Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-02-02
sgypcARPENTERs' STRIKE.

SHIP CARPENTERS STRIKE.
The ship-carpenters employed in the
wards along the Delaware river appear to
be quite generally engaged in strike for
higher wages. In CONSCIENCE ofthis work
upon vessels building is suspended, throw
ing the business into confusion and infict-
ing loss upon the builders. No fragrant
outrages are yet reported, but the strikers
are organized and threaten violence unless
their demands are granted. A circular
issued by the Carpenters and Caulkers' As
ISOLATION of Philadelphia and vicinity rep
resents that none of its members will work
for less than o. per day.
The effect of this strike will be to turn
the attention of shipbuilders more towards
the State of Maine as field for this bust
mess. A strike among ship-carpenters
was never known we believe in this State.
The conditions attending the business are
such that strikes are out Of the question.
Those employed obtain fair and satisfac-
tory wages in comparison with other la
borers, and there is no lack of hands to sup
ply all the wants of employers. In any
unusual rush of business, calling for addi-
tional workmen, there are thousands, if so
many are needed, to be found on farms, in
workshops, in the logging camps and mills,
ready to engage in the shipyards, many of
whom have already had experience in the
work required, while the raw recruits are
generally skillful with the axe and are pos
sessed of that native American ingenuity
and tact which enable them with little
practice to become good workmen.
Our extended coast affords the most
ample means for sites for yards. To this
we are indebted for the large proportions
which the shipbuilding business has as
sumed in the State. and for the training
which so many Of our people have had in
the business. If all our building of YES
sells had been concentrated at one port, or
upon one river, as upon the Delaware or
the Clyde. the business would have been
in the hands of few and very much less
than it now is. and the amount of skilled
labor that could be brought into the yards
must have been far below what we can
now command. We have now competent
master builders at every harbor of any size
from Kittery to Calais, while the country
around the vessel building places has ma
terial enough of the best quantity TO build
all the vessels that the nation requires.
AS TO the price Of labor, which is con-
sideration that determines very much the
success of the business. the shipyards on
the Delaware cannot compete with Maine.
for there is no doubt that our workmen
can save as much money at S3 per day as
the workmen in Philadelphia can save at
s. per day. Rent. board, dress, nearly
all the expenses of living are less here than
there, so that our workmen can afford to
take less. Many of them also have other
kinds Of employment to turn their hands
TO for partial support, and the supply Of
workmen is SO large and constant that the
question of wages regulates itself natural
ly, without resort to strikes or the engen-
dering of bad feeling between the employ
ers and employed. We have never known
any difficulty to accrue in the State in rela-
ton to wages at shipyards, but so far as
our knowledge goes good feeling has gen
orally prevailed as to prices.
We think there is no doubt that Maine
will continue to be the great shipbuildng
State of the Union. The idea that the
business can be carried on better in the
Southern States because the most of the
timber is there. and that the concentration
of it in a few places is the best plan, will
not balance the advantages that Maine af-
fords, some of which we have mentioned.
Our climate is far superior to that of the
Southern States for such labor as is re-
quired upon vessels, enabling men to ac-
complish more work in the same time,
with less liability to sickness and debility.
Wages are less, skill is more, in Maine,
and these win inevitably knock down all
competition. Should the strike now in
progress continue any time it must turn
the attention of builders and buyers to
Maine, helping to increase the product of
our yards this year, and establish more
permanently than ever the building of YES
sells as one CT our principal branches of
business. Reports indicate activity among
our builders, with prospect of better
season this year than last
THE NATIONAL CURRENCY
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