Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-03-06
Wilmington, Thursday, Mar, 6,l884
Laber ana wages OF Isss.

Abor and wages during tns past year.
he exhibit has been carefully prepared
ut Ia, in the nature of things, only put
orward ss approximately accurate.
In the New England textile manuisc-
uring interests there was no general re-
Iuction Of wages during 1858, but re-
luotion equivalent to 10 per cent. has
,esn made since the opening Of the cur.
'ent year. In other New England in
iustries the percentage OF reduction will
run from 10 TO II in skilled labor, while
common labor seems TO have very gem
srally escaped any reduction. There
has been NO decrease in the number OF |
persons employed. A few small woolen |
have shut down, but additions |
in other directions made up for any
such losses. The hardware trades, the
plating, boot and shoe, wood working and
tool and machinery making interests are
employing as many men to-day as year
ago, taking them in the aggregate. The
industrial diversi6oation in progress is
gradually widening the channels of em-
ployment, but between the increasing
supply OF laborers from abroad and at
nome and because of increasing competi-
tion between manufacturers, by whicl
prices have been steadily depressed, the
reduction in wages referred to has been
made inevitable.
The carpet mills OF Philadelphia are
paying the same wages now IS in 1852.
In the cotton brauch OF the textile Indus
tries there has bsen reduction of to
Is per cent. In the worsted industry
there has been ne change. The wooden
interests are paying about the same
wages now as twelve months sgo, but
manufacturers say that the pre-
be assured unless a change foi the
better soon takes place. The present
is an unfsyorable vine to make COM
parisons in great many industries a
crisis OF overprOduotion has been reac- ed
and restriction is being vigorously en-
forced but the employers, almost without
exception, entertain the belief that when
the present overproduotion has been cor
rected by restriction, demand will stimu-
lste supply to its former maximum limits.
In the iron industry very few huotua-
tions have taken place in wages. TAX
ing three representative rolling mills il
the east, wages for pudding were re-
ducsd in one from "a 40 per ton to "a, il
another from s4 IS to 81, in the third
from IA 80 to 1855. These figures repre-
sent the average reduction in the eastern
iron mills. In the rolling mills west o.
the mountains wages have not
been reduced, notwithstanding the
price of iron has declined
The scale Of s. was resdoptet
in May 1883 and continues until mex
June. The workmen are willing ths
the same scale shall be continued, bu
manufacturers are dissatisfied aud vii
probably request modification. Lss
iron is being made now than year ago
careful summary Of Taturns woul
show the restriction in manufacture to b,
about Is per cent
The output Of rails during lss3 shows
failing of Of 100, GOO tons as compared wit
1882, At the present time the Bssseme
mills are making uo more rails than
year age The reduction Of wages in thi
industry will average 13 per cent
There has been an increase OF Is pc
cent. in the Matchmaking output durin
the past Is months but at the presen
time strike prevails in New Englan
nail works and a ak weeks suspenaio
in the western mills has just terminated
The card rate N the west has been It
duced from O. 40 20 y 50 aud wage
have declined oorrespondinely, viz, froi
"a to q cents per kgg for ten penn
nails.
Work has bsen resumed u glass fact
ries, after seven-mouths' strike, at IL
old wages, and the scarcity Of glass vi
keep wages at their present point #
some time to come,
More coal WAS mined last year than
1882, AMI m1r- men we're employed II
estimates o. he increase vary fro
100000 ~ lu,Qgo 0oo tons, Wsg
have remained STEADY in the anthri
cite a4lds a1i in tue Ctea
field, Broad Top and cumboriat
mines Of western Pennsylvania al
West Virginia they have been reiuc,
10 to 20 per cent. iu coal fields more
less isolated from the great markets.
present an unusually large number
miners srs disemployed, half-time pi
vails in the anthracite fields and a,
markets are forcing suspeuaou tu near
all the prominent coal producing centre
but a general resumption "a Runounc
to take place in tue Mouopgshsla riy
mines and in iew weeks the mir
which supply the lake markets will
opened.
Manufacturer OF machinery aud mot
power in the New England and Mid
States are about az busy As they "
last winter; in several l5osiities Mi
and day work is the rule In some III
is overtime in q great many there
short time but it ia evident tnst
requirements Of the country for mot
power are on the increase and that
manufacturing capacity will he fully
ployed by the opening OF spring ali
reductions in wages, averaging 10
cent, have taken place in establishme
not tavorsbly supplied with work.
In locomotive works, briigs works
car works, aud in agricultnrsl maoDiu
factories, reia tiou= averaging 10
cent. have taken place for certain hi
Of skilled labor, while the wages OF OF
kinds Of skilled labor ID the same w1
have remained unchanged A grel
reduction OF wages has b-su made in
east than in the wes.. ..."..
In the building trades M decline
taken place ON The contrary 81
masons, carpenters, plssteref5 and OF
two other branches Of skilled labor h
given notice al few titles that they
ASK for az advance of fN cents per ds,
.....
The Outrage MI