Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-03
MILL MATTERS.
The Eleven Hour Movement
Notes and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Eleven hOur mONohhchI-
Notes and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
tiles.
We mentioned some time ago that
rumOr was in circulation to the effect
that the nailers and feeders OF the vari-
Gus mills were to notify the owners that
thew would work but eleven hours a
day hereafter That rumor was true,
though employers had not then been
notified. The movement will embrace
all more or less) OF the mills west of the
Allegheny mountains, and is the result
a resolution adopted at the last meeting
of the Amalgamated Association OF Iron,
Tin and Steel Workers, at Youngstown,
Ohio.
Various meetings have been held
among the nailers and feeders oil this
CITY and after adopting platform, COM
mittees were appointed to notify the
owners of their intention. This was
done Yesterday at all the mills except
the Belmont, where the factory has not
vet gone on. The men have received
no reply as vet, but expect one soon.
I'm conversation yesterday with a
prominent Top mill mailer, we learned
the arguments they advance. They
wish to commence at . 4. NJ, take a hall
hour for dinner and quit at
$50 p. NJ, making eleven full
hours. The principal reason given is
that eleven hours is as long as Nature
can endure sitting steadily at work and
in the midst of all the dust OF factory
that it is not their labor, simply, against
capital, but life and labor. Our inform
ant was of opinion that there would be
no decrease in production, but that the
additional "half hour OF play" would
enable the men to work all the harder.
The owners deem the demand unrea-
sonable, and think the extra hall hour
of work no hardship, as it is piece work.
4 prominent iron man said, yesterday,
''that if nails were worth twice as much
YOU would hear no talk of long hours.
He made this little calculation and
placed il before us: "The men quit at
noon on Saturday, only working six
hours that day; SO that with five days at
eleven hours and these six, they make
siXtv-One hours q week. Now, suppose
we tell them to 60 ahead with their
eleven hours day, but to work on Sat-
urlay up TO the usual time. What
would they say to thus making sixty
six hours a week."
The matter thus far is in Stdtt YtO; we
will give any action on either side when
it takes place.
The heaters went to work at the Bel
mont Yesterday morning, The boilers
have mot gottenup to the average
of heats yet, asacertain timeis necessary
10 get them hardened down to their
hot work after their long disuse.
Everything is working unusually
smoothly at the mill, considering its
long idlenesS, and the managers are pro-
portionately happy. The forge and
heating departments are now running
on us ifa stop had never occurred.
The nail factory presented busy APP
pcarance Yesterday rs our mill reporter
made his rounds. Nailers and feeders
were huslly engaged in rubbing up
their machines and putting them IN
condition. The stones are all glazed
ready To take the rust off the numerous
nail knives. The factory will 20 on to-
morrow, enough plate being already
made ahead.
Belmont pay day will be three weeks
from next Saturday, and we can imagine
the genuine satisfaction with which the
men will iOndle their shekcls.
James MahoOd, of Bellaire, has secur-
eel spike machine in the Belmont fac
tory.
There is Jolly muck roller at the Bel
mont mill. When he picks up his tOngs
lac laughs and when he puts them down
hc laughs: he was never known to be in
a bad humOr and has earned the appel
IatiOn of 'the man who laughs" a light
heart certainly makes easy work.
All of the mills in the city are in full
blast and Us the orator said at the New
Martin sville Convention-"the smoke
Of Wheeing's mills aScends to the heav-
ems and metropolitan honors crown her
brow"
Mr.. James f. Barr was sworn in last
evening by His Honor, Mayor Sweeney,
as special northumberland at the Bel
mont mill. The boys who have been
running riot around the mill premises
had better be on theirguard accordingly.
As soon as ore can be received the
Belmont blast furnace will heat up.
EVERYTHING is about ready for start.