The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-04-08

wages, and good hands are now receiving
$40 per day, rs against S2 TO 1928, the
FORMER rates. Both brickmakers and brick
ayers are satisfied with what they have re-
.eNed' ana DO NOT contemplate aking any
further demand. The best feeling. IL Is said
now exists between the employers and The
employed.
sHOENAXERs.
The sboemakers, whose province Of labor
comprises one OF the largest and most exten.
sive industries in the city, are all, with The
exception OF those engaged in one large
shop, apparently content and do not pur.
pose to make any demand for increased pay.
The season which is now Just about closing
mas been busy one and the outlook Is assn.
ring. general increase OF from 10 To l5 per
cent was granted the operatives in nearly all
the shops IN the city last fall, and no
further demand has been made or il ex.
pected to be made. The number OF shoe.
makers in this city is estimated at about
eight thousand. They formerly had one OF
the strongest trade associations In the ooun-
try, but 1t Is said TO have become almost ex-
tnct. Each brancb OF the trade, however,
still has its own guild and shop directors.
There Is no uniform rate OF wages govern.
ing every shop, as was formerly the case,
Tor the reason that as each house now has
It's own system OF working, some using
more and some less machIne-pOwer. that
would be impracticable. Particular shop
rates, however, ale maintained bv the
branches Of the union connected with them.
The average rates now prevailing are Cut
tng-Ladies' shoes, 6 cents per pair; mems,
ii. Lasting-Ladles' shoes, 8 to Q cents
per par; children's aud misses, ! to 8
cents; mems, Is 10 30 cents. Heelng-
Ladies', plain, 5 cents; half French. 1Ot
cents; French, 10 cents; mems machine,
! l2t cents. Finlsbiug-Lades' shoes, 7 to
% cents per pair; mems, 80 10 80 cents.
The average earnings OF steady man is
about Sl2 per week. The relations exist
/ Ing between the employers and the work.
iDgmen are, with the exception indicated
above, harmonious.
IRON AND BRASS WORKERS.
| 1t is estimated that the number OF men
engaged in the several branches Of iron
working IN this city reaches 10000. Twen-
| ty.hye hundred ale said 10 he employed at
| the Baldwin Locomotive Works alone.
There does not appear 10 be any feeling of
discomfort anywhere in The iron industry.
( Work il said To be plentiful, and wages fair
and slightly higher than last year. Mould
erS and machinsis are receiving twenty
cents an hour and Sll 10 S12 per
week, and exceptionally coed men some
what more. Black ,miths are getting So
per week, and engineers about Sl2 Sneet-
iron workers are receiving about 81 per
day. PAttern-makers ret about S1j per
week. These rates are all about 10 per cent.
! higher than those which ruled last spring.
The more important branches OF the indus
try have guilds. OF which that of the mould.
ers is said 10 be much The strongest. Burn
BAN, Parry, Williams d Co... William Sci
lers Il Co., Jlmes Moore. and Orrhee, Il
Morgan, employing some four thousand
men, have been running on full time for
several months, aud the prospect Of cOutin-
uing TO do so is believed 10 be good. Brass
working is also said to be in good cODdi-
ton, and wages are reported as fair. For
piece-work the rates are the same as those
paid last year, but the weekly wages range
about 10 per cent. higher. The brass-work-
ers are said TO be satisfied with the wages
they are receiving.
STONE.MAsONs, CUTTERS, AND PLASTERERs.
The stone. cutters, OF whom there are
about 800 in this city, appear to be satisfied
with the state Of industrial affairs. The
basis OF stone-cutters' wages is $3.50 day,
particularly good men receive about 25c.
more. In 1876 and 1877 their wages were
about SO per day, but were gradually re-
duced to the present rate. No demand fr
an advance is expected to be made.
Stone.masons. however, are dissatisfied
with their present rate Of wages, which is
about 1928 per day, and it Is expected that
they Will shortly ask fer au increase Of fifty
cents. There are about 800 stone.masOns
IN the city. They have formed a trade or
ganization, and the subject OF increased
wages will, 1t is believed, be freely agitated. |
They say that as the cost Of living has ma !
terially risen, their wages also ought 10 be !
increased, and that, moreover, the rate Of !
wages paid them here is considerably less
than in other large cities.
The plasterers have been agitating for in |
creased rates OF wages for some weeks. !
They now receive about 81 per day and con- |
template asking fifty GEMS more. They |
have a union, but it is said that it i not |
strong one. The fact that numbers OF plas- !
terers are willing to give their services at
prevailing rates and cannot be induced to
Join the guild is given as a reason for the
lack OF strength and unity in the OrganlZa-
ton.
CARPENTERS AND PAINTERS.
Inc carpenters, NOT 10 ne Dcnlnu tDe
bricklayers and brckmakers in taking adj
vantage OF the time. are reported a. con-
asking for IN advance from
81 .2j. their present rate Of wages, TO -.
or So. The demand, it is stated, viii be
made as soon - concert Of action can be
agreed upon. The carpenters guild has
not beeh OF late in a very thriving cOndl-
lion. but it is said that new spirit Is being
infused into it. The painters in all branches
Of The art appear to be satisfied, aud do not
purpose TO make any demand for increased
wages. They have already had an advance
)f fifty cents Il day upon the rates OF last
year. making the prevailing rate aboHt
s2.75. Very fine grainers and brick-front
'enoyators receive from 50 10 - day.
There Is a fairly strong guild OF painters.
RnycOfffug ROyeOff. |