The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-25
TO CUT DOWN EXPENSES.
A NEW WAGE SCHEDULE FOR
NAVAL STORES LABOR

NAVAL STORES LABOR
A Reduction of 10 Per Cent. IN the
Prices Paid Last Year-Meetings
Being Held by Producers Through
out the Pine Belt and the Schedule
Being Adoptsd--Savsnnah Factors
Advice 70 the Operators
There is q general agitation among the
turpentine producers OF this section Of the
question of reducing wages and cutting
down expenses generally. Meetings are
being held by the producers almost daily
throughout the pine belt. 70 consider the
situation and pass resolutions looking to the
enforcement of measures 10 reduce expenses.
The initiative in this movement has been
taken by the naval stores dealers OF Savan-
nah. A circular signed by all the leading
naval stores factors OF this city was sent out
TO the producers several days ago, adj
dressed, "To the Turpentine Producers Of
Georgia. Florida. Alabama and South
Carolina"
THE CIRCULAR TO PRODUCERS.
The circular opens by stating that "the
undersigned naval stores factors. having
had frequent consultations and considerable
correspondence with producers throughout
the pine belt on the subject Of the extrava-
CANT prices now being paid for turpentine
labor, and the necessity for reducing these
20 meet the prevailing low prices of tur-
pentine and rosin, are requested by these
producers TO give general notice that they
expect to reduce the price of all task work
10 per cent. from last years scale. and TO
ask that the scale so made be generally
adopted
The following scale OF wages is pro-
posed:
For Cornering 500 boxes, $40 and two
rations.
For Chipping -four streaks)-10. 500
boxes. virgin, SIT to SIS and four rations.
For Chipping -four streaksl-lO5O0
boxes, yearling, SIG to SIT aud four rations.
For Chipping -four streaks)-l0, 500
boxes old, SIS 10 SIG and four rations.
DipDing-25 to 30 cents per barrel.
10 PER CENT REDUCTION.
This is reduction of about 10 per cent.
on the prices paid last year. The terms
used may need little explanation to the
uninitiated, though plain as day to those
familiar with the busiD,Ss. "Cornering"
10,5O0 boxes is two week. work for la
borer, for which he receives SO and two
"rations,n that IS rations for two weeks.
A ration" usually consists of about five
pounds Of ment, peck Of meal and a quart
of molasses a week, or its equivalent in -four
and other pro visions A half pound OF meat
is usually allowed in every 1000 boxes
worked.
A ''streak" is one weeks task of from 500
to 1000 boxes, and 10, 500 boxes constitute
months work.
sumed by the laborer 10 chipping his weeks
''streak." The other two days, or rather
three days OF the week. be puts in fishing
and hunting and pitching "craps."
Virgin is new timber, ''yearlingn is
timber which is being worked a second time
and "old" timber that which is being worked
the third or fourth time.
A GOOD THING FOR THE HANDS.
1t is estimated that with the proposed
scale of wages good hand can easily make
SIS or $50 month, besides provisions This
is about twice what they are receiving as
farm laborers IN the upper portion of the
state. These wages are still higher than
those paid for the same work several years
ago, and amount to more than is earned by
the same class Of labor in any other indus
try.
The proposed scale is generally Endorsed
by the producers. A meeting OF the pro-
ducers was held at Lyons Monday, at which
the scale was adopted. Meetings will be
held to-day at Waycross and at Lake City,
Fla. to discuss the subject, and there is lit
tie doubt that the scale will be adopted at
both places. Meetings are being called gen.
orally throughout the yellow pine belt to
discuss this and kindred subjects.
SAVANNAH MEN ACT.
The Savannah naval stores factors are
always alive to the interests Of the produ-
GERS, as well as their own. They have fore
seen the depressed condition of things and
have advised for some time against the ex-
tending of operations and the increase Of
expenses.
At the first Of the year Ellis, Young e.
Co. sent out circular to the naval stores
operators reviewing the facts of the low
prices and the accumulated stocks, for
which there was no demand, and much Of
which it will be necessary to carry over to
next season, and the consequent continue
ton Of low prices.
-Four things were distinctly recommended:
First, to curtail box>cGtting aud thereby
prevent an increase OF this years. crop over
last years; second, to stop buying timber,
on account of the speculative high prices
stimulated by the good prices realized for
turpentine aud rosiu during the last three
years; third, to reduce the cost of produce
ton, by cutting down expenses in every
manner possible, and chiefly by cheapening
the price Of labor; and fourth, to conflne
their energies and capital to their legiti-
mate business and not attempting 60 carry
large stocks of goods to be disposed OF
upon credit.
GENERAL EFFORT.
Other factors have also advised their
customers in the same direction.
Leading naval stores men who were seen
yesterday were Of the opinion that the scale
Of wages proposed will be generally adopted
by the producers, except in cases where oon-
tracts had been made at a specified price,
which will have to be carried out.
among the naval stores men that on account
OF the North Carolina anti-emgration law
they would not be able to obtain enough
labor this year appears to have been un-
founded and the reverse is the case. They
not only had no difficulty in obtaining all
the laborers they wanted from North Car
DINA, but on account of the depressed con-
ditlon OF the milling and agricultural inter-
ests in this state there is now a surplus Of
labor offering and the producers are en-
abled to dictate their own terms
nm Nunpn 0nnT NAY