o f pay, etc.)
Equipment. (See Machinery.)
Harvest control, distribution of plantings as a means of........................................................................ 22-25
Harvest control, possibility of...................................................................................................................13,14
Harvesting season, length of, in days, compared with actual number of days on which plants were in
operation................................................................................................................................................
2ft
Harvesting season, shortness of, in relation to congestion...................................................................... 25-27
Haste in the canning of peas, reasons fo r .................................................................................................
11
Hourly rates of pay b y occupations, and occupational cost per can of peas, 1911..................................40-42
Hours of labor. (See W orking hours.)
Inspectors, pickers, and cappers:
*___________ ’
*
' of, used on days on which working hours exceeded 1 0 ...
_______ ,.
w
.
, and of days worked, and per cent of days on which work
ing hours exceeded 10
.......................................................................................................
28
Hours of work, average daily number of, compared with hours for days on which working hours
exceeded 10.......................................................................................................................................
48
Hours of work, average daily number of, and average acreage carried per line, 1908-1911...............
22
Labor cost of. per can, by plants, 1911............................................. ................................................. 40-42
Introduction and summary......................................................................................................................
5-8
Labor, female, cost of, per can of peas............................................... .*.....................................................40-42
Labor supply:
Available or visible, per cent of. used on days when working hours exceeded 10...........................
33
Canners reporting shortage of, due to low wages or working conditions..........................................36-40
Female only, canners reporting shortage o f.......................................................................................35,3ft
Male and female, canners reporting shortage of both........................................................................34,3&
Opinions of firms reporting as to........................................................................................................
39
Possibilities of employing a second shift........................................................................................... 32-4a
Machinery or equipment, emergency....................................................................................................... 43,44
Machinery or equipment, pea-canning, working capacity of a “ line” of............................................... 14,15
Machinery or equipment, planting in relation to working capacity o f ................................................. 15-18
Occupational cost per can of peas, and hourly rates of pay, 1911........................................................... 40-42
Occupations of women in pea canneries................................................................................................... 9,10.
Operation, number of days In, of pea-canning plants. (See Days In operation, etc.)
Pea canning, Wisconsin:
Acreage and working hours, relation of.............................................................................................
22
Acreage which may be safely carried, opinions of canners as to............................. ........................20,21
Acreage which may be safely carried, usefulness of records by which to determine...................... 18-20
Congestion and hours of labor, conditions of special Importance as related to................................ 11,12
Congestion, losses due to .....................................................................................................................29-31
Congestion, possibility of reduction of, by study of weather conditions, soil selection, e tc ......... 13,14
Equipment, emergency...................................................................................................................... 43,44
Harvest control, distribution of plantings as a means o f..................................................................22-25
Harvest control, possibility of, by study of weather conditions, soil selection, etc........................ 13,14
Harvesting season, shortness of, m relation to congestion................................................................25-27
Haste in the canning of peas, reasons for...........................................................................................
11
Labor, female, cost of, per can of peas............................................................................................... 40-43
51
52
INDEX.
Pea canning, W isconsin—Concluded.
f age.
Labor supply, available or visible, per cent of, used on days when working hours exceeded ID. .
33
Labor supply and possibilities of employing a second shift..............................................................32-43
Labor supply, both male and female, canners reporting shortage o f............................................... 34,35
Labor supply, canners reporting shortage of, due to low wages or working conditions..................36-40
Labor supply, female only, canners reporting shortage of................................................................ 35,36
Machinery or equipment, emergency................................................................................................. 43,44
Machinery or equipment, pea-canning, working capacity of a “ line” of.........................................14,15
Machinery or equipment, working capacity of, planting in relation to.......................................... 15-18
Occupations of women........................................................................................................................ 9,10
Sources o f information.........................................................................................................................
8,9
Sugar content of peas, effect on, of letting peas stand before canning.............................................
11
Water-storage tanks as emergency equipm ent.................................................................................. 43,44
W orking hours as shown by pay rolls................................................................................................47-49
W orking hours, continuous, according to statements of canners..................................................... 46,47
W orking hours in excess of 10, proportion of operating days consisting o f......................................27,28
W orking hours in the absence of restrictions..................................................................................... 46-49
W orking hours, restriction of, opinions of canners as to ................................................................... 44-46
Y ield per acre, average number of cases of cans of peas, 1911, compared with the three previous
years
Id
fcea pm ntin^/contract for, form used by a Colorado canning firm ............ . ....... **.....................
23
Pickers c&ppors &ud inspectors#
Available orVisible supply of, per cent of, used on days on which working hours exceeded 1 0 ....
33
Hours of work, average daily number of, and of days worked, and per cent of days on which work
ing hours exceeded 10.......................................................................................................................
28
Hours of work, average daily number of, compared with hours for days on which working hours
exceeded 1 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
Hours of work, average daily number of, and average acreage carried per line, 1908—id il.............
22
Labor cost of, per can, by plants, 1911..............................................................................................40-42
Sources o f inform ation...............................................................................................................................
8,9
Sugar content of peas, effect on, of letting peas stand before canning....................................................
11
Summary and conclusions....................................................................................................................... 49,50
5,8
Summary of wnditions^found.................................................................................................................
W sto-storage t a i^ ^ * mergency equipment.........................................................................................43,44
W orking hours:
Acreage and, relation of.......................................................................................................................
22
A v ^ ^ n ^ m & ro f^ ^ r jfey, and per cent of days on which hours exceeded io for pickers, cappers,
^
Average number of, per day,* wmpared withhours for days on which working hours exceeded 10,
for all plants reporting and for selected plants, 1911......................................................................
A v ea ^ en umtgr^of^j^er day, for women, and average acreage carried per line of pea-canning
48
^
Continuous, according to statements* of canners................................................................................ 46,47
In absence of restrictions.....................................................................................................................46-49
In excess of 10, proportion of operating days consisting o f............................................................... 27,28
APPENDIX TO BULLETIN NO. 119 OF THE UNITED STATES BUREAU
OF LABOR STATISTICS.— WORKING HOURS OF WOMEN IN THE
PEA CANNERIES OF WISCONSIN.
WISCONSIN.
ANNOTATED STATUTES.
Employment of women—Hours of labor.
(Chapter 381, Acts of 1913.)
Section 1728-1. The following terms as used in sections 1728-1 to 1728-4,
inclusive, shall be construed as follows:
(1) The term “ place of employment ” shall mean and include any manufac
tory, mechanical or mercantile establishment, laundry, restaurant, confection
ery store, or telegraph or telephone office or exchange, or any express or trans
portation establishment.
(2) The term “ employment ” shall mean and include any trade, occupation
or process of manufacture, or any method of carrying on such trade or occu
pation in which any female may be engaged, or for any place of employment,
as herein defined.
(3) The term “ employer ” shall mean and include every person, firm, corpora
tion, agent, manager, representative, or other person having control or cus
tody of any employment or place of employment, as herein defined.
(4) The terms “ order,” “ general order,” “ specal order,” “ safe,” “ safety,”
and “ welfare ” shall be construed as defined in section 2394-41 of the statutes
[relating to the industrial commission].
Seo. 1728-2. No female shall be employed or be permitted to work in any
place of employment or at any employment for such period or periods of time
during any day, night or week, as shall be dangerous or prejudicial to the life,
health, safety or welfare of such female. It shall be tie duty of the indus
trial commission and it shall have power, jurisdiction and authority to investi
gate, ascertain, determine and fix such reasonable classification, and to issue
general or special orders fixing a period or periods of time, or hours of beginning
and ending work during any day, night or week, which shall be necessary
to protect the life, health, safety or welfare of any female, or to carry out
the purposes of sections 1728-1 to 1728-4, inclusive, of the statutes. Such in
vestigations, classifications and orders, and any action, proceeding, or suit to
set aside, vacate or amend any such order of said commission, or to enjoin the
enforcement thereof, shall be made pursuant to the proceeding in sections
2394-41 to 2394-70, inclusive, of the statutes, which are hereby made a part
hereof, so far as not inconsistent with the provisions of sections 1728-1, 1728-2,
1728-3, and 1728-4 of the statutes, and every order of the said commission shall
have the same force and effect as tha orders issued pursuant to said sections
2394-41 to 2394-70, inclusive, of the statutes [creating the industrial commis
sion and defining its duties], and the penalties therein shall apply to and be
imposed for any violation of sections 1728-1, 1728-2, 1728-3 and 1728-4 of
the statutes. Until such time as the industrial commission shall so investi
gate, ascertain, determine and fix, and shall issue general or special orders
thereon, the periods of time specified in the attached schedule shall be deemed
to be dangerous or prejudicial to the life, health, safety or welfare of females.
SCHEDULE.
At day work, more than ten hours in any one day, or more than fifty-five
hours in any one week.
At night work, more than eight hours in any one night, or more than fortyeight hours in any one week.
91553°—13
53
54
APPENDIX.
Day work is work done between six o’clock a. m., and eight o’clock p. m., of
the same day; provided that employment not more than one night in the week
after eight o’clock p. m. shall not be considered night work.
Night work is work done between eight o’clock p. m., and six o’clock a. m.
of the following day.
Less than one hour during each day or night for dinner or other meals.
Sec. 1728-3. Every employer shall post in a conspicuous place in each of
the several departments in or for which women are employed, a list on a
printed form furnished by the industrial commission, stating the names and
hours required of each woman during each day of the week, the hours of com
mencing and stopping work, and the period allowed for dinner or other meals.
Such list need not be posted where time records are kept for inspection by the
said commission for a period of at least six months prior to such inspection or
where any other substitute equally effective for the enforcement of sections
1728-1 to 1728-4, inclusive, is approved by the commission.
Sec. 1728-4. The employment of any female in any such employment or place
of employment, as defined in section 1728-1, at any time other than those of the
posted hours of labor, as hereinbefore provided for, shall be prlma facie evidence
of a violation of this act. Every day for each female employed, and every week
for each female employed, during which any employer shall fail to observe or to
comply with any order of the commission, or to perform any duty enjoined by
sections 1728-1 to 1728-4, inclusive, of the statutes, shall constitute a separate
and distinct offense.
NOTICE TO EMPLOYERS AND WOMEN EMPLOYEES IN PEA CANNING
FACTORIES.
The following rules restricting hours of employment of women in Wisconsin pea
canning factories are approved by the Industrial Commission of Wisconsin
for the season 1913:
Order No. 1. In pea canning factories where the laws regarding safety and
sanitation and the orders of the industrial commission issued thereunder are
complied with and where due provision has been made for handling the crop,
women who are employed in such factories may be employed not to exceed ten
(10) hours each day between the beginning and ending of work, exclusive of
meal times, between the hours of seven o’clock a. m. and ten o’clock p. m.
Order No. 2. During the rush season, when abnormal conditions prevail by
reason of break downs, bad weather or climatic changes, women who are actu
ally engaged in the process of canning may be employed not to exceed twelve
hours each day from beginning to ending of work, exclusive of meal times, be
tween the hour of seven o’clock a. m. and twelve o’clock p. m.; provided, that
such twelve hour days shall be limited to fifteen in any one year and provided
further that time and a half pay shall be given for all time worked over ten
(10) hours a day and fifty-five (55) hours a week.
Order No. 4. Correct permanent time records shall be kept at each plant, sub
ject to the approval of the industrial commission, and open to inspection at all
times.
Order No. 5. Copies of these regulations shall be posted in at least three
different places in each factory.
I n d u s t r ia l C o m m is s io n o f W is c o n s in ,
Madison, Wis., June 11, 1913.
The above rules were approved by the industrial commission upon the recom
mendation of a committee appointed by it under authority vested in the indus
trial commission by chapter 485 of the Laws of 1911 and chapter 381 of the
Laws of 1913 Pursuant to its authority the industrial commission appointed
a committee representing the pea canners, the female employees in the pea
canning industry, and the consumers, to investigate the hours of labor for
women in such industry, the conditions surrounding such workers, and the
effect upon them of such hours and conditions of labor. The committee was
requested to recommend maximum hours of employment per day and per week
for such employees The foregoing rules were recommended to the industrial
commission and by it approved.
Prosecution will immediately follow any violation of the above rules.
@FedFRASER