New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-26
NOTES on INDUSTRY AND Trade.

LEGAL APBITRATION.-The application OF the
iron manufacturers at Pittsburg for legnlHed ar
btration. under the Wallace law is not correctly
understood by many. It makes manifest hrst an
entire change of purpose by the employers since
the defeat of the Morrison bill; prior to that event
they were disposed to stop operations Indefinitely
rather than TO engage in any controversy Ho"
the question is rather to adjustment OF wages a.
between different classes of employees, than as TO
the aggregate amount to be paid IL Is heIu' W
many manufacturers and By not q lew OF the "olA
men, that the distribution OF wages was ho' pro
portoned TO the value of the service rendered. dnu
IN the Western district it operates materially " VIC
disadvantage of industry 1t is claimed, in COMPETE
tion with the Eastern mills, where dherent rate
and adjustment prevail. That the workers IN the
Western mills are not by any means united In
opinion on this phase OF the matter if it were not
known from their own declarations, would be APP
parent from their pOstponement of answer to the
application for arbitration. As matters stand S4
per ton is paid at JOhnstOwn and other points tls
side of Pittsburg for the same work for which the
Pitsburg pudders get s. 80, and the rates In other
respects are as widely at variance. The tendency
of course is to give the Eastern manufacturers
especial advantages in some branches OF the manu-
facture, while the PIttsburg and other western
makers have advantages in other branches AS the
men themselves are not clear whether 1t Is 10 theH
interest to submit the matter to arbitration OF hot'
it ia thought likely that part of them may JON Ill
petitions TO that end Meanwhile, there is now no
prospect Of strike, and the old wages VIII douo'-
less be paid until the question of readjusment has
been settled.
Nrw-EvcLAyD sPIxpLEs-It was announced
on Saturday, quite unexpectedly, that the %@'Voo
spindles of the Lincoln Mil, Lewiston, Me-, would
10 thrown
work. THIS was the more disappointing because
after reduction of wages on March /, II was sup
posed that the mill would be able to afford steady
emplovnent. At Fall River the first serious blow
tho strikers have received came from the decision
of the operatives Of Border City Mill No. l. at their
meeting on Friday, to return TO work on Monday.
There Is less complaint Of Oyerproduction than
there was some time ago, but the prices OF goods
have not vet been adjusted to the current price OF
raw cotton nor are they likely to be unless the next
crop should turn out quito short. 1t may be added
that late British journals come with indications OF
a probable renewal Of the struggle in Lancashire
between employers and employed.
THE COAL TRADE.-During the past week the
prospect of a suspension of anthracite mining for
two weeks in June has been used with great effect
70 depress securities Of coal companies. Unque'-
tionably the anthracite business is in difficult
position. The reports of iron manufacture sho"
that there is constant increase in the production
of coke or bitumiuous iron, while the quantity OF
anthracite iron produced constantly decreases, so
that the latest annual statement OF the Iron ana
Steel Association shows that out Of 5,l4G972 tons
made in $50, Only 965, 454 tons were made with
anthracite alone. or about 10 per cent 92O,l9
tons with anthracite and coke mixed, or Is per
cent only 81, 1876 tons with charcoal Or ii per
cent and ., $50 go tons with btuminous coal, or
80 per cent. The changes since this year began
have been in the same direction. In the manufact.
ure of iron, also. a corresponding change Is IN
progress and is quite as rapid All this diminlshes
the market for anthracite at the very time when
the companies are eudeavorng. by restricting pro-
duction and maintaining prices, 10 secure market
for stocks on hand. Last weeks reports are that
anthracite is duh except for special sizes which
are scarce and that change is expected to result
from the meeting of Western shippers here this
week, while large business is beng done III soft
coal at low prices.