New-York tribune., 1884-01-28
NOTES on INDUS7RY AND TR ADE.

NOTES on INDUSTRY AND TR ADE.
BmCRLAYERs WITH BRAINs-A telegram from
Cincinnati mentions that the brickayers
of that city will resist any attempt to
make buildings more costly by reducing the hours
of work; they are anxious that improvements
may be encouraged and they may have steady
employment while tie season lasts. The prospects
for building the coming season are encouraging,
and the men do not wish to jeOpardize their own
prosperity This reasoning is sensible and sound;
but it is pity that cOmmon-sense decision by a
Trades Union should be rare as excite surprise
Even in this instance. the Cincinnati men take
their position notwithstanding general demand
by Eastern brcklayers for reduction Of the work
ing day to eIght hours, which is expected TO be
strongly pressed at the coming National COnven-
tion of Brickayers which will, meet at Cincinnati
this week. TO all appearances the sensible men Of
that city seem likely to be in minority in that
convention, but they say they shall stick to their
present arrangements. no matter what the cOnyen-
tion decides They are getting 81 80 per day of
ten hours. except on Saturday, when they work
nine hours; and the average wages Of good work
men for skilled labor ten hours daily are far below
that figure.
IIoGs.--The pork packingto January 9wassight-
ly in excess Of the previous year. from November l
to the same date, but The Cincinnati Price Current
says the outlook for supplies of hogs is somewhat
uncertain. In Iowa. it is represented the scarcity
Of hogs has checked operations while colder wealth
Of late has encouraged larger consumption Of
fresh pork. But the decline in price last week. both
Of hog products and of corn, promises to increase
the demand for export.
Powerful COKE PoOL-For more than year
effort has been in progress to unite in one power
ful pool the makers Of coke in the Pttsburg region.
The movement fell through last year, but has again
been revived, though nothing definite was known
about it until Wednesday. Now the statement
comes from Pittsburg that the combination has
been formed, embracing already II. c. Freck & Co.,
1850 ovens; McClure & Co.. ,254 ovens Schoon-
maker & Co., l ,O9O ovens, and the Connellsyile
Coke and Iron Company. 500 ovens; total, 6124
ovens. There are besides IL that region about
700 ovens connected with furnaces and iron
works, aud therefore not supplying the outside
market, and about 1850 not yet in
the combination and making coke for
the market. It is believed, however, that these,
also, will soon be brought into the combination or
bought up, and that the price will be advanced
Tho manufacturers clam that the present price
barely covers the cost of making under most favor
able conditions. But they apt to forget that,
not far south of them, ovens are multiplying
rapidly ard making from New River coal a coke
produced at COnnellsville. Combination about
Pittsburg will be likely to give decided impetus
to the development Ofthe New River region.
SILK IMPoRTs.-The value of imports of silk goods
in 1888 was $32, ,3O5, ,23G, of which $1s,140,227
was during the last half of the year under the
tariff against 1881 162 during the last half of
1882 under the old tariff. This de rease indicates
that tlis branch Of manufacture has not been seri
ouSly impcded by the change of duties though the
general condition of markets and the demands of
employees have caused much depression. For the
year the decrease in imports compared with 1882
was $632s.79S
THE WINDOW GLASS SUsPFNION.-The expecta-
ton that the window-glass suspension would soon
be broken by the action Of an establishment at
Bcllaire, Ohio, was recently mentioned in these
columns. Part Of the directors were disposed to
work, without regard to the rest the es-
adjustments in the association, and strong effort
was made to secure majority of the directory for
that course at the annual election. But it seems
that effort failed for the former board was re-
elected without change, and dispatches from Pitts
burg now say that resumption of work is not ex-
pected for a long time. The men, meanwhile, are
becoming disheartened and scattered; the Union
will not allow those who wish it to resume work at
to seek subsistence elsewhere. The Belgian Gov |
eminent, PittsRurg dispatch says has offered TO |
pay the transportation of those VINO will return 10
that country, and some have accepted the offer and
gone.
PETROLECM.-The official statement of exports OF
petroleum in eleven months OF 1858 shows an in-
crease over the same months of $50 of 100000 600
gallons in quantity and 81 800, 600 In value. The
average price in November was little below
,ents per gallon for all kinds exported, against
rifle above cents in November, 1882 II may be
loticed that the current trade reports are more pal
nably in error as to this product than as 10 any
,ther thus the trade reports made the shipments
i7s,4I7,81s gallons up to December /, against
i74 Os3 800 to same date 1882, whereas the Official
statement for eleven months shows an increase OF
% .20s. 500 gallons and exports of 405,550,692
gallons last year. The trade reports make the
shipments from December to 20 inclusive
81 800, $50 gallons. against 26.l10,1S4 IN 1882;
{ this proves approximately correct the aggregate
or the year 1883 will DO about 526000,000 gal