Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

On Apr 1, 2007, at 1:19 PM, clhw wrote:

> After years of observation, I have some conclusions about men and  
> hole-digging.
>
> If it is a construction site or utility work, there must be a  
> minimum of
> three men, and it is better to have five to dig one hole. One is the
> supervisor with a hat on, preferrably standing over the hole  
> looking down
> with his fists on his hips or looking up at the pole. One to three men
> standing around looking down in the hole, with at least one leaning  
> on a
> shovel. One lucky guy actually in the hole digging.

The age of specialization.

On my gas crews I was one of three if a normal crew, and five if a  
heavy crew. The laborer digs the hole, the welder affixes the new  
pipe or whatever is needed to connect a new service or extension or  
to repair a leak. The foreman does the paper work. If the welder  
takes pity on the laborer on July afternoons he may take a spell at  
the final digging. I liked digging so after I became a welder I was a  
hero to laborers.

The holes were called bell holes for the shape necessary for the  
welder to stand on his head and do the overhead welding. It is  
minimal fun when sweat steam clouds the goggles. Damned frustrating  
to have to turn off the torch, get oneself upright, clean the goggles  
and wipe the sweat, put the goggles back on, put the heavy gloves  
back on, relight the torch, get back on one's head and have at it  
again. That standing on one's head business sucks. Maybe that  
accounts for my years of neck pain.