The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-06-06
Letter from Phii0delphi0.
PHILADELPHIA. MAY %. 1S14
SILLY STRIKES.


| Philadelphia turns out greater number of
| yards of carpet than any other place in the
world. Many men and women have been con-
stantly employed in the numerous mills, and
| the nineteenth ward was always burning with
the wheels of machinery. Recently some evil
spirit seems to have taken possession of certain
persons employed, and they determined to
strike for higher wages. Not content with stay
ing from work, they attempted to keep others
from going to the mills, and in some instances
they injured several by attacking them with
cobble stones. The situation became so threat
enlng that the police were obliged to protect
the willing workmen from bodily harm, and
comparative quiet has been restored.
How foolish it is for men to continue these
strikes The effect of the present movement is
to stop some of the mills altogether, and to re e
duce the work in others, thus depriving Phila
delpha of being able to boast that she is the
largest carpet weaving city in the world The
war between labor and capital seems never to
end.
The coOpers and stevedores employed by the
Atlantic Storage and Petroleum Com PAW, six
hundred in number are on strike. The strike
is not for higher wages, but has been caused by
the company Withholding S. 90 per week from
each of their employees wages until the am cunt
reaches $50, so as to preclude the men from
striking. If any one left their employ without
good reasons, he forfeited the $50. The men
have rebeled against this and hence the strike.
They say: owe claim that we have as good
right to combine for our protection as the oil
men have to combine to make a corner" in oil
by stopping production, and thus advancing
prices"
In New York 1000 coopers are out of work
from the same cause.
IMPORTANCE OF MANUFACTURES.
The growth of cities is due to the number and
variety Of their industries, and to this cause
our Northern and Western cities owe their great
population. Philadelphia has II 900 manufac.
tories, which turn out $500, OO0, 900 manufactur-
ed goods per annum, and population of mil
lion, living in 10000 houses, of which 40 900
are the residences of working people. There
is hardly any city which cannot improve its
condition by some industry. Since Chattanooga
and Atlanta began to manufacture, they have
made such distinguished Roadway that their
example seconds that of Philadelphia. The
advantage differs in differing conditions, but the
principle remains and operates everywhere
Manufactures will build up any city, and Phil.
adelphia is the largest manufacturing city in
the United States. This accounts for her pros
perity and also her rapid increase in popula-
ton.
CURIOUS PERFORMANCES.
Signor Beneditt and Mr. j. B. Johnson men,
bers OF Schumann's Transatlantic Company
have been astonishing our citizens by the diff
cult feats of sword swallowing, thrusting as
many as six swords in his throat at one time
Another feat consisted of thrusting very
heavy musket with bayonet attached down his
throat, he swallowing the entire bayonet 16 in
ches in length, and then without placing his
bands to the musket, he slowly bent his body
until he let the weapon assume horizontal po-
sition. He also swallowed a Spanish sabre 20
inches in length. The opinion of the profess
sors was that the blade displaced the stomach
partially. fitting and passing on the left side of
it. Mr.. Johnson's performances include smok-
ing, eating and drinking under water, and re-
naming under the water for three minutes at
one time. All these performances he faith fully
carries out The smoking under water is done
by inserting the lighted end of the cigar in his
mouth and ejecting the smoke from his nostrls
DEATH OF J. EDGAR THOMSON.
John Edgar Thomson, long and fayorably
known as the President Of the Penna. r. r.,
died at his residence in this city, at an early
hour, on Thursday morning, from complica
ton of diseases. Mr.. Thomson has been at the
head of the Penna. r. R. since 1852, and was
considered one of the greatest rail road men Of
the world. The result Of his administration of
the affairs of the Pennsylvania Rail Road Co.
in augmenting its business and establishing its
credit is before the public. He assumed the
duties of his Office without dollar in the treas