The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-04-12
PROSPERITY WAVE BOOMS WAGES OF MANY WORKNGMEN
Thousands of Skilled Workers and Laboers Railroads and
dstiaI Plants Get Observation-Disclosures Are Reported From
Nearly Every StateMost of Them Are Voluntary, and
Follow Unrest Because of the High Cost of Living.

New York City.-Substantia in
creases in the wages of workingmen,
especially those on the railroads, in
all parts of the United States are be-
ing granted. From nearly every
State in the Union reports are re-
ceived specifying increases. Many CO
them are voluntary. Some, but COM
paratively few, are the result of
strikes or demands. In several in
stances Courts of Arbitration have
upheld the demands of workingmen
for more money, and the employers
have complied.
Only last week increases amounting
to more than thirty-two millions of
dollars year were granted by the
different railroads and virtually
promised by the United States Steel
Corporation. The high cost of living
and feeling of general unrest among
the laboring classes, because of differ
ences in the purchasing capacity of a
dollar to-day compared with that it
had ten years ago are attributed as
the causes for the increase. A wave
of prosperity that has increased bust
ness all around and made profits
greater has enabled the railroad
managers and employers to make the
increases.
An increase of three cents an hour
has been granted to $4,000 workers
of the Brotherhood Of Railroad Train
men and of the Switchmen's Union
in Chicago. Eight thousand painters
in the same city have been accorded
an increase of five cents an hour.
The bill posters there will hereafter
receive $21 week, raise of So.
Elevator conductors have been raised
from $50 to $65 a month.
From Albany reports are received
of a porposed increase of the wages
of it's employees by the Delaware and
Hudson Railroad. A number of fac
tories and manufacturing firms have
granted increases to their workers.
Many of these have been voluntary.
In Boston, Brooklyn and East Bos-
ton 1900 painters have been accorded
an increase of $1.96 a week, making
a wage of $40 a week for painters
and $2222 for decorators for forty
four hours work. The conductors
and trainmen of the New Haven Rail-
road system have received advances
in wages.
The Norcross Brothers, building
contractors in Washington, have
granted an increase OF fifty cents a
day to their marble settlers and the
marble settlers helpers. Considera-
tion is being given by the firm to q
demand for an increase by the car
penters. An increase of three per
| cent has been granted engine drivers
on the Southern Railroad there.
Prosperity has settled on the great
Industrial population of Rhode Island
| Some increases are noted there, but
not many. A year ago substantial
advances were made, and all the fac
| tories are working on full time an6
| many on overtime.
Ten thousand employees Of the Con
solidated Coal Company, of Balti
more, have been granted voluntary
| increase of three per cent. The Davis
Coal and Coke Company is reported
to be working on new wage schedule
for the benefit of its employees.
Ten thousand employees of the Bal
| timore and Ohio Railroad have beer
granted increases averaging five ant
| six per cent.
Five hundred men at the indie
pendent iron plant Of Moorheat
Brothers & Company, in Pittsburg
have received voluntary increase
of ten per cent.