The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-05-22
Nuts for tiie knights OF Labor
Crack
Marouett Mining Journal.


10 Crack.
Marquett Mining Journal
When the improvement in the in
dustrial situation was first noticed in
the early winter, great many pa
pers raised the warning, ''Bewaae of
the booml" They pointed out the
danger OF over stimnlali N of trad /,
and oyer-production, which might
result should returning prosperity be-
get excessive confidence in the future,
and they counseled people to 90 slow
and AVOID a repetition OF the business
depression which invariably follows
periods of abnormal activity.
1t is no longer necessary to put
people on their guard against a pros
pective "boom The workingmen
have choked the life out oft ere there
was more than promise of life in it..
There will be no boom this year
possibly not for years to come. Men
who were a few months ago looking
for opportunities to invest their sur
plus wealth in enterprises that held
out promise of profit have become
alarmed at the disturbed aspect of in
dustrial affairs, owing to the recent
labor troubles, and decided to invest
it where the rate of profit it will bring
them will not depend on the caprice
of striking workmen The material
growth Of the nation has been sensibly
choked III this way, and it will take
some time before timid capital will
recover from the fright that has sent
it into hiding places where it is I'M
assailable
Advices from all the more impor-
tant cities and towns are to the effect
that building operations will be large
ly curtailed this year from this cause,
owners Of property being dislnclined
to undertake expensive improvements
because the important item of labor
in their cost cannot be estimated with
any certainty Builders are unwilling
to take contracts for the same reason.
Both owners and contractors are de-
tered from engaging in large bust
ness operations by the uncertainty
pointed out, and already the lumber
trade and dealers in builders supplies
begin to feel the effects of this unfor-
tunate state Of affairs in a diminished
demand and weakening prices.
We hear no more of new manufac-
turing concerns being planned, while
railway building is sure to be pushed
very cautiously, and on a much more
limited scale than seemed likely few
months ago. Men who have money
to invest do not care to risk it in en-
terprises where they are compelled to
take all chances, and their employees
may desire to take all the profits,
While other Investments are to be had.
Consequently they are fighting shy
Just now of all ventures into which the
| employment of labor enters as a fac
tor. This is greatly to the detriment
of the country, and practically to the
detriment of labor, which has closed
against itself several sources of en-
ployment by producing the ''panicky''
feeling which unquestionably prevails,
in a mild form at least, among the
capitalists Of the country.
In variety of ways that will sug-
gest themselves to the intelligent read
er, the demand for more pay and
less work" has destroyed the prospect
for good business season. Possibly
this may be a blessing in disguise"
but if so the disguise is mrayelously
perfect. Even a ''boom" with its
consequent stagnation would be to
our mind preferable to a continuance
of the lassitude that the business of
the country has been characterized
by for the last few years.