The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-07-06
MILLS CLOSED.
Two Hundred Thousand Iron and
Steel Workers Idle
Because of a Refusal to sign the Scale OF
Wages Demanded by the Amalgamatod
Association n-Throe Hundred Es-
Establishments In Different
Parts of tho Country &c.,.
Shut Down.

PITTsBUReH, July 2.-The Iron and
steel mills throughout this district are
closed and everything is at standstilL
The manufacturers were in hopes that
in the place of prolonged strike the
men would weaken and would come to
the terms offered. Such was not the
case, however, and Thursday night the
manufacturers asked for conferences
with the men, with view Of settle
ment of the wage question
There are 400 rolling mills In the
United States. Twenty-Five or fifty OF
these have been idle for some time past
Of the 400 in operation until Thursday
night, nearly 800 are situated west of
Allegheny mountains. Quite number
of these have signed the scale, leaving
about $50 mills which are ut present
lying idle. These employ upward OF
100, 900 men.
The conference on the wage question
yesterday lasted from 8 p. m. to $50
and was without result Tho time was
occupied in arguing the demapds Of
both parties-the manufacturers de-
mSnding the acceptance Of s4.5o basis
and the Amalgamated $3.50 for boiling
iron. No compromise scale was offered
or discussed The conference adjourned
to meet next Wednesday. No settle-
ment of the differences is in sight and
the feeling seems to be that disas-
trous wage war is at hand.
The number of glass factories which
are not in operation isplaced at 300 and
the men idle are estimated at nearly
sc, 200.
There are beyond doubt more idle
men in Pittsburgh and vicinity now
than there has been at any one time
for the past fifteen years The en-
ployes of all the iron mills except the
sheet mills are walking the streets,
and the wheels Of the great manufac-
turing concerns of Pittsburgh are idle.
With the various iron and glass plants
idle, the South Side presents an odd ap-
pearance. 1t is complete shut down.
Every mill has suspended and there are
80, 900 idle men in that part Of Pitts
burgh.
At nearly all of the iron mills In the
district millwrights and mechanics are
at work making necessary repairs, and
at some the shut down Is known 10 be
but temporary, as the manufacturers
have assured their employees that work
will resume as soon as repairs and stock
taking is completed.
HOMESTEAD, Pa, July 2-Yeetsrday
the Amalgamated lodges directed tho
removal Of the efigies dangling from
the telegraph poles about the mills.
The shut down at Carnegie's worles Is
the most complete in It's history. Not a
man Is at work within the plant
At 10 q. m. notice was posted at the
entrance TO the company's Office, enjoin-
ing all employees from the highest TO the
lowest that they would be paid of in
full to-day. About 1000 men in all will
receive their money and also notices Of
discharge. Barring the fact that the
crowd OF workmen may DO noisy, no
demonstration is anticipated A NOM
Der of the advisory board OF looked ont
worlmen said Friday: 'Mr. Friok's
statement that only 1856 men were af-
fected by the now scale Il a mistake.
Every man In the mill suffers by It The
general reductions in all departments
range from s to 10 per cent and In some
us high as 40 per cent"
While II can not be exactly estimated,
vet the loss TO the Carnegie company
each day the mills arc idle Is quite
heavy and amounts TO thousands OF dol
lars. In case the firm fails to recede
from its present determined stand there
will be great danger Of boing unable to
fill the government and worlds fair con-
tracts. The company is under $780,
900 bond for the completion of large
amount OF armor plato, and unless the
old men are taken back or new men Sc
cured there Is probability of tho gov
ernment demanding forfeiture
YOUNGSTOWN, o., July 2.-Tho iron
situation remains unchanged. There is
little prospect OF an early adjustment OF
the differences existing between the
manufacturers and tho men. A con-
ference will be held between the opor-
ators and conference committee OF the
Amalgamated association noxt week,
but their differences arc SO groat 1t is
believed nothing can be done towards
a settlement. The mill owners are
making many needed repairs and Inn
provenents. They will not attempt at
this time to place their plants In opera
ton. Over 5000 men In the vicinity are
thrown out Of employment by the shut
down.
PHILADELPHIA, July About 1000
employees Of Hughes & Patterson and
Gaulbert, McFadden & Caskey quit
work Thursday night and the two roll
ing mills are shut down on account OF
refusal TO sign the scale.
ST. LOUIS, July 2.-As result OF
refusal to sign the scale adopted by the
Amalgamated association, the heaters,
rollers and puddlers employed by the
Helmbacher Forge and Rolling MIL
Company, numbering $50, quilt work
Friday and the mills have shut down
LANCASTER, Pa, July 2-The Susque-
hanna and Columbia iron companies, OF
Columbia, have shut down indefinitely,
ostensibly for repairs Five hundred