Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-07-24
BUILT TO RUN.
Fall River Mills Will Run IS Long a. There
is a Dollar in Sight.

FALL RIVER, July 23.--The cotton trade
situation here is indicated pretty clearly by
the talk resulting from Saturday statement
of the condition of the cloth market.
There are 2G 900 pieces of goods held
here. The contract extends into March Of
next, but most of the mills have few or no
contracts that will amount to anything as a
factor in determining the future actions of
manufacturers.
Eight corporations have contracted ahead
into September for about half Of their pro-
duction. These mills are in excellent finsn-
cial condition, as, indeed, are all the Fall
River mills, as compared with any previous
time in their history. They will continue
to run until their contracts have expired, as
much because of their owners desire to
make money as from the force of another
cause, growing out of plan recently
adopted.
Here tofore. it has been possible for mills
desiring to shut down to purchase and de-
liver the goods of other mills in the fulfil
ment of their contracts. This practice is
not allowable now, owing to rigid rule es-
tablished by printers to the effect that all
CONTRACTS must hereafter be filed with
goods i ade by the mills signing the con-
a.
- illustrate If the Durfee mills cared
t, sLut down. provided some Of its con-
acts were taken off its hands, printers
eould refuse to take Sycamore mill goods
10 fill out the rest of deliveries.
The New Bedford mills are in much
worse condition than those in this city, but
still the local mills are not free from the
strain. 1t is 'ol that local concern with
the strorcc-t Kind of backing is unable to
place a i,,n of 100000. Loans Of a
sma Ter amount are reported at and per
cent. The New Bedford mill which, a
short time ago, offered per cent to the
Spinners' Union for S2j, 900, or any part
of it, for six months, will not be accommo-
dated, because the spinners think their
money is worth higher rate of interest.
Secretary Howard of the Spinners'
Union, and Secretary White of the
Weavers Union, both favor a shutdown.
The former said today:
1.-The manufacturers should shut down
at once for two weeks, and if that isn't
sufficient, then let them shut down again in
September. When talk Of shutdown
goes abroad, it gives croakers chance to
talk cutdown. The operatives have been
working steadily and hard for the last two
years, and from what know Of the spin
ners they would not be averse to it.
"Talking of cutdown always angers
men, and shutdown will cause a continua'
ton of good feelings, and will materially
benefit the market. We are producing toe
much Just now, and we ought to shut down
and give the demand chance to catch uf
with the supply"
Secretary Whitehead has always been il
favor of a shutdown in August, if it coilG
be accomplished. Although the operative
are in favor of an immediate shutdown
these is no unanimity of feeling amons
manufacturers, some Of whom sale
that they would enter into no agreement ft
shut down as long as there was dollar il
sight.
Their mills were built to run, they say
and is the older and weaker ones canno
run at profit they should not look for hel,
from others. In any case they will not shu
down when nearly 10000 pieces of good
are sold in week, and when only 6,00'
pieces of goods are in sight.
Rhode Island and New Hampshire mill
are not likely to enter into any agreement
with Fall River. The latter is working
under 5s-hour system, and is supposed L
have the worst end of things anyway.
shutdown. therefore. will not take place
here before September, and may not be a
| that time.