Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-06
LABOR SHORTAGE is
/ BECOMING MOST ACUTE
High Wages Paid at New
W Army Posts.
CONTRACTORS MAKE PROFIT
Working on Percentage Basis. They
Gain in Increased Cost to Govern
ment, While Other Employers Of
Labor Suffer.

ment, While Other Employers or
Labor Suffer.
Labor conditions in Richmond during
the past few days have become eN-
tremely serious as result of the
heavy Withdrawal OF mon from this
city to the three government camps
now in course of construction in Viz
Einia, according to large employers of
labor. and fear was expressed ycstcr-
day afternoon that unless some remedy
is found, which business men said was
doubtful in view of existing conditions,
that some lines OF business in Rich
mond were threatened with an actual
shortage of labor.
In addition to the large number of
workmcn who during the past few
days have left the Richmond branch of
the American Locomotive Company,
causing officers of that plant fears
that its contracts for munitions would
not he completed on scheduled time. il,
became known yesterday that winston
q Co., contractors for the lowering of
the Belt Line Railway tracks, had also
been seriously affected by the with
drawal Of men from Richmond to Pc
tcrSburG, Quantico and JamcSt own.
For "A time ii was feared that the Belt
Line work would he held up because
ol the LABOR SITUATION.
Many other plans and concerns are
also suffering from the shortage of
labor, as we'll is the farmers in South
side Virginia, who are in the midst OF
producing and harvesting record
breaking crops. The exodus of farm
labor to these camps. where the wages
paid for this class of labor is consid-
erably in excess of those paid on tile
farms. has resulted in 4 serious situa-
ton and one which is causing farmers
great anxiety. Because of the COM
parative dizziness in building opera
tions in Richmond, the shortage is
experienced IL the main only by manu-
featuring plants.
LARGE EMPLOYERS
SEE NO IMPROVEMENT
Business men and large employers
OF labor could see no remedy for the
situation. and were of the opinion that
conditions would not improve until the
completion OF the three camps The
marine corps cantonment at Quantico
is nearing completion, hut the work
at Petersburg and jamestown is only
being started. and will continue for
mt least sixty days. There was, how
ever. considerable criticism expressed
In downtown circles over the plan
adopted by the government in con
structinG these camps.
While business men admitted there
was an urgent need for the camps at
once, and that they must be con-
structed as quickly as possible the be-
iiet was expressed that the work could
have been done much more cheaply and
with less disturbance to labor if con-
tracts outright had been awarded in
stead OF allowing contractors TO erect
them on per cent basis. Richmond
business men, from the very first, fore
saw the development of such a situa
tion as now exists. and protested 10
Secretary of War Baker against such
procedure.
After committee had conferred
with Secretary Baker, the Richmond
Chamber of Commerce sent to com
mercial organizations in the South a
letter asking their cooperation in the
matter. This letter, after setting forth
the conditions under which the govern
ment would construct the twelve camps
TO be established in this section of the
country said
only one cantonment will he award
ed TO any one contractor, thus creating
twelve contractors competing for labor
and material without restriction as Ia
prices, and with the profits of the con
tractors increasing as the cost is in
creased.
SOARING IN PRICE
The results of this system already
realized are that common pine lumber
which was recently selling for s25 per
thousand fcet. has lnow adva need tc
s42 per thousand and. in the opinion
of competent men, will he advanced
very quickly to 500 a thousand, and nc
substantial increase in quantity will
he produced. The advance in labor has
risen from go a day to s. day by
transferring unskiled day labor 10 the
position and pay of skilled labor
The supply of labor to produce
crops and to carry on the necessary
works Of the South was already re-
duced to point far below what was
needed. and there is no way TO increase
The quantity OF labor The result OF
this government work under this ex-
traordinary system Of pay. is entirely
TO disorganize all Of the producing
businesses OF the South, TO paralyZe
the production Of food crops and the
cotton crop. TO prevent the maintenance
of the transportation lines and service
and generally 10 create n condition
which would he ruinous to every in
terest"
At Petersburg and Quantico the con
tractors paving carpenters 90
cents per hour for cish, hourc. with
time and one-na;f for overtime. and
double time Saturday afternoons and
on Sundays The mon have also been
advised that they may work all the
hours they desire. Local engineers as
serted yesterday that ten hours work
ordinary man. and to work any longer
is productive Of no greater amour; al
output. For this reason. is was asserted
that thousand % dollars was being
unwisely expended in constructing the
camps.
CONTRACTORS GAIN
BY HIGHER PRICES
While no special blame was attached
to the contractors for their efforts Il
nf OFT, Ia.
cause II was realized that the work
must be completed as quickly as nos.
sible. large employers Of labor sa! ID yes
terday afternoon that what was tcrnct
unskilled workTnen-carpentcr help
ers and the likc--werc being c!asseC
AZ skilled workmen. and being pait
S2z cents per hour for their work
This fact does not affect adversely TN,
contractor in the least but on III,
other ha nd. increasns hls nrnats fo- n 1.