Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-07-15
Plans for Securing Labor Tor the
American Tobacco CO.
LETTER FROM THE COMPANY
Only One Hundred and Fifty Persons
Are Now Employed and Two
Thousand Are Wantcd-corpora.
tion's Generous Policy.

''"hs 'or securing labor Tor the
local branch Of the American Tobac.
co Company arc now occlrpyinr thu
attention of the merchants and bust.
ness men of the city. 1t is likely
that special meeting of the Cham.
Der of Commerce will be called for
next Friday night to receive tho re-
port of the special committee which
is working OH this matter.
Following is n communication
which Manager Williams, of the 10.
cal factory, has addressed to the
chamber:
MIR. F. l.. Farrar. Secretary.
Chamber of Commerce,
Newport News, Va.
Dear Sir: While in your city on
Saturday it was my pleasure to meet
Mr Cottrcll, with whom | talked
regarding the disappointing condi.
tons from labor standpoint exist
ing at our Newport News branch.
owing to the scarcity Of labor (?) or
lack OF interest on the part of the
people of the city in securing lucra-
tive employment. AS 1t Is impossible
for me to be present at your board
meeting on Friday, III Mr.. Cottrcll's
suggestion this communication is all
dressed to YOU, hoping it will De
brought to the attention of your
board AT their meeting on Friday
evening next
when your city was first brought
to our company's attention as an
available point for the manufacture
of our products. and later through
personal investigation by several rep.
resentativcs of the company, we were
impressed with the seeming pOssibili-
ties of your city for the establish
ment of Il large plant, in which we
hoped ultimately to secure the SER
vices OF 1000 or 500 people both
male and female, at congcnal anl
profitable employment and SO stated
these facts to Mr.. Cottrel when cx-
SS"'i"S ne icdSe ioT Tue property, at
the same time making a conserva-
tive statement regarding the rate of
wages the ambitious employees would
earn. Our payroll at the branch
bears out the statement made at the
time, which was in no way misreprc-
sented nor ovcrdrawn. The figures
before the writer show that for the
week ending April 18th the highest
amount paid to rollers was 81 90,
with an average of 1919. For tho
week ending May End the highest
amount paid to rollers was 1905,
with an average of $500. For the
week ending June 9th the highest
amount paid was 5000. with an av-
erage OF S5.27, while the bunch max
ing and other departments show a
relative increase. during the same pc
RODS. This Is most satisfactory to
us. as 1t shows conclusively that the
employees, none of whom have had
more than six weeks experience. are
doing even better than was repre-
scented they could do. The discour.
asement, however. is in the fact o.
not securing people sufficient to war
rant our continuing under the pres
ent conditions, and dispeling the
fcnd hope that we in reasonable
time. unless conditions materially
change. can grow to any proportion
In this connection we submit tn!
following figures: Since opening the
factory about January 1st, we have
employed a total of about SIS PEG.
pie, Eli female and 2i7 male. OF
the former IS per cent. have dropped
out. and of the latter so per cent,
leaving employed about $50 people in
all. with but few new applicants for
positions. Your board will readily
agree that these conditions are more
than dlscouraging. when every eff.
fort is being made on the part o.
the management to encourage the
young people to secure employment
with lis. which in time would give
the city another large and permanent
industry.
'For the purpose of interesting your
board in the subject and hoping
thereby to secure your hearty CO.
operation in working up sentiment
of enthusiasm to foster and develop
the nucleus OF an industry into large
and credltab]e proportion, we have
submitted the foregoing data for