, 1899-09-07

uuotIy ludt mas occurred since the re-
advent of protection and prosperity. 1t
prints the following table, showing
the extent to which labor has shared
in the increased prosperity that has
come to the iron and steel center OF
America during the past year:
Increased wages.
Trade per cent.
Tin plate workers ............. 10
Sheet iron mill men:
Tonnage hands .............. 11A
Day hands 80. 25
tlnlShers ..... .........--... 20
Steel workers. both in and out
of the Amalgamated Associ-
alton ........ .............1 to Is
In this table no account is taken of
increased employment. A detailed ex-
hibit of this important branch OF the
subject would doubtless show that the
number of men who are now receiving
the increased rate of wages is nearly
double the number which received the
lower rate of wages paid o years
ago in the Pittsburg district. Four
years ago, an equivalent length of time
after the enactment of the Wilson free
Ildut bdiih, sShitSiy " IMAM SAN
half the workers of the Pittsburg dis
trict could command steady employ
ment at the then lower rate Of wages.
Today, two years after the enactment
of the Dingley tariff. not only are
wages much higher, but the supply of
labor is not equal to the demand. Again
let the free-trade World tell the story:
when Mr.. Bryan, the aspirant for
the Democratic presidential nomina-
ton, recently visited Homestead, he
asked a colored man employed there
what wages he made a day.
"'Oh. about Sc when l work full
time was the answer.
mfr. Bryan did not ask my more
questions.
Even the iron puddlers, whose work
among the furnaces of molten iron is
about as humble and hard as it can be,
come in for a share in the general pros
perity. As a matter of fact. there are
not puddlers enough to fill the demand.
Yet only a few years ago the %puddlers
were a drug in the market as a result
OF the improved machine methods in
troduced to take their place.
In the phenomenal revival of trade
IN the Pittsburg Klondike the puddler
has been summoned again as a matter
OF necessity. His pay a year ago was
81 per ton. Now it is So. With a help
en-, whom he pays. he can make $3.50
or IS a day. Only a very small per-
centage of the mills can secure all the
puddlers they want.
There were two manufacturers at
the headquarters OF the Amalgamated
association today seeking puddlers.
One came from Alabama, the other
from ohio. The Alabama man wanted
200. He was told that the manufac-
turers in the Pittsburg district wanted
men as badly as he did. He went fur
Their east tonight, seeking them.
Common laborers are almost as
scarce as skilled hands. Mr.. Williams.
secretary of the ~Amalgamated associa-
ton, told the World stan correspondent
today that unskilled laborers could find
employment throughout the district.
Contractors employing laborers on
public improvements are constantly
seeking men.
John C.. Sheehan. the former boss of
Tammany Hall. who has a contract
for constructing Pittsburg's new
So. 900, 900 boulevard. is Inconvenience
BY the limited supply Of laborers.
"E. b. Taylor. general s~uperintend-
ent of the Pennsylvania lines west of
Pittsburg. said today that his road
could not secure as many men as he
desired.
The same story is heard in every
line of trade, but principally, as is nat
ural, from mill owners-not men
enough, cars enough, facilities enough
t. meet the new conditions that are
making the 1870 square miles of mines.
FORCES, mills and factories around Pitts
burg a veritable Golconda of wealth.
Next to the shortage of labor comes
the transportation famine as a factor
in retarding the fullest operation OF
The Industries in the Plttsburg district.
Mine, mill and factory owners all COM
plain of their inability to secure
enough cars to carry their product to
the markets.
Railway officials have pressed into
service all the cars they can secure
from any quarter, yet there are not
enough.
at may be that the shippers them
selves are to blame, as the railway ~
fcials declare. Their complaint Is I'D
the mill owners and mine operat{&
are compelled to utilize the cars lSr
storage purposes because of khe faek
of room in their establishmehtsS
Z" Some Of the mill men, sadd Mr..
Taylor. have long lines OF l011 coal
ami freight cars in their yards. all