St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-11-18
LETTER FROM ENGLAND
Consul F. D. Hale Tells Of COndi-
tons at Huddersfield-
Nearly Normal
HUDDERsFLELD. ENG.
an n .

CaIedonian,' TO give your leaders
some Idea of the conditions we lind
existing in this city, on our return
f,om america
/ may say, we did not enjoy the
voyage across the Atlantic as much
as " had anticipated, as nearly ali
the way, we had TO encounter winds,
gales and fogs, and we were Truly
very thankful, alter nearly eight
days of unpleasant experience, to
one mole feel the sond earth be-
meath our feet as we landed at Liver
pool The SNIP was daI Kened at
night even in the midst of the dense
fogs, and some of the time, even in
such conditions, the fog horn was
snent. OF course these were the
protective conditions OF war times.
We saw no wa. ships however until
we were in the vicinity of the Irish
coast, where two British cruisers ap-
preached US on a tour of inspection
apparently; but we we've noe sLOpped,
as flag signalling disclosed our ma
tionaI1ty and seemingly satisfied
their inquisltiveness.
AS the probable result of the war,
we anticipated a stagnation OF bust
ness to greater or less degree he.e
in Huddersheld, and a consequential
unemployment OF labor to such an
extent as to cause no little anxiety
as to the future conditions among
The great masses of the working peo-
pie, and that much suffering among
me poorer classes of the population
would follow; that the cost of living
would be measurabIy increased by
the raising of the prices of foodstuffs
and other necessarles of life; but we
were happily disappointed in this
respect.
This city and the surrounding dis
tricts are principally interested in
the manufacture of wooden yarns and
cloths in great variety, but mostly,
goods for mems wear; so all the
numerous large mills are fully
equipped with wool manufacturing
and command the labor
of thousands of skilled workmen and
woIkwomen to whom good wages
are paid, f:om the European point
of view.
A very large market outside the
British Isles has been enjoyed by
manufacturers of this
class of goods, on the continent, with
France, Belgium, Germany, Austria
and the Balkans
Mills Are Kept Busy.
Of course the outbreak of the
war Immediately closed these mar
kets to the expectation of goods
Fl ON here, and the outlook at Fl: st
was very serious, and a great cur
tailment in manufacture resulted,
but not for long. The necessary
equipping of great armies forced the
to fully appreciate the
need OF quickly acquiring enormous
quantities of cloth material fo- sol
diers and sailors wear, and contracts
were speedily made for millions of
yards of khaki for the British army
uses, and blue serges for the use of
the sailors; and the armies of
France had also to be provided for
by that COVE nment. Very large
contracts were obt9ined by the man
ufactuI ers in this district who had
the mills, machinery and labor to
at once engage in this special work.
Therefore nearly all our mills are
busy, some of them with night shifts,
and Sunday even is not altogether
without the sound of rumbling ma
chinery. am informed that the
prices for this wo.k are not such
as to bring to the manufacturers
large profits, but labor is kept en-
ploved. This condition will undoubt- 1
eddy prevail for some months surely,
probably during the winter months,
and possibly for longer time.
Food Prices Reasonable.
1 doubt if any district in England,
is, in this :espect, at this time, bet
ter situated than this. The retail
prices of foodstuffs remain about the
same as under normal conditions;
sugar, and -four and its products are
about the only noticeable exceptions;
the former having advanced about
% per cent and the latter from
to 10 per cent. Meats, fruit, vege-
tables, fish, ETC., remain about the
same as befo. the war began. The
price of raw wool has, under the
special demand, advanced consider
ably, so that in time, the cost of wool
must also advance.
1t is feared that local manufacture
ers and exporters will lose heavily
through foreign creditors on the
continent, who may become unable
to meet their obligations, although
as a seeming offset, British debtors
are forbidden by the government, to
pay Their trade Obligation in enemy
countries until after the war.
Trade with the United States and
other neutral countries, as well as
as colonies of the allies will con-
tinue, but the amount of production
may be lessened if the war should
long continue, as SO many other
wise operatives, would become un-
productive of manufactured goods.
Much Charity Work.
We find of course a great feeling
of anxiety in many a home owe.
friends and dear ones at the front,
in the midst of danger, and every
body is talking of the terrible war;
its suddenness, it's appalling condi-
tions; while the possible results are
problems that stagger the wisest
minds. 1t is said that the cost and
sacrifice will be almost incalculable |
but that the ends to be obtained will |
warrant all the money expenditure, |
he 6QSfTncfiOn Of 1arQr10- ~ and fhe. /