The Washington herald., 1909-04-04
.Commerctal and Tndustrtal.

IN the Pitts0urg and SheDang0 Valley
steel manufacturing districts Wednesday
notices were posted OF reductions in
wages emcunting TO an average OF 10 per
cent OF the earnings OF 1900 men. The
reductions were 10 take effect on Thurs
day. April /. he notice Of the Jones &
Laughlin Company explains that the re-
duction has become necessary "on ac-
count OF the depression of business due 10
the fear of a reduction in the tariff" It
adds that Ito meet present prices a re-
duction in wages is unavoidable. These
reductions have been made by the indie
pendent steel manufacturers so far, and
Chairman Gary said on Wednesday that
the Steel Corporation had not considered
the question Of a wage reduction.
The directorate Of the new S500O0.00O
International Smelling and Refining Com
pany. which has been organized as q ri
val OF the American Smelling and Re
fining Company. was announced at New
York Wednesday. The names Indicate
that the company is identified with
Amalgamated Copper and Standard Oil
interests. The company will issue only
SIC, O00.00c of it's capital at present and
viii probably take over the Raritan re-
finery at Raritan, y. J.. the largest re-
finery In the world. owned by the United
Metal Refining Company
The officers of the railway lines IN
Missouri announced a new basis Of pas
senger rates. effective after April TO-
based on 3 cents mile for single trips
and from that down 10 cents mile on
2. .O0O-mile interchangeable books. They
will give a reduction OF 10 per cent on
round trips.
The outcome Of a conference at Wash
ington Tuesday by prominent members
of tho American Federation OF Labor
was a call on every wage Garner 10 as
sist the 1C.0Oo hatters and the 5000 hat
trimmers who haze been on strike for
twelve weeks by contributing y cents
month as long as the strike lAsts. The
strikers are recommended TO establish
food and store houses from which funds
and stores may be distributed.
The anthracite coal operators issued
statement Wednesday asking what the
United Mine Workers as an organization
had done 70 carry out the plan OF the 1872
strike commission. II states that the
union has not made the changes IN It's
constitution recommended by the commis-
sion. and especially in that the antnra-
cite miners had failed 10 organize sep
arateIy from the bituminous miners. The
operators claim that they have done their
best 70 execute the spirit and letter OF
the conditions Of the award. They say
they have taken advantage Of the latest
inventions for the protection OF lie and
have tried TO make working conditions
better. They declare that 'it viii be an
i'll dav for our industries when the entire
supply of coal In the country. anthracite
and bituminous. is put into the power or
any organization TO do what IL VIII IN
Withholding or curtailing our fuel sup
ply
On Tuesday the Queens Borough bridge.
one OF the three great cantilever structures
Of the world. which connects the island
Of Manhattan with Long Island. was
thrown open 10 the traffic of vehicles and
pedestrians. The conditions for street car
transit over this bridge are still In dis
pute. and the formal ceremony OF dedi-
cation viii take place June p The con-
structiOn OF this bridge cost S20e0ooo
and fifty lives. Il occupied a period or
eight years. Its length Is S.I2i feet and
height above high water, iS5 feet City
officials in automobiles were the first 70
cross the new structure This IS the
third East River bridge. and fourth is
under way.
The increased rate OF 2I5 cents a mile
for passengers on the trunk railroads IN
Virginia went into effect April by order
Of the State corporation commission, the
2-cent rate remaining in force on the
local lines. Thus ends the plan Of an
Interstate low passenger rate.
A new record for lOng-distance rail-
road speed WAS made Tuesday, when
New York Central train. chartered by
President Vanderlip, Of the National City
Bank Of New York. 20 carry him 70 the
bedside Of his dying mother in Chicago,
made the trip from New York to Chicago
IN sixteen hours. In spite OF this great
run. Mr. Vanderlip was too late by few
minutes TO see his mother alive.