Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-05-27

The Situation in this City Briefly
+. Reviewed.
No Probability Of a composition-rh The
Movements of the Mill ksa When the
Works Shut Down-wsdaes-
day Mex. the Day
for closiag.

y 49, H ~
To-day will initiate the biggest strike
the Ohio Valley has ever known. OF
coufee BY the terms o disagreement the strike
will not be general to-day, but, there will
be a break made that will be general in
character next Wednesday night There
is not, so far as we have been able to learn,
any present hope of a composition OF the
differences subsisting between employer
and employe, and both seem to be recon
ciled to the inevitable. As has been stated,
the employer insists that this demand is
made in the face Of a declining, unsettled
and unpromising market. But beyond
that there is a repugnance to signing any
scale that coptemplates an increase OF
wages.
On the other hand the Amalgamated As
ISOLATION people are not disposed to make
any predictions. They also say they are
prepared to hold out for any length Oh
time, but it is very evident that they ex-
pect to be at work at their own figures be-
fore the end of a month. There are a num-
Der of circumstances that favor this belief.
In the Association and out of it there are a
great many persons with money enough to
build mills on the cooperative plan. They
could have them in operation in three
months from the time work was COM
menced, and then reap all the profits of their
labor, and at the same time give employ
ment to those of their fellow workmen who
cannot put capital into the scheme, but
who are willing to give their labor. An,
other circumstance, which, 1T Is urged, VIII
bring about an early settlement, IS the
condition of the tariff question. Its pre-
carious state makes it necessary for manu-
facturers to nave the cooperation of their
EMPLOYERS, and if the latter should become
obstinate and refuse to render that assist:
ance. or should demand a tariff that Will
benefit labor as we'll as capital, 1t would
create serious complications.
Tonight the puddlers at the Bellaire
mill will cease operations, and the remain
ing hands will quit on next wednesday
night, The furnace will continue heating
very likely until the first of July, as there
is very little iron on hand. There will be
GOO men thrown out of employment at this
mill.
At the Benwood mill q portion OF the
employes will knock off this evening, ana
the remainder next Tuesday or Wednesday
nights. The furnace Of this mill, which is
located at Martins Ferry, has been closed
down for several weeks, and will remain
banked until the strike is over. over
GOO employees will be out OF work at this
mill.
banked up several days ago, and over lVO
men thrown out of a situation.
The puddlers at the Upper Riverside
have been out several days, and the re-
maing workmen will be allowed to go ont
next Tuesday or Wednesday nights.
Between 800 and 900 employees will be die
on account of this shut down. =,
The boilers at the Belmont mill will
quit this morning. The factory, heaters
and furnace men will exhaust the limit
There will be 700 idle men when this mill
shuts down.
The boilers and other employees at the
LaBelle mill will remain at work until the
'last day in the morning Four hundred
men will go out at this mill.
The Top mill forge will close this even
ing. The furnace is already banked up.
The factory will close OH Wednesday. Be-
tween $50 and 800 employees will Join the
''army of evacuation" from this mill.
The Etna works at Martins Ferry will
close down gradually until the first. A
portion of the men will quit this evening.
There are $50 employees at this mill.
The Laughlin mill will follow the ex-
ample of the other nail factories and De
closed down after Wednesday. Prom 300 to
500 men and boys Will be the contribution
from this source. -,
The Whitaker works, it is said, will
allow a portion of the men to go this even
ing, and the remaining portion OF the force
next week. A rumor was current last
night that Mr.. Whitaker was disposed to
meet his men and arrange to run his mill
right along, but to a REGISTER reporter
who saw him at midnight he denied the re-
port, and said there was nothing in 1t
whatever.
A rough estimate gives the total num-
Der as 5000 men and boys, who will be
thus thrown out OF employment. The dis.
astrous effects of these steps are obvious,
and unless something unforeseen trans
pires TO remedy the evil, Wheeling is des-
tined to see the most sorrowful day in he
history. T