Coal Delivery in the U.S,A.
Page 14
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
:Modern .efficiency experts are always devising some new way of cutting tho costs of doing business, of making every minute count, not only so that profits may be maintained, but that better service may be rendered to the public. One of the latest " stunts " in the coal business is the " wheel-in " or " stowing " crew. just as the householder becomes worried about the big pile of coal dumped into the street from a big Packard chainless truck, the "stowing " crew dashes up ; they come by light delivery car, which carries four to six men and wheelbarrows shovels, planks, etc., all of which is quickly on the ground. The men place planks on the lawn, so that the sod will not be cut,. and the work of making the big coalpile vanish begins under the directionpf the foreman, who knows just how to go about this kind of work. Some of the men load and others wheel ; there is a continuous procession. When evevy bit of the precious coal has been thrown into the bin, the men load their wheelbarrows and planks and shovels on to the delivery car, and are off to some other point. in order that the work of a " wheel-in " crew may be carried on with the utmost efficiency, it is necessary for the coal firm to lay out a detinite route of deliveries each day. The big Packards then start. Out, dumping two tons here, three there, five at some other place, and so on. The truck does not wait for the " stowing ". crew to appear, but goes on its way after each load is dumped. With the old way, a truck or horse outfit, after unloading the coal, waited in front of the house until all the coal had been wheeled -in. Now, neither the trucks nor the " wheel-in " men waste a minute, and the consumer gets every last crumb of coal, for the " wheel-in." men use a broom on the pavement. Time, labour and materials are thus economized by substituting for the horse.