The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-15
LAuNDRYMEN TO
ADVANCE PRICES.
CONTINUED From First Page.)

entered the association, that the new
organization is in no sense Of the word
local trust formed to arbitrarily put
up the prices. A combinatlo Of cir
cumstances, including greatly increased
cost of operation and the strain Of sharp
competition has, 1t Is said, reduced tho
profits of the laundry business In Rich-
mond to point that can no longer be
endured. Similar conditions prevailing
In other places have forced advances
there Nearly every city In the country,
including Norfolk. and Washington, long
ingo organized and Increased the charges.
The Richmond lnllndrypen held back
hoping to delay the evil here as long as
possible, and they finally acted only
after the most careful considerations.
The announcement Of tie now rates is
tempered with the official declaration
that if conditions improve ut any time
In the future the prices will be promptly
reduced again and put back on the old
basis.
According to the statement of one Of
the members of the association the
laundries Of Richmond have gradually
been dropping back until to-day their
financial standing is SO poor that mer-
camille and supply houses manifest no
great desire to extend credit TO them.
Owing to steadily decreasing receipts
ono laundry was forced to sell out three
weeks ago and more recently still an
other changed hands. Several have adj
svertsed their plants. for sale. One OF
them has had such an advertisement IN
the trade Journals for the past eighteen
months. The earnings of the plants
which have derived any income at all
from the business have been small. One
of the largest laundries IN Richmond,
which does a business extended enough
to reduce the cost OF operation to the
minimum, yet pays only about ten per
cent. on the investment, and this Is .heid
10 he too little for the time and cxpe-
rlcnce and worry the proper conduct or
the establishment demands
Cause of Decline.
rho cause for this state of affairs is
attributed to several sources. The chlel
of these is the advance In the price Oh
laundry supplies during the past few
years. THE prices Of these supplies nave
in some instances been doupied, ana IN
other cases Increased fifty or sixty per
cent, In adj ition, the wages paid to en-
ployes have been advanced from time to
time. Competition has also proved a
drain on tho profits. The cutting of
nrIces has reduced the income to an APP
preciable extent. For instance, in the
case OF shirts, the scale has generally
been disregarded. and flat rate of ten
cents accepted, although the list called
for fifteen cents for shirts with cuffs
attached.
Under these conditions the laundrymen,
1t was stated yesterday, have been maxi
Ing little, If any money, and the neces,
slty for change was generally felt.
This necessity led to the organization of
the association. through which 1t is hoped
to secure mutual benefit and protection.
There will beeno further cutting of prices.
The advanced scale will be put into effect
by every laundry In the city, and all Will
work on the same basis. The association
will probably take other steps later on
TO improve the conditions. Tho organi-
cation is permanent, and offices will be
opened. The president is Mr.. JEFF Powell,
OF tile Troy Laundry; the vice-presdent,
Mr.. Renney Gordon, Of the Eclipse Laun-
dry, and the secretary and treasurer, Mr..
Jackson Turner The secretary, who was
for many years resident of Richmond,
was bought here from Washington to
tare charge Of the affairs of the associa-
ton. He will devote his entire time to
the work.