The Labor enquirer., 1885-03-14

Of London By destroying certain build
inen havU call h attention to the wrongs
perpetratsd a Ireland. In this way
they are edu)aHng. The French stu
dents Of Parislhave heretofore led the
ignorant. and i the hour Of peril by the
ignorant have been deserted. But now
science has put into the hands of those
students an arttle that makes them inde-
pendent Of the masses. In your efforts
to deliver the seople from the evils en-
gendered by their own ignorance force
must be used. What is the most effec-
tive means Of aRitation, and therefore Of
education?"
s'Dynamitel shouted q score of voices,
followed by immense applause.
4 BLOW All THE STEEL NAIL.
Tho Contractors and Carpenters OF
wheeling say 1t IL Detriment to
skilled and Unskflled Labor.
Editor Labor Enquirer
Wheeling, W. Va, Feb. "a 4 send you a
copy Of the Wheeling News Letter contain
ing an appeal from the carpenters of this city
praying to boycott the steel nails as their
manufacture is dsing an immense amount
Of injury to skilled and unskilled labor here.
Hoping that you will use your influence with
editors Of labor papers, and others. to copy
and insert the appeal In their papers.
Respectfully yours,
MICHAEL GRoGAN.
Here is the communication which appears
in the News Letter:
The undersigned carpenters, contractors
and builders of the city of Wheeling appeal
to the readers Of your paper, stating herein
the vast amount Of injury the manufacture
of steel nails "a substitute for iron) has done
to skilled and unskilled labor in this vicinity.
Within the last year two new steel plants
have been constructed to make steel slabs or
ingots, to be heated and rolled into nail plate,
to make steel nails therefrom. This new
process has SO far proved a partial success to
the owners, and their qualification can be bet
ter imagined than described. The partial
success achieved in operating these plants
has induced all other nail manufactures in
this locality to engage in the same process;
thus, while the new invention is beneficial to
capitalists, it is the worst blow that skilled
or unskilled labor eyer received in this or
any other community.
This new invention will SO far revolutions
ize boiling and other iron industries in the
Ohio valley within the coming year that it
will, at the lowest estimate, throw ten thous-
aud men out of employment who are direct
ly or indirectly connected with rolling mill
business. For this number of unemployed
men nothing presents itself whereby they
could procure employment. Their only
chances are to intrude, the best they can, on
those half-paid men who are employed,
which is very poor solution for them
indeed.
The manufacture of the steel nails and
-ssleT mif6duct16h INTO the market Is not a
necessity to the public OF. the carpenters.
The steel nail has only one peculiar merit:
fsmoothness of surface. Its dement's are
many and obvious to any one testing its quail
tiles. The temper of the steel nails is not
uniform. Some are SO soft and pliable that
they cannot be driven in any kind Of hard
wood, and others enter the wood one-half
inch, bend, and have to be drawn. The nail
will not break off with blow of the hammer.
IT it comes In contact with knot In double
boarding it will not enter and will undoubt-
edly spoil the lumber. Its smooth surface
does not admit Of it having the staying qnal-
tiles, as it has no fibre like the iron nail, so
that the wood would adhere to it when COM
mencing to rust, nor will it stand the frost.
1t contracts dampness and rusts even in dry
warehouses. When the hard steel nail is
within a quarter Of an inch of being driven
the head will fly off, leaving the nail worth
less, and it will eventually have to be drawn,
thus incurring a loss Of time and money.
The steel has not the necessary medium Of
temper that iron is possessed of, as the exact
carbon in steel cannot be reached to give it
a uniform temper. =. j. .
The only weapon this appeal calls for to
use against steel nails is to boycott them. 1t
is powerful implement, when used per-
sistently. This is not an ill-advised request,
as necessity demands it, and it is to be hoped
that it will done with persistent energy.
The occasion is urgent, as skilled and un-
skilled labor has no protection except what
it expects to receive from like skilled or un-
skilled labor from other parts, which natur-
ally should be extended.
There was and is no necessity for the man
ufacture of steel nails. They are selling no
cheaper than iron nails. Their introduction
into market has brought poverty and ruin
into the homes of thousands of good and
peaceable citizens, and il in this case boycott
ing will have successful results it will give
thousands Of families their labor back again
and will bring a tenfold blessing to the COM
munity besides.
Signed j. D. McFADpEN, and many
others.
The News Letter saws editorily.
aAttention is directed to the address of the
leading carpenters and builders Of Wheeling
In this issue Of the News Letter. The gen.
tlemen whose signatures are affixed to this
document have had actual experience in the
use of the steel nail, and their testimony, be-
ing that of practical men, ought to be con-
elusive as to its defects. II the carpenters
throughout the country will join with their
craftsmen OF this city fn refusing to use the
steel nail they will soon drive them from the
market. This action Of the Wheeling car
penters is to be commended as showing a
fraternal interest in the welfare of skilled
workmen Of another class, and their action
will doubtless be properly appreciated by the
,,.lrx