Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-08-13
FULL FORCE At
COPPER WORKS;
PLANTS RUSHED
Ground Broken for Addition at
the Cable Works-Men Get
an Increase in Pay.
= M1 GRIP OF PROSPERITY
Further Increase is Expected
at Raritan Copper Works
Within the Next Month.
CIGAR FACTORY IS RUSHED
Barber Plant is Reported to be
Busy-Other Concerns Also
Show Increase in Work.
CIGAR FACTORY is RUSHED

Show Increase IN WORK.
Perth Amboy is in tighter grip
of prosperity at the present time
than it has been previously Tor
some years, it is declared Greatly
to the satisfaction Of many families.
the big Raritan Copper Works, rated
as the largest copper refinery in the
world, Is again working at full force.
The Standard Underground Cable
Company broke ground yesterday for
a large addition to extend block,
along the westerly side OF Rector
street and the same concern has just
granted an increase In wages to Its
employees. Work continues excep-
tionally brisk at the United Lead
Works, United States Cartridge
Company's plant, the Barber AS
phalt Paving Company works and the
Chesebrough vaseline works, accord
ing to all reports.
The greatest satisfaction was
caused when the giant Raritan Cop
per Works took back majority of
its employees. after having been
working at from forty to sixty per
cent, Of its capacity. Despite the
fact that there has been falling off
in demand for copper the past few
days, the Raritan plant is back on
full force again, Superintendent A..
c. Clark states, but he estimates
it will be another month before the
plant is actually producing Its max
imum output. The plant operates
with about $50 men when running
at full force, and there are now
.al5ntI75, employed there. The or
der for IN opera tioE has been given
and the maxim UNI output is Being
reached as quickly az possible.
The reason for the added squirt In
activity given the past week is given
as the resumption of operations at
mines in Mexico and the west. 1t
Is declared unfortunate that the
price Of copper has decreased from
twenty-five to about eighteen cents
pound within the past few days,
but it is hoped among those interest
ed that the price Will soar again in
short time. The previous slack
ness was caused by shutting down
Of the mines in the west and in
Mexico, in the latter place beca use
of the revolution. Conditions have
so improved in part of Mexico that
company there has resumed opera
tion of copper mines and the local
plant is now receiving about 2,000,-
600 pounds month from that coun-
try. Other mines in the west start
ing up. increase the supply here.
Ground was broken yesterday for
the erection of an extension to the
cable works SIS $50 feet in size,
which will extend along the westerly
side Of Rector street the full length
of the block from Washington
street to Broad street. Ira R. Crouses
Is the general contractor in charge
Of the construction work The
structure is scheduled to be COM.
pleted in about two months, at which
time it will serve to give employment
to about one hundred more workers.
The extension will be used for gen.
eral wire making, including brass
and copper work. it was stated at the
plant this morning.
With the erection of this addition
the Standard Underground Cable
Works will have extended its plant to
three corners. 1t now occupies the
northeasterly and northwesterly cor
ners of Washington and High
streets. The new structure will be
situated south of the main plant.
Employees of the cable factory have
received an increase in pay. This
was admitted at the works this
morning, but the amount was not
mentioned. 1t Is understood to have
been a general increase OF a cent an
hour. Work is brisk and the COM
Pany is reported to be receiving
many orders
At the American Smelling & Re-.
ining Company, which concern has
the largest number of employees of
any industry in the city. conditions
have greatly improved, although this
plant has held up well all through
the slack time when compared with
other industries. Many men have
been kept at work here throughout
the year and therefore the return of
prosperity generally is not so notice
able.
1t is estimated that about 1,150
men are now employed at the Gug-
genheim plant Some of these are
working to construct the new tin
plant, which will probably be COM
pleted about the first OF next year.
1t is reported that there has come
an increase in activity of operations
at the Barber plants In the Maurer
section of the city. Large forces
are at work in the various depart
ments of the main works and also in
The oil refinery, bordering on Wood
bridge creek.
Work continues to go on day and
night at the United Lead and United
States Cartridge Company's plants. |
The newly constructed Porto
Rican cigar factory in this city is
now working to Its fullest capacity.
rhe demand for Its products b great
and the plant y turning ant .2ta.-t
oo0 cigars aymsath. A fs1l fsree r
there