A page from a time-keeper's notebook is reproduced in Fig. 3. The necessity for an explanation of such a record is apparent. The work on which this record was made, was a job of rock excavation on which two steam shovels were being used, and the time and output of each shovel were kept separately. The record was made on the 17th of the month.
At the left of the page, within the curved line under the heading "sh. 2," we have the names of the shovel crew and the numbers of the pit men. At the side of these names and numbers, is the record of the performance of the shovel of the day previous, the 16th, the shovel runner having given it to the time-keeper while the latter was on his first round on the 17th. Just below the record of the shovel, there are four numbers under a heading Ditch. In order to drain the shovel pit, it was necessary to use four men for cutting a ditch, and the time of these men is charged to the shovel. Underneath the record for the No. 2 shovel, is the record of shovel No. 1. It is recorded in exactly the same way as the other record.
Fig. 3. Page from a
Time-Keeper's Notebook.
In the center of the page, at the top, is the record of the drill gang for each shovel. There were six drills working in gang No. 2; but the record does not show this clearly, as there are two columns of six numbers each, one column being the driller's numbers, and the other being those of the drill helpers. Then there is a column of four numbers representing the muckers. The time-keeper knows, of course, which is which; but if for any reason anyone else than himself had to use the notes in the office, they would be useless. The number under the line is that of the man who carries bits to and from the blacksmith. The name of the fireman of the boiler which furnishes steam to the drills is given, and the number of his helper.
The record of gang No. 1 is given in the same garbled manner, there being 5 drillers, 5 helpers, and 4 muckers in the gang, besides the man carrying bits, the fireman (whose name is given), and his helper. It will be noticed that in neither gang is the name or number of the foreman given, the time-keeper relying upon his memory to make the record complete in the office.
In the upper right-hand corner of the page, is the record of the blasting gang, in front of shovel No. 1. There are 5 men, including the foreman, whose number is given first. Within the ring is shown the number of pounds of powder used on the previous day as reported by the foreman. The record reads "on the 16th, 150 pounds of 30% powder, and 750 pounds of 40%."
Directly below this, midway down the page, is the record of the men working on dump No. 1. The foreman's number heads the list, the numbers of his men following.
Just to the right of the shovel records, and below the record for drill gang No. 2, is the heading "ng.tr. # 1;" and the men whose numbers are under this heading are engaged in laying and repairing the narrow-gauge track for the dump trains from shovel No. 1. Just below the middle of the page, is a list of names and numbers utterly unintelligible to anyone but the one who made it. The facts are these: Donovan is the man who looked after the storage of powder; within the bracket, Nick (the time-keeper, not knowing the last name, used his number, as well as the part of the name that he knows) is the blacksmith; and No. 72 is his helper; No. 118 helped the blacksmith for two hours, having been taken from the narrow-gauge track gang. The time-keeper had to depend entirely upon the blacksmith telling him this, or his record would have been incomplete. The next three men whose names appear in this column were engaged upon repairing a 6-inch pipe line; and the next two pairs within brackets, marked No. 2 and No. 1, are the pipe-fitters for the drill gangs and shovels No. 2 and No. 1 respectively.