The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-11-22
INDUSTRIAL
A. 81. Convention Opens.

A. r. L. Convention Opens.
At Norfolk, Va, the annual conven-
ton of the American Federation of La
Dor began its sessions Nov II in the
auditorium of the exposition. There
were 400 delegates in attendance. in
Guiding some from Cuba. Canada and
Mexico. Reports OF the secretary and
treasurer showed receipts for the year
amounting to $2S7,S7O and dsburse-
ments OF $l50.9G0. leaving a balance of
$121910, of which $103,0TS is in the
defense fund. To sustain members on
strike during the year S3.200,053 was
expended. President Gompers in his
report took the aggressive stand no
wage reduction and proposed action
to offset the capitalist antagonism"
Indicated in the policy adopted by the
National Manufacturers association in
voting a war fund of 81, 100000. Com
pers went on to say that no less than
1900 secret agents of the Pinkerton
detective agency were now employed
by associations of employers to spy on
the unions and misrepresent their ac-
tons. The report further protests
against the abuse of court injunction,
child labor and unrestricted immigra-
ton and for the eight hour day, the or
ganization of farmers and the union
label The convention promptly au-
thorized him to appoint committee to
take up the question of defense fund
and OF establishing the universal eight
hour workday.
Victor l.. Berger, the Socialist editor
from Milwaukee and member Of the
Wisconsin delegation, announced that
he was continuing his fight against the
policies of Gompers-not against him
PERSONAL---VERY. that he did not expect
to get change at this meeting.
p. r. RS Electric Speed Test.
Tests of the new electric locomotives
adopted by the Pennsylvania railroad
were made at Clayton, N. j., over var-
Gus types and weights of rails. One
big engine went sixty miles an hour
with less than half power in use. A
specially devised apparatus enabled
the experts to test the strain on the
rails at curves. Later one exceeded
eighty miles an hour, and steam
locomotive went nearly ninety-two
miles on a curve.
Corn and Cotton Off.
The preliminary returns Of the crop
reporting board Of the department of
agriculture indicate an average yield
of twenty-six bushels of corn to the
acre as compared with 30.3 in 1906 and
2S.S in 1905. The total production is
placed at 1858, 732,OOO bushels. The
quality is also off, it being marked
down to S2.S compared to 500 last
year The total cotton crop Of this
years growth ginned up to Nov. is
G, 167,60O as compared with 6,906,395
bales last year.
Washington's New Station.
The new union station at Washing
ton is now ready for use by all the
railroads entering the city, the first
train having entered it from the B. and
o. system.
New York Skyscraper Limit.
Drastic regulations adopted unani-
mously by the building code revision
Of New York city to be in
effect after Jan. / provide that no new
building shall be over $50 feet in
height. This is expected to end the
mad race of builders for the prize Of
"the highest building" If the reguls-
tons are approved by the board of al
dermen. Already more than twenty
buildings in New York have exceeded
this limit. This action is in response
to the warning recently sounded by
the fire underwriters and by the fire
fighters.
HOLSTERS For the Pacific.
The first experiment in the breeding
of Maine Holsters in the Pacific has
begun with the shipment of carload
of fry from the government hatchery
at Boothbay by order Of the fish COM
mission.
Industrial Retrenehment Signs.
From all parts of the country comes
daily news Of factories running on
short time, laying Off employees or
ClOSluS iuOWu. Lie hiueS AumDeI GULF
pany of Iron River, Wis, has shut its
big mill, throwing out 1900 men. The
various works of the General Electric
company have cut down their force.
The Brockton (Mass) shoe factories
are on short time. Mills In and around
Pittsburg have laid of $4,000 workers.
At Chicago 80 per cent of the shops
and factories have curtailed in one
way or another, and half of the men
employed in the building trades are
now idle. Many sawmills In northern
Wisconsin have shut down. Other
reported at this writing are
the Detroit Stove works and distileries
and farm machinery plants at Canton.
o. Railroads in all sections are lay
ing off men engaged In extension work.