New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-06
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
STRIKES OF IRON-WORKERS.
LITTLE PROSPECT OF HARMONY.

has now entered on its second month, and there is
no prospect of early settlement Of the diff
iculty than when it began At first it was
thought by the workmen that two weeks would be
sufficient to bring the manufacturers to terms; but
now that four weeks and more have passed, it is
generally admitted that it will be Sep
tember OF October before the end is
reached and it may be much longer Tho
hist)r of past strikes here shows that they have
generally lasted about four months, and that the
manufacturers have succumbed. There never was
a strike here, however. when the manufacturers
showed such determination and unity as now. and
the conditions never more favorable for con-
tinuatOn of the lockout than at present. There
are no signs of weakening on the part of the manu-
facturers. and for that matter no more among the
workmen than there were at the beginning when it
was known that an influential minority OF them op-
posed the strike
AS soon as the strike started the mill-owners be-
gan making needed repairs That was taken by
the strikers a sure sign that work would be re-
sumed as soon as the repairs were finished. Many
OF the owners, however have completed their re-
pairs aud boarded up their mills, apparently for
long season of ideness. Other mIl-Owners have
recently begun making extensive alterations that
will take month or two at least to complete, evil
IDENTIFY having no fear of an end to the strike be-
fore that time.
There has been general belief among outsiders
that the cessation of production would cause such
o rise in the price of iron that the manufacturers
would have to to keep the market from being
overstocked with foreign iron, and TO save thein-
selves from great loss IN consequence. So tar there
no indications of any such turn in affairs When
the strike began pig iron was quoted at S23 5s per
ton at the mill To-day the quotation is $230S24 at
the mill with the same line OF credit. Manufac-
l. l..
and to-day it is sold at the same figure. The only
advance has been in nails and that is very slight.
from So 40 TO $3 80 per keg. Manufacturers assert
that it is easier to get orders for manufactured iron
filled to-day at the prices current when the strike
began than il was at that time, owing To the de-
creased demand. One large manufactures saystha
he can get 100 tons of iron for every ton wanted,
and at lower prices than when the strike began.
Reports come from mil-owners in Cincinnati, St.
Louis and other places where the mills are running,
that they do not get sufficient orders to use up tho
product of their mills. Some Belgian iron has been
offered in this market during the past week at
prices below the American card rate for similar iron
few orders for No. "a sheetiron have been taken
here by English dealers at the regular card rates
within few days There is special demand for
this iron for tanks in the petroleum oil trade.
Joseph p Verrel president of the Pbiadelpha
Iron and Steel Company, in conversation on this
subject the other day said that the only difference
in the market in Philadelphia and the East Is that
the prices for iron rmer but they have not adj
vanced. This he attributed TO the fact that con-
sumers in the East prior to the strike. were able TO
buy cheaper from the Western manufacturers than
at home, but now they of necessity compelled
to buy at home. lie said further that the demand
is not what it should be, and that the Eastern mills
are not making overtime nor working an extra
force of men.
The Eastern manufacturers are looking forward
to the result of the strike with almost as much In
terest as those engaged in it, The Pittsburg IRON
workers have been receiving higher pay than those
IN Philadelphia and the East, the difference being
81 a ton. Should the strikers come out victorious
in this instance the Eastern members OF the Anal
camated Association will doubtless demand an IN
crease, and strike if it is not granted.
II is apparent, now that the first month of the
strike has passed without any increase in the price
of iron that the wOrkmen chose an exceedingly bad
time TO enforce their demands for increased pay. IL
the mills had not closed the iron market woud un-
doubtedly have been badly demoralized. and the
tendency would have been toward reduction
instead of an increase of pay. The production was
in excess of the consumption for some ume before
the mills shut down. In the four years from 1876
to 1850 the production of pig iron more than
doubled and there was another large increase last
year while the production of Bessemer steel has
been increasing at the rate of 4O per cent per an
mum. The works that lay idle for so many years
after the panic of 1878 were again opened, and at
the same time an immense number OF new hands
were taken on and a vast amount OF ne" capital
was invested. The railroad war, the depression IN
railroad securities. and the probable decrease IN
railway-mal1ing have had a bad effect upon tho
iron market. Profits have largely decreased, whle
AA .ln
wages Even at the low prices for iron now pre-
vailng and the high tariff there is constant i'm
portation of English iron. More than thrce-quar-
ters of a million tons OF iron were imported INTO
this country last year.
If seems from these facts that the workmen
shoud have had better counsel than that which led
to this strike 1t is possible that an abundant mar
vest may so stimulate trade and drailToad-buldng as
TO increase the price Of iron sufficiently to enable the
manufacturers to pay the increase demanded but the
outlook is not now considered favorable Two mills
are now running with non-uni0n men, but the 9TH
ers remain closed Some of the manufacturers Of
specialtics in which the profits are much greater
than in ordinary iron could undoubtedly pay the
increase but they show no desire 20 break away
from the good understanding which prevails among
the mill-owners. The manufacturers say that they
would willingly pay the increase If II
were possible to do it and continue in business.
1--WE could not make per cent on our capital With
iron at present rates under the proposed scale said
Mr. Oliver one of the largest manufacturers here
II is admitted that the cost of living has greatly in
creased. but that does not alter the situation FOL
the manufacturers.
good deal of interest was taken in the meeting
of the finishers held Monday, many believing
that they would break away from the Amalsamated
Union and end up the strike. All agree since the
meeting that no evidence of any break
has been given. President Jarrett says