Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-11
WAGES RESTORED.
Iron Works Mills of Fall River,
lake the First Step.
The Operatives EIated and Other Mill
Owners Depressed.
Demand Tor General Restoration Will Now
Follow Throughout City.

tnls afternoon, of an increase in wages To
the rates paid before August .. the in
crease to take effect, April %. These
mills are not in the Cotton Manufacturers
Association. This action has caused con-
sternation in manufacturing circles.
When the reduction was made last
summer. the Iron Works Corporation did
not at first follow the example set by
Others in the city. After 10 weeks the
strike proved unsuccessful and the opera
tlves OF the Iron Works We're compelled
to get down to the standard made by the
Manufacturers Association They have
been receiving the highest average wages.
however, owing to the higher speed of
machinery and character of the work
exacted
The manufacturers in general will, in
all probability, be compelled to advance to
the rates established by the Iron Works
A few believe the increase is dictated by
ph1lanthropic motives. One in a position
to know the situation, explained as fol
lows:
1.-The Iron Works Mills furnish the
American Printing Company 30, 900 pieces
of goods weekly. They are not baled
nor prepared especially for shipment, as
is the case with all the other local mills.
They are new mills, operating 81, 900 of
the best and speediest looms in America.
They can undoubtedly deliver the goods in
to the print works at 10 per cent. cheaper
cost than any other print work can receive
them.
1.-The American Print Works and Iron
Works mills are owned and controlled by
M. ID. Borden of New York. In the past
few months it is known that he has been
carrying large amount of goods that he
docs not care to dispose of at the present
prices. He bought up the market two or
three times and very soon afterward some
weakened manufacturer sold a small
quantity under the market price depreciat-
ing the value of the goods he had on
hand.
1.-The manufacturers here in some in
stances would rather undersell the market
in this way than advance wages, The
latest move on the part of the Iron Works
is, consequently, regarded as a means of
getting square, and at the same time
bolstering prices in the general market.
The American Company's goods now on
hand will be greatly enhanced in value by
the increase of wages which must follow
elsewhere
When the news of the advance was first
given out it was said that tho whole
scheme was still further to bull the cloth
market at this center. Some crcdence was
given this view, from the fact that the
margin of profit in manufacturing is very
low. Brokers say that very few mills
could make print cloths at profit if cot
ton was being purchased at the present
prices.
The Iron Works Company bought 40,
600 bales, three months ago when the
price was cent pound less than the
present quotations. Nearly all the other
local mills have large supply on hand
While bulling the market was undoubt-
eddy one cause of the increase, it is fully
believed that there were other motives
the owners of the American
mills
News of the advance caused great JOY to
the operatives. The strike of last fail was
brought to an end only because starvation
and winter faced the operatives if persisted
in, and also because their funds were
nearly exhausted.
The weavers were working but short
while before they demanded n restoration
through letter sent the Manufacturers
Association. This letter was not answered
nor its receipt acknowledged. They have
been discontinued since the strike and
were taking steps toward making another
demand which would, in all probability,
De backed up by another strike.
So great was the discomfort that many |
mills have been short of weavers the pas, |
winter, condition rarely known here in |
jhe winter season. The weavers consider |
Mr.. Borden's course noble, philanthro- |
bic one. A regular, general meeting will |
DC held tomorrow night, when it is very |
likely that formal demand for a restora- |
ion will be drawn up and sent the manu- |
aturers.
Secretary Whitehead said 1t was full |
line that the advance was granted, as the |
operatives were working for the lowest |
wages known for 40 years, much lower |
han living prices. A weaver who was
PRESENT at the headquarters of the union |
old the secretary that notices of the resto- /
alton were posted in the American Linen
Mills.
Secretary Howard of the Spinners'
Union said the restoration Of wages here
would be followed by higher prices else
where and would give the people the |
wages they need in buying goods upon
which they have been stinting themselves
or long time, but he felt free to soy
hat the margin of profit was not very
arge at the present time. but when the
,eople were being well paid they would
work better and get off more and Letter
PRODUCTION.
At the spiDners' general meeting, tc-
light, the news was received with great
ejoicine. Business men are highly elated.
some 1900 hands will be affected by the
Increase They receive now $4,000
week in wages.