New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-04
INDUSTRT4L PROGRESS.

The SITUATION III ulduuldCVuIeS 10 W. -,
trated by accounts published each week IN me-
BOSTON Commercial Bulletin" For the lasO
two weeks that journal has reported the WOOL
len-eoods mills fairly well employed, and the
completion Of four new woollen mills and three
new knitting mills in one week and "SeVeral
small knitting concerns the next week. Inc
o,tton mills are finding fairly good Market a,
though print cloths are very low in price, anu
new mills for the spinning of finer yarns arc
Swinging up at the South. The FAN bVer
works do not shut down as yet, because tne
managers are reported to believe that WIN
cotton unusually cheap, and with some curtall-
ment Of expenses, they can make ends meet
But the attempt to curtail expenses by small
reduction of wages, which, it is asserted are
higher in the cotton mills at Fall River Ohan
in other parts of the country, seems TO meeo
with determined resistance from the operatives
and may result in suspension for time
The increase in the number Of new boot ana
shoe establishments is a constant surprise. AL
though existing works are only moderately en-
ployed at present, new concerns are ofganZeu
and the foundations of two new factories nave
been laid The demand for boots and shoes IS
improving and work will soon be begun on
spring goods. The paper industry has been
continuously prosperous, and beside additions 10
nlants and the starting Of mills recently idle
there is reported the establishment of twelve
now concerns. Two new plate-glass works are
also reported, and one previously idle has been
started, and the chimney glass works nave gen.
orally resumed operations, but a prolonged
strike and closing Of the window-glasS works
appean to be the inevitable result of demand
by the workers for an advance in the wages OF
helpers
These are not evidences of industrial pros
tration or decline. Indeed, they show such an
increase already effected or preparing in the
productive force that large expansion OF the
demand for products may with reason be IN
ferred. For it is understood that the last year
has not been one of unreasonable speculative
excitement or dangerous Over-confidence. The
prevailing tone, on the contrary, has been rather
disheartenng and the disposition to undertake
new enterprises without especial certainty OF
success has been smaller than usual. Nor have
existing works been making unreasonable prog
ress or unreasonable profits within the last few
years
The review of the condition of Massachusetts
manufactures by the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
a work which reflects high credit upon the pres
ent efficient chief Mr.. Wadlin, exhibits note
worthy shrinkage of profits in 1890 compared
with 1889. OF the ten chief industries only
four show any gain in percentage of profits,
namely, the manufactures of wOrsted goods, of
carpets, of machinery and of musical instru-
mcnts In boots and shoes the decrease in pro-
portion of profit realized was less than 1 per
cent, and also in paper, while in manufactures
Of cotton and of leather, exclusive of boots and
shoes the decrease was nearly 2 per cent, in
manufactures of wOollens nearly per cent, and
in manufactures Of metals about 5 per cent.
As to ore of the most important industries, the
cotton manufacture, additional proof of subssan
tial prosperity is given by the statistics of cot
ton spndes in the United States, which show
an increase of I per cent from 1889 to 1891.
Following an increase Of IL per cent during
the previous two years, this return indicates
remarkable progress, and it is noteworthy that
the gain in Massachusetts alone is greater than
the gain in number of spindles in all the South
ern States, though proportionately the increase
has been much greater at the South.