Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-01-16


Other classes of work men, such % call.
makers, block makers, rope-makers. etc..
carry the total number Of workmen direct.
ly engaged in the ship building industry
during the year 1889, to 2OCO. The total
tonnage built and launched. at the date Of
the last report to the Bureau. made 10
November, was. gross tonnage. l5, ,l2S. ~.
Vessels being built and near complstien,
will swell the aggregate tonnage for he
year to figures exceeding those Of any
year since 1883. The clsss Of vessels that
have been built are generally Of large tos-
mage, many of them schooners OF more
than 1000 tons.
Many contracts for future building have
been made, and the prospect of increased
activity in this important Maine industry,
during the year to come, 10 very encouFag-
ing Owing to the depression In this in-
dustry for some years past. but few mes
have learned the shipbuilding trades. while
many others who had followed these tradss
in more prosperous times. had abandoned
them for other pursuits In order 70 cup
ply the sudden demand for ship carpenters
and other shipbuildng trades, many work.
men have come from Canada and the lower
Provinces. The present rate of wages Are
somewhat above those that have ruled for
some years, but the time lost In the chip
building trades, as shown by individual re-
turns, is very large, and reduces the annual
earnings below those Of many trades, the
per diem wages Of which are much less.
For old work, (repairiDg), carpenters
have twenty five cents per day more shan
on new work. Most Of the carpenters %
old work, at Bath, have S2.75 per day.
CommissioDer Matthess accompaniss
these figures with tables Of the wsges paid
in other parts of Maine, in other 6tasss
where ship building 10 carried on and slse
in European yards. Wages in Bath con-
pare fsvorably with any in the country. In
Liverpool, England, ship-carpenters receive
about 81 20 per day; in Germany, - -
per week; in Holland. e5.2s per week; In
Scotland, S. per week. The prices Of the
necessaries of life in those countries are -
lower than at Bath and in many instances
are higher. For instance, corned beef 10
10 to l8 cents pound at Cork, ireland.
against 8 to 10 cents At Bath. In Hollasd
soup beef costs IL to ~ cents . pound
against 8 to IL cents at Bath. In Dundee.
where the ship-builders earn about one
half What Bath ship-carpenters earn, eggs
cost 2G cents per dozen and butter so csats
per pound.
The Granite Workers.
There are in round numbers 40oO mes
employed in the granite industry In this
State.
The average annual eafnings Of granite
cutters working by the day, at an averass
Of s2.75 for 2s7 days. allowing 25 days fer
holidays and sborte ming Of the days in win
ter, would be t7s9.25.
The average annual earnings Of granite
cutters (piece workers) 10 $500. an average
for 2s7 full days Of o. % per day.
The average annual earnings Of tool
sbarpeners, working by the day. st an av-
| erage of s2 80 for 2s7 full days. 10 e7l7. 20.
The average annuse earnings Of the qasr-
| rymen, At an average Of 81 IS per day, 10
1896. an average for 2s7 days Of d Sc pr
day, showing . loss to the quarry men, 10
addition to shortening Of days, Of ~ days
from bad weather.
| The season for making paving pro6tably
| does not exceed eight months, although The
business IL carried on At most Of the places
throughout the ysar. A. most Of the paw
ing cutters work out Of dooYs, consiAssa-
BILE time is lost by bad veather. The sv-
erage number Of days worked for eight
months 10 1870; for that time the average
pay would be % 20 per day or . total fer
ls0 days Of $3.50. Daring the four vim
ter months the average would be about o3O
per month, total for the year Of $50 o.
an average for z57 days Of el 90 per day.
The priceAfor paving working 10 10 fsoD
go TO $50 per thousand. an average of
about s2s per thousand. go being fer
fContinued on fourth pass.J