Tensas gazette., 1917-12-28

President Wilson granted an in
crease of 45 cents ton in the price of
bituminous coal at virtually all mines
in the country, effective at once. The
new price absOrbs wage advances
agreed upon between operators and
miners in the central competitive and
other fields. The presidents order pro-
vides that the increase shall not apply
in case of existing contracts providing
fer an increase in price to cover any
raise in miners wages. Neither will
it apply In districts where miners and
operators fail to agree upon a miners
penalty provision satisfactory TO the
fuel administration.
Although wages for farm labor have
during the past six months been about
double the former scales, farmers of
Pennsylvania and New Jersey are
Offering further advances of from II
to. ~ per cent for green and skilled
hands through the United States Co
operative Farm Work station in the
Philadelphia BOurse. Farmers who
applied for men offered to pay $40 a
month, with board and lodging, for
all-round hands for general work,
whereas good skilled men thus far
have been Obtainable for from $50 to
$35 a month.
Twenty-Five women have been hired
to take the places in the Derby repair
shops of the Bangor & AroOstoOk rail-
road of men in Bangor, Me-, who have
volunteered for army service or are in
cluded in the first draft, and 1t is stat
ed that they are doing satisfactory
work. The women are employed at the
lighter tasks, but are receiving the
SAME wages as were paid to the men
they replace.
The Manistee (Mich.) Shipbuilding
Co. began active operations with the
arrival of the steam barge NOosha,
which will be shortened and sent
through the Welland canal for gov
ernment service on the seaboard. The
concern will engage in building barges
and in revamping old lake vessels for
salt water use during the period of
war.
To take over and operate themselves
the property and plant of the company
by which they have been employed,
and by which they are still owed
5000 in wages, Is the unusual sugges-
tion made TO the Canadian minister of
mines by the workmen of the Island
Coal and Coke company of Nicola Val
ley, Canada.
The.government report for the month
of July, 1915, prepared by the depart
ment of labor and industry for New
South Wales, indicates that the
law has not prevented strikes. but that
chinery, operating through the courts.
to punish strikers if this is deemed
advisable.
Atlantic coast steel ship builders in
conference with government officials
said the labor shortage presents n Sc
rious menace TO the national shipping
construction program. The production
of naval and merchant tonnage will be
impeded seriously. it was pointed out,
unless 3ee,000 workmen can be drawn
from other industries.
For economy in certain crowded mu-
milton areas munition workers In Lon
don, England, are alternating in the
use of one room. Housing space is so
limited in some towns that two girls
frequently occupy the same room, one
working by day the other by night.
Woman track hands have made
their first appearance on the northern
division of the Pennsylvania railroad.
Some viii be employed as signal keep
ers, their work being to keep switch
lights cleaned and oiled.
The first of a series of threatened
strikes among drivers Of milk wagons
TO enforce demands for increased
wages was called by union drivers of
a Brooklyn milk company.
The children's bureau of the federal
department of labor has instructed it's
representatives throughout the coun-
try to see that the KeatiDg-Owen child
labor law is enforced