The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-03
THE PROSPERITY RECORD
ANOTHER CHAPTER FROM LOCAL
INDUSTRIES SHOWS GOOD TIMES.
Wages Have Advanced and More
Men Are Employed Under the
Mckinley Policy.

The NOrdyke & Marmon Company, of this
city, manufacturers of milling machinery,
was one of the first of the manufacturing
industries to feel a depression and one of
the last to recover. Other industries must
have recovered in the meantime, or else the
conditions must be such as to inspire great
confidence in the future before millers erect
new mills or make extensive changes in old
mills. Such being the fact, it is most sig
niIcant to scan the statement of this COM
pany and find that it now has 375 names
on its pay ROLL whereas two years ago it
had only 163, less than half its present num-
Der. In 1894 there were 220 employees. The
monthly pay roll during the years 1894, 1895
and 1896 was $4,000, 5000 and $1,000, re-
spectively, but, as in many other cases,
these figures do not tell the whole story,
for in 1894 and in 1896 men were changed
about SO as to give all the regular men
some work. This cut the average work of
the men down to about rs per cent. of full
time Better than the increase in time is
the fact as reported by Mr.. A H. Nordyke,
tIat the company has increased wages
about per cent. Mr.. Nordyke was asked
last week to give his views on the outlook
What do you think of the prospects for
asked
The capacity Of our shops is now fully
taxed, as evidenced by the pay roll which
is now several times greater than through
puring that fe 10 budng ike Oh OTHER
lines, was confined largely to repairing and
making such additions as were of absolute
necessity. Now the conditions we are fac
ing is that many milling plants are worn
out and are of the tout of date type. The
economy in the past has forced upon us
new and valuable methods for the manu-
facture of flour as we'll as corn goods The
high grade products now manufactured
from corn by our system and the heating
and driving processes render all the different
products from the fine and healthful break
fast foods, sold in packages, down to the
coarser foods for feed purposes, harmless
to produce this kind of goods from corn has
built up of late an extensive export demand
for the goods as we'll as for the machinery
HAS the war interfered with your bust
ness?"
Il do not think the. war has had any eff
feet on our trade, favorably or unfavor-
ably
What do you think of the monetary sit
uation as it affects labor?"
Il think can congratulate ourselves
that we have stable administration and
the settlement of the money question is in
prospect, whereby it will be taken out of
politics as much as possible. This will give
manufacturers confidence to go ahead and
keep their factories running, even during
temporary periods. which occur every year,
of a falling off in demand. In that way
the workIngmem will be able to work full
time and at good wages.
Mr.. Nordyke meets a large number OF
mllers who come here to examine machin-
cry and see it in operation. THESE men are
usually of the most progressive class in
their section of the country. In conVersa-
ton with them he says he has learned one
very significant fact. Re says it is the al
most unanimous opinion of these men that
the country merchants are holding very
small amount of farmers obligations, ex-
ceedingly small when compared to three
is a good indication of the emancipation of
the farmer. WALTER A. ROYSE.