Model T's

I saw my first model T roll down my street today. It was really odd as I live really far out in the frontier so it was odd to see someone with wealth come down the street. Maybe they were coming for a scenic drive but nonetheless I hate them. I could never in a million year afford one of those cars. I wish I could work for Ford and get paid $5 a day so that I could but I can't leave the security of my job. I was even tempted to steal the car but I couldn't live with the consequences if I had. My first experience with Model T's was filled with anger but I guess I'll get over it. Maybe the price will drop soon.

Scientific Management Theories

My new job at the steel mill is employing new scientific management theories to our work. Now we no longer need to be skilled in the steel industry. The jobs are broken up for us so that they are easy to learn and we don't have to learn the entire skill. This is incredibly helpful as I don't have too much skill with steel. Incentives are also offered for completing work. If we do enough work in a month the company will give us a paid day off. This will definitely increase production and is a good tactic on their part. I don't plan on being a slacker anyway because that's just not who I am. I'm really looking forward to this new management system.

Andrew Carnegie Steel Mill

I just found out that a new steel mill is being put in place nearby! This is great news for me. I feel as though this new steel mill will be a better job for me. I am going to quit my current factory job for the new steel job. I can work with my hands pretty well now that I've tried practicing some things on my own. Now with this new skill I hope to make a better pay than before however I'm not expecting much. It is only a mill after all. I hope this will turn out as good as I hope! It should definitely be a great economic boost to the area and we could really use it.

Reform Movements

I'm thinking about joining the work reform movement. Conditions is factories are horrible. They are poorly ventilated and dirty. I feel as if I'm starting to become sick from working there. I feel that factories are detrimental to our health and we need to set standards for them. Above the fact that the conditions are bad the pay is bad too. I barely make enough to live and I work 14 hours a day. The conditions are poor, the pay is low, the shifts are long. It's time for change. I can't stand working like this.

Reaction to the Erie Canal

Today I found out that the Erie Canal was finally completed. I feel as though this doesn't affect me all that much. I work in a factory so I have no real use for the canal itself. The only thing it may do is help my factory ship out its goods faster. That isn't even a good thing for me as I will probably have to increase my production which will be tough. It offers job opportunities however, the job requires skilled personal. I am by no means a skilled worker. I do see this as an opportunity for me to start up my own farm though. Now with the Erie Canal I could ship my crops out more efficiently and definitely more cost effectively. I see this as a possibility but as it stand right now, I am too poor to begin a risky venture like this. If my farm fails I will have nothing and I am not willing to take that risk. At the moment, although the Erie Canal is a great achievement in America, I can't see a way that it will affect me in my current state of being.

Bio

My name is Johan Noon and I am 22 years old. I'm a white male and I live out in Williamstown, Massachusetts out on the frontier. My family was not well off in any sense. I was extremely poor as a child so my education is very minimal. I completed 2 years of school before I had to tend to my families farm. I currently work in a factory out of North Adams, Massachusetts. I barely have enough money to survive, let alone provide for a family which is why I have decided to not start one as of now. I feel I need a good financial backing before I start a family which at the rate I'm going at probably won't happen. I hope to at least get out of the factory soon and work on my own farm. The factory is so much work and too little pay.