Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-10-02
THE IRON SITUATION ABROAD.

In view of the resumption OF business
among the iron industries in this cOun-
try, the situation abroad is matter
that will attract attention.
A we'll informed source makes the
statement that one effect of the strike
in this country has been to cause some
degree of friction between the iron
masters of England and their men.
1.-THE cessation Of work here"
says this authority, drought to
the English and Scotch makers
OF iron an increased demand for
their productions. This, combined with
the voluntary restriction which the
Scotch and north of England iron
miners imposed upon the volume of
their output, has had the effect of in
creasing the market price of iron. Thus,
Scotch pig iron, which sold year ago
at about fOrty-six shillings eleven pence
per ton, is now selling at about fifty
shillings per ton, while in the Cleveland
district iron which sells now at forty
four Shillings could be bought last year
at about thirty-seven Shillings per ton.
But the iron strike in this country is
now over, and, on general principles, it
may De affirmed that the iron masters
of Great Britain are correct in their as
sumption that the American demand
is likely to fall off in a ratio great
er than its late increase. The COM
pact limiting production comes to n
stated termination on the first of next
month, and, with iron selling ut pres
ent prices, there is not the least proba-
bility that the arrangement will be re-
newed. Thus, while there is a falling
offin the demand, there is likely to be
q large increase in production, two cir
cumstances calculated to depress the
price which iron can command in the
market. 1t was in view of this that the
association of iron manufacturers in the
north of England recently suggested to
its employees that it would be we'll to
make a reduction in wages. The latter,
i'm turn, have replied that they should
ask for an increase, and it would seem
that there is-the probable market aside
some ground for this demand.
What is known as the north of Eng
land board of arbitration, which WAS
organized thirteen years ago, is made
up in the following manner: There are
two representatives from each of the
works which join the board, one chosen
by the owners, the others by the work.
ingmen; and, when a very important
question of wages Is to be settled, the
members of the board choose some one
who is thought to be wholly disinter-
ested to act as umpire, joining with him
one member from the wing of each
wing of the board. The last person who
so acted was Joseph Whitwell Pease,
NJ. P, an iron master Of Durham,
whose decisions at the time were in fa-
vOr of the workingmen. But this de-
cision carried the work along only up
to the LIST of October, and hence both
parties are then released from an OBJ
servsnce Of it.
The Pease decision, and numerous
others of similar character, have been
based on sliding scale of wages, de-
pendent on the price of iron. Thus an
iron puddler may receive one shilling
in the pound sterling on the average
realized price of iron, and say, two
shillings per ton rs basis to work on.
If iron sells at &c per ton, the puddler
would get for each ton worked by him
six shillings plus two shillings, making
eight shillings, or eleven shilIings if the
price Of iron went to Go per ton. Quar-
terlyth board employs q sworn ac-
eOuntant to examine the books Of the
iron masters, aud estimate what the
average realized price has been, aud on
his finding the rate of wages for the next
three months Is based. Now and again
circumstances have justified q change
from this scale, as in the case when Mr..
PEAsE was called in as referee; and.
though the sliding scale would give the
workingmen for the last quarter Of the
year somewhat higher wages than they
are now receiving, thus justifying their
claim for an advance, the peculiar cir
c.;mstanees connected with the future
outlook of the trade may induce them
10 moderate their demands, and make
a compromise possible. However, 1t Is
certain that the iron operatives in Eng
lond are just now in somewhat the de-
FAINT position that our iron workers
were at the irst Of the year, and that
serious strike may result from their dis
asentions.