Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-11-13


merce and labor has published an in
teresting comparison. showing Whit
an hours wages. on the average.
would buy OF food in 1906. as com.
pared with the average during the
decade from 1880 to 1899. The retsll
price OF tho principal articles OF food.
weighed according to family consump-
ton OF the various articles. was 1871
per cent. higher In 1906 than the aver
age price for the ten-year period: but
taking the increase OF wages into ac-
count. the purchasing power of an
hours wages i'm 1906. as measured by
food was 7.3 per cent greater. and OF
full weeks wages "a per cent.
greater. Tho reduction I'm hours OF
labor explains he fact that the pur-
chasing power OF weeks wages in
creased less than tho purchasing pow.
er OF an hours wages.
Alexandria. Ind.--The 500 striking
Penn-American plate glass workmen,
VINO went out on strike. recently de-
handing pay days every two weeks
on Saturday, have failed TO accomplish
anything and went back to work. The
company VIII perhaps stick TO its de-.
termination to pay on tho 10th and
10Th OF the month. or as near that
time as 1t chooses. The ten days of
shutdown has been improved by the
factory In making repairs to machln.
cry and buildings.
Washington After conference
with President Roosevelt Postmaster
General Meyer announced that tho
attorney general had completed an
opinion sustaining the Meyer modifi.
cation of the Cortelyou mail.weighing
order. which, II is stated. will save
the government several million dollars
year In railway mail pay. The Mey-
er amendment makes Sunday work
ing day" In all cases where the mails
are carried and weighed on that day.
Helsingfors. Finland.-The bakers
went on strike and the master re-
solved upon new departure. They
Invited women and girls TO take tho
vacant places at the same vages the
strikers had refused. The places were
instantly filled TO the great satlsfac.
ton OF both employees and employers.
Heretofore baking has been a male
pursuit only In Finland. Men and
women here receive exactly the same
wages for the same kind OF work.
Berlin.-Letter carriers here begin
on salary Of 900 marks mark equals
23.S cents). with an allowance In adj
dition OF 800 marks after years OF
service. They work IL hours "a day.
and the average weight OF mai. deliv.
cred daily is lao pounds. except when
the American mails arrive, which in.
crease 1t to 300 pounds Appoint.
ments are made by examination and
preference Is given TO those who have
served In the Germany army.
Pawtucket, r. 1.-The scarcity OF
help in the mills and factories through.
out the Blackstone valley i5 proving
serious offset to the general pros.
perity resulting from favorable mar.
ket for the product OF the mills. Most
IL the factories are being rushed to
the limit. and at the same time arc
refusing orders for goods. Nearly
every trade In the district is expert.
encing the same shortage Of unskilled
labor.
Indianapolis, Ind. NJ Ryan OF
Chicago was reelected general presi.
dent of the International Association
OF Bridge and Structural Iron Workers
at the annual convention here. over
Dave Jennings Of Cleveland. The con.
vention decided to meet here again
next year
Shamokin, Pa.-The Shamokin and
Mount Carmel transit line between
this place and Ashland, which was
tied up since last May by employees
going on a strike, has been sold by
the principal stockholders, residing In
Lancaster county, to coal-region capl.
talists, headed by former Congressman
IL. w Samuel OF Mount Carmel. The
road. which is 10 miles long, will be
reopened at once.
Pittsburg, Pa.-The big Bessomer
departments Of the Homestead Steel
works. as well as the Duquesne works
OF the United States Steel corporation.
have been closed. The Dequesne de-
partment will not be reopened. The
Homestead bessemer department will
be closed for at least 30 days. This
is one OF the first movements at reduc-
ing expenses.
Providence, r.. 1.-The Rhodes Ia.
land State Federation Of Labor has
petitioned the members Of congress
for the enactment OF law which
would prohibit government bands com.
peting with civilian bands.
Misunderstanding TO the census
returns, wages I'm Canada have In
creased % per cent. the past FIVE
years.
Charleston, w. Va.,-The outlook ia
the West Virginia coal fields for the
coming winter Is considered grave by
the coal operators owing to the scar.
city of miners. In the Plttsburg dis
trict. however. both miners and oper.
ators declare that conditions are nor.
NAL; in fact, little better now than
they we're at the. same period a year
ago.
St Louisville general executive
board Of the Independent Boot and
Shoe Workers Union OF Missouri has
extended the strike begun by the cut.
ters OF st. Louis 80 as to include over
$4,000 members Of the allied trades.