Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-10
THE PUDDLERS KICK.
One Result of the Morning
Shortage of Gas Supply.
MILLS CHANGING HOURS.
The Philadelphia Company Ask Re-
lief During the Day.
OPPOSITION FROM THE W0RKMEN.
Strike BY the PuddlerS in the VesuviuS
Mill at Sharpsburg.
MILLS CHANGING HOURS.
OPPOSITION FROM THE WORKMEN.
THE SITUATION IN LAWRENcEVILLE.

The Board Of Directors of the Philadel-
phia Company met yesterday afternoon and
declared a quarterly dividend of 2 per cent.
The directors discussed the new 36-inch gas
main, and it was stated by the superintend-
ent that the connections at Telford are
nearly completed. In relation to the def
cheney in the natural gas supply just at this
time, Superintendent T A. Gillespie SAID to
q reporter for THE DISPATCH after the
meeting:
''This shortage in the supply occurs every
year at the beginning of the cool season. 1t
generally comes little too early for us.
This fall we expected to be in good condi-
ton, because a number of the large mills on
the Southside had promised to have their
private lines ready for use BY October 1.
They have failed in this and are still draw
ing from US.
I'VE have asked some of the mill men to
let up a little in the morning in their use Of
gas, when the greatest demand comes from
private consumers. They have agreed to our
request and are helping us out. By the
first of next week Oliver Bros, the Republic
Iron Works and other mills will have their
private lines in operation, and the strain on
our supply will be relieved"
Shortage in the gas supply at Braddock
on Tuesday caused temporary suspension of
work in the Braddock Wire Works, the
Duuuesne Forge and the Carrie Furnace.
COMPLICATIONS CAUSED.
1t appears that the request of the Phila-
delphia company is causing serious compli-
cations between the owners of some OF the
mills and their workmen. at some mills,
particularly on the Southside, work has been
slackened during the forenoon and increased
at night, with the acquiescence of the work
men, but at other mills there is decided op-
position from the employees.
The first decided stand taken by the iron
workers against the change of hours was at
the Vesuvius mill at Sharpsburg. On Mon
day morning the puddlers were directed to
quit work after the second heat was out.
One train of finishing rolls was started yes
terday morning, but only made two heats.
Orders were then given for the puddlers to
begin work at o'clock last evening. The
men held meeting, which lasted less than
half an hour. There was unanimous oppo-
sition to the change of hours, and it was
voted not to work at night. Last night the
pudding department of the Vesuvius mill
was idle. In the finishing department the
men were at work.
A gentleman well acquainted with the
situation at the Vesuvius mill said last
might: 1.-The gas company's private con-
sumers pay better than the mill companies.
The amount OF gas consumed in one of these
furnaces in a hours is not less than SO, 600
feet, and in some mills even more. The
Vesuvius firm can, by the use of gas, save
about SIS day under the cost of coal. The
gas bill in the Vesuvius mill amounts to
over s., 500 a month. The finished output
average 140 tons in "a hours. The firm will
hardly let the mill remain idle long. 1t
was shut down nearly all of last February
for about the same reason"
WHAT THE CARNEGTEs WANT.
Carnegie, Phipps & Co., it is reported,
have asked their men in the Lawrenceville
mills to change the hours of work. A meet
ing was held by the men on Tuesday, and
it was decide to grant the wish of the firm
for one night On Tuesday evening the
puddlers in the Twenty-ninth street mill be-
gan work at O'Clock. 1t took them till 4
o'clock ia the morning-to get out five heats
A DISPATCH reporter reached Sharps-
burg shortly before midnight last evening,
and found the situation to be as above stated.
From conversation with the men it was
learned that the mill owners would endeavor
to secure a favorable arrangement with the
Philadelphia Company in preference to pre-
cipItating a conflict with the men. Should
the new arrangement De enforced, however
the chances of a seriously strained situation
at that particular mill were considered
more than bright, as the men were very out
spoken in their refusal to accept the change
of base
A large meeting of the puddlers employed
at Shoenbergers, Howe, Brown s. Co., and
Zug's mills met last evening in a hall on
Thirteenth street to take action in regard to
working hours. Those mills have been
short of gas lately, and for convenience the
men wished to have the hours changed. The
day turn, it was arranged at the meeting,
should 60 on at II o'clock at night, and the
night turn about u or o'clock in the after
noon. A committee was appointed to notify
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