The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1894-04-05
WeaYers Go Out.

gress by the weayers ut the Coburn
Wooden mills, which has the appearance
not only of injustice but foolishncss and
ingratitude. As Is we'll known these
mills were started last Monday after a
shut down Of about two weeks, the com
pany having received orders enough to
warrant starting. To anyone who is mol
familiar with the wooden business, 1t
may be of interest to state that com
riencing about Jan. LIST to 18th, mills
usually begin working on heavy weight
or winter goods for the next years
trade, but owing to the depression this
year in trade circles, orders have been
given extremely rare aud those Who
have bought goods even to limited ex-
tent are very anxious to receive their
first, or as they are termed sample pieces,
at once so that garments may be made
up and orders taken from them.
The Indifference of buyers about tax
ing goods can be seen by the following
extract from letter received by l.. An
derson d Co, Saturday morning: Gus
toner that gave us order No. writes
us this morning that unless he receives
these sample pieces by next Friday at
the very latest he will cancel his order. =
In consequence of these letters the
company r quested one of the weavers
to hurry back from his dinner and put
in little extra time To get out his warp
This the weaver declined to do and his
oyerseer was instructed to tell him un-
less he was willing to do this as u matter
of accommodation he was of no further
use to the firm and they would settle up
with him, which they did and as Il result
the other weavers with the exception of
two struck.
1t may be interesting to note what
these weavers have been earning in the
employ of l.. Anderson q Co. In the
first place let us state that few years
ago table of wages paid i'll this and for
eign countries was prepared under the
direction of the National Association of
Wooden Manufacturers aud the price
list in the Coburn Wooden Mills vas at
the very top. Taking the earnings of 4
good weavcrS for the last eight weeks
previous to the shut down one being the
weaver discharged. and one Il lady, they
show the following average per week !;
$lS.06 Sl73S Sl4.46 Sl3.S2 During this
same period, the average of all the
weavcrs, men, women and boys. was as
follows:
Average Gross earnings per week 1895 %
fines " pa
---
Average net earnings per week sl29S
These figures show what appears to us
to be good pay.
1t will be remembered that at the time
the bulkhead and dam on the south side
MAS repaired these mills were stopped
and at the time they started, Oct. 25lh'
Il large part of the wooden mills of the
country were closed aud those that
were running were running at reduc-
ton in wages. This company informed
their employees that they did not intend
to reduce wages until they were com
PEELED to, aud If they, the employees,
would use extra care in the production
of cloth, they would endeavor to finish
the season at the old rates which they
did, finishing Saturday, March 3D..
The company feel that the weavcrs
tho left on Saturday, did not show an
appreciation of their efforts to run the
mill under adverse circumstances under
which many mills suspended operations
entirely, and the refusal to work few
moments extra ut noon times in order
to hold their orders was unreasonable
and unjustifiable.
The company under the present con
dition of business do not feel like being
TO very much extra trouble fol the sake
of running and we are unable to state
just what will be done in the present
emergency. We are informed, however
that most of the weavers have returned
to their looms and hope the mills will
continue to run as heretofore. to the
great advantage of our town.