New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-06
LABOR WORRIES
IN PTTTSBURG
Machinery Used on NUM-
tons Will Not Have To
Be Strapped.
By JOHN o. BAGLM.

ny SOAA&N ~
Pittsburgh, Aug. H-,At the mo
ment the labor situation Is greater
cause for worry 70 the industries OF
the Pittsburgh district than the subject
Of war orders. or the substitution OF
commercial products for munitions
Tho shortage applies mainly to IN
skilled labor and 20 coal miners, and
the situation is aggravated by the In
coincidence Of common labor, which Is
virtually unorganized, as well as oy
insistence on the part OF ORGANIZED
labor for the strietest observance OF al
the minute OF wage agreements
In the Kiskiminetas and Allegheny
valleys the last week 5000 coal miners
have been idle because OF differences IN
the Interpretation Of recently nego-
.io+ed contracts. In the Pittsburgh
district $4,000 more miners could DC
used than arc available. Tho Eastern
Ohio field Is short 1000, and the Fair
mt Nv. Va.) district needs lO,OoO. II
Is estimated that at least 12,ooo com
mon laborers could find employment IN
Allegheny County.
The shortage Of common labor here
Is delaying progress on the additionS 70
"a Giants and the construction Of new.
Labor Of this kind is not only more
independent, but it is less nomadic IN
SO habits than formerly-certsinly less
noraJie than the immigrants who De-
fore the war came annually in large
Numbers to the great industrial centres
IN this country. It has been = common
occurrence recently for laborers 10
apply for work in mills and furnaces
located within the Pittsburgh city
limits and 20 refuse TO so few miles
M the Monongahela Valley, where the
steel Corporation is building its new
bv-product coke ovens. This latter
proiect is one among a number that
is being seriously delayed by lack OF
common labor.
Cause and Effect.
To obtain relief an experiment is
being attempted with negro labor from
the South. something that has not been
resorted 10 in many years. The difh-
entity of retaining help on new Joo
e scarcelv less than that Of assembling
tbs men. the complaint being common
that contractors foremen do not hest
tate to "steal" men from each other.
The cause Of the shortage is three
fold-frst, the stoppage Of immigra-
ton; second, the emigration which oc-
Cured during the latter part Of last
year and the early part of this year.
and. third, the unprecedented activity IN
;,d1strial circles. This activity has
been increased by the policy OF pros
perous corporations in devoting
larger percentage Of surplus earnings
"a new construction, with the view to
diversifving output. A specific case
NAV be cited. The Carnegie Steel Com
pany has Just started the third unit OF
;+s Scboen steel wheel works, located
81 NcKees Rocks, just below Pitts
bprqb on the Ohio River, which when
conpleted, will treble the capacity Of
the plant as compared with one year
ago.
No Dism&ntling.
Pittsburgh munitiOn makers are
much less concerned over the future
evnort trade than might be inferred
from recently published reports A
false impression was created oy
statement appearing last month 'na'
~ Westinghouse Air Brake Company
having completed its war order and no
,,ora beine then in sight, was proceed
inc 20 dismantle the temporary plant
,,~ovi5ed for that business. There mas
been no dismantling and mono Is imme-
distelv contemplated. For one thing'
there is the prospect that the shortage
- srDplies disclosed by the moblllza-
a., % the National Guard on the Mex
team border may bring contracts from
the United States government "hat Is
Of greater consequence, however Is the
fac+ that the most important piece Oh
..aohinerv used in the manufacture OF
,.oriors kinds Of army and navy sup
Niles il the lathe. With comparatively
slight change and little cost, 1t Is ssid'
these lathes may be readjusted for the
output Of products used in peaceful
nursuits. The demand for lathes and
similar machinery is in excess OF the
spnplv. and there will be no disman-
Ting of munitions plants or the throw
ing Of machinery into the scrap heap
while these conditions last
Material for Ships
At the present time everything that
enters into shipbuilding either for the
navy or for the merchant MARINES
assured an active demand for an in
definite period. This demand has more
than taken up any slack that may have
occurred as a result of smaller orders
for munitions.
In considering the future of foreign
trade with neutrals as well aa with
belligerents, manufacturers are more
concerned with the subject Of financial
credits than with their ability to OBJ
tain additional contracts for materials.
Plan Brooklyn Apartments.
o. II ~