Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-10-04
WAGES GOING UP.

| Unusual Prosperity in Factories--AYore
New WOODEN and Cotton Mills Than for
Four Years--A 20 Per Cent Wage Ad-
vance.
These are the bad times, very bad
times, for political wool growers and
calamity howlers. Not only do prices OF
domestic woods remain firm, at an ad-
vance of about 10 per cent above the
Mckinley prices of two months ago,
but there is unusual activity In the
wooden and cotton mifis.
The Wool and Cotton Reporter devotes
page every week to s. "Bulletin of
New Enterprises" which, however, in
cludes mills shutting down. There
used to be more mills shutting down
than starting up; but since the passage
of "the free trade Wilson bill, which
was to "annihIlate" the wooden indus
try, the record has been remarkable
one--better than for any two weeks
during the four years of McKinleyism.
For the week ending September 9Th
the Reporter mentions five new mills,
one of which is cotton mill, to cost
$l50000, 20 engagements and improve.
mcnts, and 20 mills starting up, one of
which has been closed nine months and
another five years.
Rawitzer Bros. of Stafford Springs
are mentioned as having settled with
their dissatisfied weavers, giving them a
20 per cent advance in wages. This wage
advance is more than the american
Economist could find in any protected
industry during the first two years of
McKinleyism.
The record is good one, but that for
the week ending September 18th is
better. During this week there were ID
items under the column headed New
Mills" One of the mills mentioned is
to have $4,000 spindles, and to be the
largest cotton mill in the South.
Another, for making cotton, wool and
worsted yarn, is to occupy building
ITO by 2OO feet, which structure alone
is to cost 100000. "rhe plans for the
new plant" says the Reporter, "have
been ready for some time, but it is said
the construction of tine mill depended
upon the settlement OF the tariff ques.
ton" 1t is located at Philadelphia.
Another cotton mill, with $4,000
spindles, is to be built at Gatfney, s. c.,
with capital of $250,000
Another cotton mill, with 100000
capital, is proposed for Bath, s. q. Two
hundred thousand dollars have already
been subscribed.
The other new mills are for the manu-.
facture Of wooden, cotton, knit hosiery,
and silk goods.
Under the column "Enlargements and
Improvements" there are Is mentions.
Under the column "Starting Up and
Shutting Down" 20 mills are mentioned
as having started or about to start up
One Of these has been closed since April
last, another over year, and third
for two years. All three are wooden
mills. Only four are mentioned as
shutting down-one to make repairs,
another for two weeks, another because
OF death, and the last Is running on
short time on account Of low water.
Ii this sort OF business goes on until
November the result oil the election may
not be SO satisfactory to the Republicans
as they have been anticipating. They
must either manage to keep the mills
closed or to keep the backwoods voters
from knowing that more wheels are
turning than ever before Can they
stave OF prosperity until after election I?
If the drouth had only lasted two months
longer Republican prospects would be
brighter.