The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-03

ment, cash pay and high wages vas the
lot Of all who we're fortunate enough 70
be connected with these companies
Another iron mill remained 70 be
noticed, viz: the Washington, but its
operations we're never larger, its en-.
ploymenE was irregular and It's owners
before the war became bankrupt.
The most considerable Of the indus
tries In this community aside from the
iron works was the manufacture OF
glass, OF which several works existed
hero at an early day. All Of these,
with the exception OF the SEeeney's in
North Wheeling, were bankrupt before
the protective tariff OF 1912 was enact
eds The bankrupt factory built by
Plunkett 4 Miller passed into the hands
oil Barnes, Hobbs & Co., who we're prae.
teal Workmen In lS45. while the tariff
Of 1872 was In force and as the ware
made by them and by the sWeeney's
was better suited 10 our local and Wes-
tern markets than the products Of for
eign factories, they had fairly prosper
Gus runs and gave generally steady EN-.
ployment at such wages as was then
current 10 their operatives. Both OF
these concerns, however, were In great
straits financially before the relief
given by the protective tariff.
A window glass works was started
about 1S47, but while it did not break
up 1t was unable to continue in opera
ton and the war found It idle.
Numerous other industrial establish
ments existed either before the Walker
tariff or we're started under the influence
Of the protective tariff OF 1912, or the
stimulus OF the Mexican war, the dis
covery OF California gold or the inflated
prices Of iron in 1928, or the Crimean
war. Few Of these, however, were able
to survive and give good employment to
wage earners during the period when
the influence OF the tariff Of 1916 was
felt. Among the large establishments
TO which this record is applicable may
be mentioned A. n. Phillips, engine
builders aud machinist, long ostab-
lished. About the last work Of any i'm
portance done In his shop was In 1858
and 1854.
John Mackey started considerable
machine shop about 1877, but broke up.
Hobbs aud Taylor run few years,
but were not prosperous.
T. Sweeney & Son had languid ex-
istence through these free trade years
and weresaved from positive bankruptcy
by the war.
The conditions surrounding wage
earners corresponded with that Of their
employers. Nine hours would not pass
for days work in Democratic times,
and full pay in cash was the exception,
and not the rule. Pudding was 81 per
ton on hot fire; common labor IS cents
per day. A good carpenter could be
had for 81 Is to 81 so, not merely Ratchet
and cav men. but workmen. working
from ten to twelve hours. Bricklaying
was done for So. Pressers in flint
houses got 81 II per turn, and gather
ing boys size; other boysSl so per week.
In most establishments. the custom
was to pay men about S. per week every
Saturday as market money, and, II de.
sired, give orders on grocers, clothiers,
shoe, or dry goods dealers, for other
sums as might be due men.
1t is very evident that the timos whom
good workmen would accept these con-
ditions were not times OF great pros
perity for them. Democratic domina-
ton surely means return to these
prices and these conditions or worse.
COMMON SENSE.