Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-28
AGAIN REFUSED.
Continued from page ID

Southern mills as ever they receiVeo III
the Northern mills. Practical informa-
ton cannot be obtained by getting Irohi
the pay rolls of the mills the wages
paid each operative
Information most reliable ana upon
which sound and accurate conclusions
can be based is the price per 100 hanks
for spinning, the price per cut TOT
weaving, and the price per nanKs 1or
fine and coarse speeders. The wages
paid to grinders and shippers In the
carding department and loom nxers IN
the weaving department might DE as
certained with the cards and looms
tended for the same and then compared
with the wages paid and the cards ana
looms tended in the Northern mills.
1t is not honest nor fair for the mill
men to say that cloth can be manurac-
tured for less cost in the southern
mills. because goods made IN the
Northern mills are of a finer grade,
and any practical man in the cotton
manufacturing trade knows that 1t
costs more to manufacture fine goods
than 1t does to manufacture coarse
goods. AS an illustration, the King
Phillip Mills pay nearly double the
price for spinning 1905 yarn as any
other mill in the city for spinning 36's
yarn.
The Southern mills have their bad
times as well as the mills in the North.
l remember in the summer of 1896 that
a convention of Southern manufacture
ers was held and that they decided to
run the mills on short time for three
months in the hope Of bringing about
better demand for goods. Mr.. Mason,
the treasurer of the Southern Manufac-
turers' Association. said at that con-
vention that he was surprised to see
new. mills being built. because there
was not demand enough for the goods
alreadSs.h operations and that they
Wbuld have to shut down ultimately
unless they could get footing in the
foreign markets of the world.
A report OF this convention was pub
lished in the Boston Advertiser and a
copy of the same was sent to me by a
Fall River mill treasurer. | noticed
the five mill treasurers who took part
in the late conference. l looked ut the
stock market and found that the low
est price at which the stocks of the
five mills of which the five mills of
which they are treasurers Were quoted
during the year. averaging the five
mills at sl07 or 81 above par value OF
800. and out of II corporations. quoted
at the lowest figures. during the year.
30 Of them We're quoted as having stock
at more than the par value.
The barometer of the financial condi-
ton of the mill is the stock market
and the figures | have shown place II
in a favorable light. The dividends of
the past 10 years are rated by good au-
th0rit!es To exceed ! per cent. Thu
working people. who deposit their lit
tie saving in the savings bank. would
think themselves in luck If they could
realize per cent. per annum. but they
have to Ice satisfied with AZ per cent.
OF nearly 3 per cent. less than the mills
have been accustomed TO paying tu
their stockholders.
trust the spinners are in good
spirits and determined TO make stand
Tor living wages in return for their ar
duous- labor. l know of no district
where the price for spinning, including
backhoy's pay. is less than in FAIL
River. With best wishes. | am YOU
in the cause of labor.
tSigned) BOB HOWARD.