Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-08
BUSINESS OUTLOOK is
GOOD, SAYS SAMUEL MORGAN
Richmond Cedar Works, After
Period Of Curtailment, Runs
Full Blast.
FOR BUILDERS
low Cost of Material Pointed Out by
Walter L.. Clack-New Indus
tries Open.

cities similarly situated, but q careful
survey OF the local situation mado yes
to-day shows that there Is already n
marked improvements here. Even in
those lines which have suffered most
there rs general belief that conditions
VIII be better after the first OF the
new year. Conservative optimism
seems TO be tho keynote OF the local
situation
Because OF tho diversity OF tho goods
manufactured In Richmond. this city
is notsdcpendcnt on u single set OF con-
ditions, and while there are undOubt-
edly hundreds of men connected with
the railroads and Industries allied with
them out OF employment because of
tic general curtalmcnt, IL liz also true
that other large lines OF Industry are
wor!sing full force, and in some cases
even above the normal capacity.
FACTORIES KEEP THEIR
IS ORGANIZATION TOGETHER
There seems to be n general spirit
on the part of local factories and busl-
ness concerns to keep the full force
employed, and TO do so IT has been
neccDsary for some plants To go on
reduced time. This III particularly truo
in the railroad shops. On the other
hand, plants like the Tredegar Iron
Works, the Richmond Cedar Works and
others are working full time, and with
n full force. Tho former plant Is
working tho largest: number OF men X
haa employed in a decade.
General trado conditions throughout
the country were disturbed by the sud
DEN outbreak of hostilit!es In Europe.
In many Instances the closing of the
stock exchanges and tho upheavai of
6usineEe dealings caused big concerns
Immediately to curtnil their forces. and
fn some cases TO close down. The re-
1 sAipS OF big orders from tho warFlns
natl iohs has carsod faeforiest IN manS
tines, to resume onsfuH time. and como.
are even working overtime. As tho,
pendulum swings back, so has bust-
ness and tlic coming prosperity is be-'
inR felt hero already. Tie expression
OF hope, is felt In every limo OF In
dustry.
CEDAR woRKS IL
RUNNING FULL blast
II. kirkpatrick Parrish, secretary of
the Richmond Cedar Works, said last
night that tho big woodworking plant
was running full time, with upproS!-
matcly n full force OF employees, There
are between 500 and 1000 operatives
on the pay roll, he stated. Several
months ago the plant was put on u
four-day. basis, In order TO hold Its
employees together, but recent orders
have made i practicable TO resume full
time.
II do no. know how long this will
last" said Mr. Parrish last night, but
az prnsent VIC are working full blast.
Our whole force is putting In 4 six
day week"
From a representative OF the Trede-
gar Iron Works was received tho in
formation that the plant was running
day and night in Some departments,
while others were running normal. 1t
has developed recently that tho com
pany was forced to decline orders for
shells from European governments on
account OF big contracts with the
United states government. which will
Keep the plant running for months to
come.
I'VE have nearly 1870 men en-
ployed,' stated aIi office. last night. AS
far as / can remember. this is tho
largest force OF men we have had In
the past ton years. There is no way
Of telling how long this will continue,
but tho outlook for the future is
bright. Our railroad department has
suffered, but other departments have
made up the deficiency
LOCOMOTIVE worries
PLANS LARGER OUTPUT
TO counteract this cheering piece of
news was the statement that the Amcri-
can Locomotive Works, which some
times employs az many as 5000 men,
was entirely closed. This condition,
however, has occurred periodically, and
as the plant has not been running at
It's normal capacity for several years,
Der are out OF employment on account
OF its idlcnese. The company, on tho
other hand, has recently expended &c.,
900 in the erection OF new forging
shop. and when orders are received, 1t
Will bo in position to resume opera
tions speedily, and under better work
ing conditions than heretofore.
Another plant that has suffered by
the war is the Export Leaf Tobacco
Company. This factory was hard hit
by the interruption OF commerce with
the warning nations. and hundreds of
girls or negroes, were thrown out OF
employment. Other tobacco factories,
If tho figures Of tho Internal Revenue
Department can be used az an indica-
tion, are turning out as much as they
ld.lGSt year. and presumably arc work.
ing &c full capacity. Many of the op-
cratiyes from the one idle plant have
been taken on by the others.
Samuel T. Morgan, president OF tho
Virginia Carolina Chemical Company,
stated last night that all of the Vir-
ginia plants owned by his company
are working steadily.
BUSINESS OUTLOOK Is GOOD.
SAYS SAMUEL r. MORGAN
General business conditions are
good" said Mr. Morgan. az find that
the business men of the North as we'll
as the South think the situation Is I'm
proving. While not predicting any
thing. am of the samo opinion
The local plants. s. Dabney Crcnshaw,
secretary of the company, said, employ
several hundred. .tmen.
I'VE are employing us many men as
tisnsl tat this senson of. the year" he
continued tI shink:, business in this
iContinued. on Second Page.5 q