St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-16
The Labor Situation in st. Paul Demand
for Unskilled Artisans---Might
be Better.
Increase in the Brewing Industry in st.
Paul---Notes of Labor in the
Capital City.
Movement to Organize in Minneapolis
an Employment Agency ona
Fair Basis.
A Cooperative Store to be Started
The Milling Industry--Minne-
apolis Notes.
LABOR IN SIT. PAUL.
UnsAIIIed Labor Iva Demand--Condi-
ton Of the Trades.

UnskI1Ied Labor ia DeEnand.-Conul-
ton Of the Trades.
The most noticeable development in the
local labor market has been the great de-
mand for unskilled artisans. Perhaps at no
time in the history of this city of wonderful
growth has there been such call Tor Ia
borers to work on public improvements as
within the past few weeks. Upon street
after street can be seen the work OF grad
ing. paving. sewers building and laying OF
water and gas mains. In fact, to such an
extent is this work of Improvement gong
1n thu: one fair poSSeSSor OF dog-cart ana
roadster was heard TO plaintivcly inquire if
'.thev couldn't do their work without spoil
mg all the pretty driveways in the CITY,"
On MANY of these improvements there are
not enough men to push the work with that
rapidity which is desired by the contractors.
Wages. however. are III most cases nominal,
although there are instances where special
inducements TO laborerS are offered by the
contractors in order to complete their con-
tracts within the specified time On
many of the Improvements team
STEERS and teams are called for as
well as laborers. There is not man
in the city who need complain ola lack of
work, for if it is wanted W DIRK can be
found.
AMONG CRAFTSMEN
matters continue in about the same even
groove as has marked trades affairs for some
time past. Book and job printers report a
scarcity Of work, which it is predicted will
continue for some time to come. This de-
preston. however. III the above mentioned
branch of the printing business is counter
Balanced by the activity which has marked
the newspaper department of the trade.
The activity is OccaSloned by the competl-
ton among the newspapers, which has in
duced special efforts for increasing their
facilities for presenting the news in the
fullest form and in the shape OF larger
sheets Wages for newspaper wOrkmen
are good, ranging from SO to 81. Painters
have been doing brisk business during the
month just passed, ever person seeming des-
sirous of finishing up work of this descrip-
ton ere the cool weather strikes in. Carpen-
terS find work good at nominal wages, and
this branch of the Industrial world is in
creaSing its organization rapidly. AT the
end of another season il is predicted that
the knights of the plane and saw will be in
a better condition than has marked
their trade heretofore. Bricklayers are
all employed While there are no idle men,
there is no particular demand for men of
The trade. Stonemasons and stonecutterS
ale all at work, and better feeling per
vadeS the ranks since the strike, at which
time a compromise was effected whereby
the hours of labor where shortened. Butch
ers report their trade good and say there is
but little difference in their business the sea-
son round. TailOrs notice a revival in
their trade. which will still further improve
as the fall advances. Shoemakers say little
is doing at the present time, but they antic-
inofA a 1liol.inn in tlnir line - a =
the indications of winter begin.
BOiLERMAKERs
find business rather quiet, although moving,
and a corresponding complaint comes from
the iron mOldeTs. The brotherhood of To-
connective engineers and the brotherhood of
locomotive iiremen are well organized,
member reports, aud while there is work for,
their members. there is no special activity
owing to the fact that the traffic of most of
the railroads is somewhat light at the pres
ent time. OF course the passenger trains
run on regular time, but of late there has
not been much freight moving, and
hence the engineers and firemen
do not get opportunities to double
the road''-they getting paid certain
amount per mile. \ heavy freight bust
ness makes demand for brakemen, and
affairs with this class are just about the
same as WIN engineers ana nrelnell. Brake
men, as a rule, are poorly paid, considering
the risk they run in the loss Of life and
limb. HarnesSmallerS and saddlers donot
find their matters in good condition, wages
being low and business dull. This trade is
almost wholly monopOliZed by machinery,
and there are net many Of these artisans in
the city. Work is dull for cooks and
walters. although a revival is anticipated
when winter begins and the oyster trade
opens up. This class of wage-wor6ers
sadly needs organization, as they work for
pittanceS in most instances. and are COM
PEELED to put in very long hours. Bakers
are another set Oflaborers who are not paid
commensulately with the time put in.
There are not many bakers in the city,
but a number Of cooks and an army of
walters Blacksmiths say that work in
their traed is good and that they receive
good wages Tor their labor. Clerks out of
employment do not find situations readily,
for just at this season there is no particu-
lar life i'll business. The fall
rush viii soon begin, however, and
then clerks Will be busily engaged. On the
whole, the working people OF st. Paul have
reason to congratulate themselves. Their
matters generally are in good condition, and
while the outside world is complaining of
dizziness in almost every department of la
Dor. the artisan of the Northwest finds by
comparison that his situation is indefinitely
better than that of his brother in the ma
Iority of other places.