The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-22

we visited is very creditable. They are
constructed of brick, which is made on
fhe premises. or at nearby points, at
cost of So to So per thousand. Hard
nine lumber, which costs here $50 to S2i
nar thousand, is landed at the mills,
dressed. for S13. 1t is claimed that the
cost of mill buildings is from AZ cents
to "a cents per square foot of floor
snace. Whatever is saved in this direc-
ton. however. is, we think offset by the
additional cost of machinery, which IS
10 per cent. more than in the north.
In North Carolina there are no labor
laws. Most of the small mills are run
ming their carling and spinning night
and day. aud doing the weaving in the
das TIME. The statement was made by
one min manager that they did fully
os good work Mt night as in the day.
This he accounted for by stating that he
selected his largest and best help for
the night.
There is a decided opposition on the
mart of manufacturers in the south to
any restrictive labor legislation what
ever. and the alertness with which they
combine to oppose and discourage 1t is
worthy Of attention.
When South Carolina passed its IL
hour law, the manufacturers in the
Piedmont section decided that something
must be done to make the new law
unpopular with their employees. Accord
ingly. reduction in their pay was made
by charging rent for their houses, when,
nm TO that time, had been furnished
without charge. The result was that
this year, when bill was introduced in
the Legislature proposing to further re-
luce the hours of labor, remonstrances
were sent in by the operatives them
selves, obiecting to such legislation, be-
cause they had found by experience
that it reduced their pay.
The mills we visited are among the
largest and best managed in the south.
Without exception the executive officers
whom we met are native southerners.
They are men well qualified by educa-
ton and experience and are putting into
their work an earnestness and close ap-
plication to business that will so far
toward insuring success.
1t does not seem probable that any
restrictive l&bor legislation will be
passed for several years to come. Bills
were introduced in the legislatures of
North and South Carolina and Georgia
this wear. but were defeated, we are in
formed in every case. As the leglsla'
lures in all three of these States are
elected biennially, and the last election
occurred in 1896 immunity from labor
laws is practically assured for nearly
two years to come.
We obtained prices for labor in several
mills. and feel that we are making
conservative statement in saying that
there is difference between the prices
paid there and in Massachusetts of at
least 40 per cent. For instance, the
prices paid speeder tenders varied from
$3.50 to $3.50 per week of 66 hours
Our prices are from 81 to $3.50 for 5S
hours.
In submitting this statement we think
a better basis for comparison can be
given by taking given number Of
srindles, and Showing1the cost of run
ming them in both places. The cost Of
running 112 sluhber spindles, 40S inter
mediate and 40S fine, in one mill we
visited, was S26.70 for GO hours. One
hand runs two slubbers of SO spindles
each at rs cents per day, three hands
run four intermediate frames of 102
spindles each ut so cents per day each,
and two hands run three fine frames of
1856 spindles each at 50 cents per day
each.
In one OF the newest and best ar
ranged northern mills the same number
of spindles of each kind is run the
same length of time for 1854, a price
81 per cent more than in the southern
mill. In another northern mill, not so
well arranged and older, the same work
costs $3.50, which is Go per cent more
fhap in fha southern mill
In the ring spinning department but
little difference is made between the
prices paid for running warp and filing,
1-3 cents per side being paid for 80
spindles Of warp and 9 cents for filing.
Our schedule prices per hour is 28.4 per
cent higher on warp and 56.2 per cent
on filing Spooling, so cents per day;
warping, 80 cents per day for tending
two Wrappers.
For weaving the prices paid were
1T15 cents for 80 yards, GA by Ga, 2S1a
inches. and 90 cents for 55 yards, 6S
to ~, 30 inches, in one mill; 17la cents
for " yards, 80 inches, Ga by 60, made
Of 80 warp and Al filling, in another
mill. In still another mill % cents for
60 yards, 80 inches, GS by II, 4.T5 goods.
The prices paid in Massachusetts for
weave LBtSt SUUuS dtCf AlOlu ~ " Nv
per cent higher.
In regard to the amount of cloth pro-
duced per spindle and per loom, we find
the frst-class, well-managed southern
mill compares favorably with similar
mills here. One mill running day and
night produced 1.20 pounds per spindle
in every 4S hours run. The goods pro-
duced were 3S11a inches, GA by GA, and
30 inches, 6S by ~.
The total cost of labor in several
well run mills was found to be under
cents per pound. We do not know
Of any mill in Massachusetts making
similar goods in which the cost is less
than cents, or so per cent more than
this.
Since this report was written, state
ment has been furnished us Of prices
paid for ring spinning in three mills
which we did not visit. They are lower
than those given above, being z, 71a and
8 cents per side per day on frames OF
256 spindles, 12S per side. 1t is also