The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-10
. LABOR AND LABORERS.
Matterx of Interest tn Employers and En-
pioye4-Prosperity Checked by the Strikes. &

Matterx of Interest tn Employers and EN-
ployed7Prosperity Checked by the Strikes. 4
Phrlad~41sa Record.
co-orerative hall is to be built in Boston A
mass meeting of carpenters was held in Faneuil
Hall last Sunday. Labor lyceums being
talked of in the Western States similar to those
in several New England cities. Labor literature
is in great demand, and able lecturers and
writers are coming to the front and exercising
great control through their appeals and exposi-
tons OF the purposes of organized labor.
In most Of the smaller manufacturing towns of
eastern Pennsylvania additional shop and fac
tory capacity Is being erected to furnish needed
facilities for the improving demand In several
of them real estate has advanced in value, or at
least is held higher than last year House build
ing is also going at a greater rate than last
year. and the general appearance Of the villages
and towns is undergoing favorable change.
The subject of proft-shariLg is more intelli-
gently discussed. in view of the growing power of
labor organizations Industrial partnerships
have been most thoroughly tried by European
firms and corporations. There is a unanimous
agreement among them that this system pro-
notes zeal, efficiency and economy, and thereby
increases the profits OF business; that it is a
moral adjudicator, and that it substitute s
harmony and mutual good will for disgust and
contention in the relations of employer and en-
ployed, and that where it has failed the failure
has been due either to extriusic causes to too
hasty abandonment before the full educational
result has been obtained.
Furniture manufacturers have had their atten-
tion directed by enthusiasts TO the pulp question
1t is argued that pulp can be used substitute
for lumber In the manufacture of furniture and
other articles now made exclusively of wood By
mixing the pulp with clays, steatite, asbestos,
plumbago and mica, substances of every possible
color and compactness may be produced 1t is
estimated that only 20 per cent. of the timber
felled reaches economic uses, while if the saw
mill were combined with the pulping and press
ing processes all the material in the trunk might
be available.
The demand for machineshop labor is such az
to engage hundreds of mechanics who for twelve
months past have had very little to do, owing
partly to inferior skill. The prospects for labor
for the next three months in machine-shops
tool-shops and factories are quite fattering be
cause OF the policy adopted by railway managers
manufacturers and others of making thorough
repairs and putting great deal of new machine
nv In place of old.
On Thursday last Pittsburg blast-furnace
builder completed contracts for the erection of
two large blast furnaces to be erected near Biz
mingham, Ala The furnaces are to be built for
a company of English and Charleston IS c.. J
capitalists. with So. 600, 600 capital A new town
is to be started in northern Alabama to be called
New Birmingham, where rolling mills, steel
mills and nail mills are to be built by Pi.tsburg
manufacturers.
Several cases have occurred during the past
few days where projected building operations
were withdrawn from the hands of architects on
account of the unwillingness of investors to take
any risks at this time. Real estate operators in
New York and some other Eastern cities have
reported within few days suspension of ne
gotiations in several very important real estate
transactions, which were to be the basis of in
dustrial enterprises. The more hopeful projectors
are of the opinion that should the change from
the ten-hour day to the shorter day be generally
established it will stimulate enterprise which
is waiting for that event. The uncertainty is
worse than the reduction, in their opinion. They
say they would prefer uniform day at once.
During the past week orders for all kinds of
boot and shoe supplies have been coming to man
ufacturers both here and in the Massachusetts
market with little more promptness The up
ward tendency which was threatened 10 prices
at the opening of the season has disappeared.
and although the tendency is not downward,
buyers and jobbers satisfied to place orders
for spring and summer delivery.
The agents representing FIVE or six of the lead
ing locomotive establishments are now in nego-
tiation with the managers of some railroad COM
panies for the placing of extensive locomotive
orders. The argument used is that there are
probabilities OF further advance in material
that the policy Of postponing the placing OF
orders has been carried TO an extreme limit, and