The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1910-04-29
PROSPERITY WAVE BOOMS WAGES OF MANY WORK|NGMEN
Thousands of Skilled Workers and ahores on Railroads and in IN
eusa Plants Get Advances Are Reported From
Nearly Every State..-Most of Them Are Voluntary anu
Follow Unrest Because of the High Cost of Living.

New York Substantial 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 OF
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 CT workingmen
for more money, and, the employers
have complied.
Only last week increases amounting
to more than thirty-two millions of
dollars a 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.
nnctnpe
receive $21 a week, raise of SO.
Elevator conductors have been raised
from SEQ to S65 a month.
From Albany reports are received
of proposed increase of the wages
of its employees by the Delaware and |
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 S1.96 a week, making
a wage of $40 a week for painters
and $22.22 for decorators for forty
four hours work. The conductors
and trainmen of the New Haven Rail-
road system have received advances
N wages.
The Norcross Brothers, building
contractors in Washington, have
granted an increase of fifty cents
lay to their marble settlers and the
marble settlers helpers. Considera-
ion is being given by the firm to a
temand for an increase by the car
)enters. An increase OF three per
ent. has been granted engine drivers
N the Southern Railroad there.
Prosperity has settled on the great
Industrial population of Rhode Island.
'ome increases are noted there. but
lot many. A year ago substantial
dvances were made, and all the fac
cries are working on full time and {
1any on overtime.
Ten thousand employees of the Con- ,
Coal Company, of Balti- :
lore, have been granted a voluntary $
1crease of three per cent. The Davis
oal and Coke Company is reported I
be working on new wage schedule {
Or the benefit of it's employees. ,
Ten thousand employees of the Bal
more and Ohio Railroad have been {
ranted increases averaging five and c
X per cent. f
Five hundred men at the indie
endent iron plant of Moorhead f
rothers G Company, in Pittsburg, Q
ave received voluntary increase c
ten per cent. Y