Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-12-31
Great Falling Off In ConStruC-
ton Work Throughout the
Country, As Permits Show
Decrease of 80 Per Cent.
PLANTS MUST REDUCE
Work Has Been Dull in Various
Factories for Some Time
and Results in Considerable
Apprehension As To Future.

4
s,ral terra Gotta is one of the prin-
g,ipal industries in and around Perth
Amboy by reason of the large num-
ber of men employed in normal
times and the high proportion OF
skilled workmen. Work has been
dull in the various factories for
some time and there has been some
apprehension among the employees
as to the future. William H. Pow
ell, President of the Atlantic Terra
Gotta Company today made the fol-
lowing statement regarding the gen
erai situation:
'The depression in the terra cot
ia trade Is due to the great falling
off in the volume of new building 6
throughout the country. The build
ing permits issued by seventy prin-
cipal cities Of the country for the
month of November show thirty per
cent less than the corresponding
month a year ago and December
will make worse showing. The
average decrease for the last si1
months has been about twenty pei
cent Even in periods of great ac-
tivity in building the capacity OF
the existing terra Gotta companies
has been more than sufficient to
satisfy the demand for the material
1t Is obvious that in bad times with
comparatively small demand the
plants must greatly reduce the mum.
Der of their employees for the work
simply cannot be obtained. We re-
gret very much to have to lay off
men but there, is no other course
open. Unfortunately, men who are
laid off are apt to be jealous of
those who are kept on. Smith
thinks he ought to be employed
just as much as Jones and that he
is being Disseminated against. and
Ii the positions are reversed Jones
then feels just the way Smith did.
"The trouble has been coming for
some time. Last summer just be-
fore the strike l told our men that
underlying conditions were not good
and that business was on the decline
and that they would be lucky II
they had work during the winter
and urged them not to throw away
money by remaining idle when there
was work to be done. However,
they preferred to take the advice OF
few hot heads and consequently
lost. considerable sum In wages
which can never be recovered. You
ask me for the causes that have
brought about bad business? This
Is a hard question to answer. 1t
seems to be fashionable to lay our
business troubles to the change OF
administration, the consequent tar
III and currency agitation, the clam
or against corporations and the pc
riod of "v-atchful waiting" over the
Mexican tuation. Doubtless all OF
these have had their effect but the
disturbance has been worldwide.
and has by no means been confined
to the United States. The business
pendulum in my opinion has not
reached the limit of its swing
towards declining business and low
er prices, and we shall have to wait
patiently until that point is reached
and withstand pressure of business
liquidation as best we can.
'.Do 1 think 1t is the intention Of
the terra Gotta companies in general
to make a reduction in wages? /
hope not. All of the prices that we
have heretofore quoted on new busi-
ness has been based on the present
rate of wages. Obviously, when we
manufacture these orders We can
afford to pay and should pay the
present wage rate without reduc-
ton In the last SIX months there
has not been a single contract for
which our company competed where
there was any occasion whatsoever
to figure to pay twenty-five or thirty
per cent below present labor costs
In order to induce the use of terra
Gotta. On account of the lack Of
orders competition between the va
rious companies manufacturing ter
ra Gotta in this vicinity has been
very keen and If the anxiety to take
orders has run far beyond sure
footed judgment the manufacturer
caught with too much business at
too low prices may commit the ad-
ditiona1 mistake of attempting to
recoup his error at the expense Of
his men.
"What will happen. though, Is
that ON account of the large num-
Der of workmen who want jobs the
employers will be able to pick the
best, and the inefficient, the incom-
petent, the drones and the "shop
lawyers" will have to stand aside.
and the efficient capable workman
will reap the reward Of steadier en-
pfovynent -