Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-10
WATCHING BORDEN.
He Now Controls the Wage
Situation at Fall River.
Business Prospects Are Better There
Than for Past Three Years.
II He Grants Advance. Other Mills Will Be
Obliged to Follow.

Fall River, Mass, Aug. 9.-The manu-
featuring and wage situation, today looks
better than for any time in three years.
The most interesting feature of the mar
ke for printed fabrics is the announce
ment that the prices of American indigo
blues, both three-quarters and wide goods
and American shirtings, will be advanced
4 per yard, Aug. 10.
1t will be interesting to watch the bulle
tins from the Iron Works mills for the
next few weeks. The last restoration
was forced as business measure by NJ.
q. ID. Borden, founder of those mills. The
keen Judgment that he displayed has
Melted him many thousands of dollars
since April %. the large advances pre-
dicted for prices of finished products of his
works having been maintained.
He is said to be working now on 5 u
cent cotton. Figured on this basis. the
margin between the pirce of cloth and the
raw material (46 yards and eight pounds)
is 81 cents at the present time.
If the prices paid for weaving We're
based on the standard recently suggested
by the secretary of the Weavers' Union, the
kweavers In the Iron Works mills should
Fnow be receiving2 3l cents cut Today,
market at Z "a cents pound not = cents
Eand cloth at 2 1916 cents yard. The
lHargin is therefore n cents Twenty
1--WE per cent of this sum is 1917 cents, the
rice weavers say they should now be re-
ceiving for 46 yards standard 64x6is.
xNo one can tell what Mr.. Borden may
u for his operatives in the next few
Weeks, but it is manifest that he can afford
to come up to the standard suggested by
the weavers' secretary. The Iron Works
| mills are not allied with the Cotton Manu-
facturers Association and it would not
be surprising if request for an advance
in wages was soon presented to their
owner.
The manufacturers in the Cotton Manu-
facturers' Association will not restore
wages for the present, until it appears
that Mr.. Borden forces them to do So.
They concede that business is picking up
and the outlook is brighter than for a
long time. They argue that the last ad-
vance was given when the prices did not
| warrant it, and they think they ought to
receive some profits before a further ad-
vance is given.
| The spinners are preparing to ask for
more wages. In a circular to be published
tomorrow, the executive committee will
call attention to the fact that all the mills
| in New England, outside of New Bedford
and Fall River, are paying the wages of
1899 and have restored every cutdown
made since that year, regardless Of
whether wage schedule is agreed upon
| or not.
Secretary Whitehead of the Weaver's
Association, says that he will not be sur
prised If he is ordered within month to
call special meeting to ask for restora-
ton of the old rates. The secretary of the
Carders' Union thinks things are shaping
themselves to place where an advance
can be given and where one should be
asked. The feeling of the slasher tenders
is well known from their attitude of a
few weeks ago.
No one expects the Manufacturers As
ISOLATION TO grant a voluntary advance
but If NJ G. d. Borden takes the initia-
tive, as he gave the slasher tenders to I'M
derstand he might, they will be compelled
to follow suit. At all events, the reasons
why an advance can be given without in
Jury to the trade are stronger than in q
long time.