Smyrna times., 1880-03-03
.HI29cWIIlE2'UI.
Materials and Labor.

The New York letter which appears in
Philadelphia paper refers to the rapid en-
hancement OF the prices of all kinds Of
building material in New York city, and,
coupling it with threatened strikes of the
workingMen i'll some Of the trades for
higher wages as soon as the spring COM
mences, comes to the conclusion that,
from these two causes, and especially the
latter, there is but little encouragement
for capitalists to embark in new building
enterprises. As an illustration of the great
advance in prices, it is stated that in New
York iron has advanced since the close of
the last business season so to 100 per cent,
bricks from $3.50 to $ll per thousand,
lumber from $ll to SIS, laths from 81 % to
$2.75, cement from % to 80 cents per
barrel, lime from $l.25 to 81 so per barrel,
plaster Is cts, p!asterers' hair 5 to 10 cts.
per bushel, and SO on. Under these cir
cumstances the writer is OF opinion that
''the workingmen will make great tais-
take if they resume the striking business
next month, as it is semi officially intin,at,d
they will" This is probably an extreme
statement OF the matter, for while it is
natural that wOrkmaH should expcc, TO
reap some advantage frOm the advance of
prices as well rs others, in addition TO the
increased occupation which the revival OF
industries gives, it is reasonable to hope
that they will be too judicious to do any.
thing that would be like killing the goose
that lays the golden egg. If the auampn.
tatIon IN the cost Of material itself should
60 OH too rapidly, it will have the effect to
restrain much building that might he un.
dertaken, especially Ia outlying districts :
therefore 1t is to be supposed that due eau.
ton will be exercised on all sides, that
| nothing shall Interfere to check hoalthv,
! gradual Improvement. 1t is 4 fact that
! during the hard times through which we
! have passed since the close of 1879 the
| prices of all kinds Of commodities sank so
| low rs to allow Of little or no profit to the
manufacturer and the merchant, and that
the advance in prices is he inevitable con
sequence Of the reaction that has set in
Yet it must also be conceded that during
the Same period of Uusines depression the
wages OF worklHgmen in partial or regular
employment were forced down to a point
that scarcely gave them tho means of sub
sl.t nee, while many thousands suffered
greatly for the want of work to do They
therefore, rejoice in the coming Of better
times, and naturally hope to prpft by it in
due proportion with others. This they ars
entitled to; but the policy of both en-
Ployes Is to consider carefully the circum
stances by which they arc surrounded, and
so act mutually as to promote a contin
uancc OF the spirit Of renewed enterprise
which is abroad TO check it in any
degree would be to the disadvantage of all
Let whatever is necessary to Justice bC
done, after duly weighing the facts, anC
thus avoid the hazard Of strikes in all de
partments. The pswer to strike is til,
leverage the worhingmcn always have il
their hands to use against employers who
resist their demends for an increase o
wages, or who notify them that their wage
will be reduced. But it does not follow
that it is advisable at all times to put ,ha
power into exercise. 1t is far better fol
the Interested parties to come together
through committees or disinterested agents
and by arbitration determine what IS rea
sonabls and JUST and both abide by it. II
this section, however, we see no particular
evidences Of dissatisfaction. The fact i
that such increased employment as ha
been secured so far is a source Of much con
graduation and advantage Of itself.-Bu1
,N,3,