The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-01-19
Principal Industries Report 0cto-
Der Pay Rolls Among the
Largest on Record.
WORKERS MORE IN DEMAND
Wars Effect on Labor Supply Begin
ming to Be Noticed-Monon Rail-
road Shopmen Receive Ad-
Vance-NeWs of Interest.


and steel trade 81 out of ITO establish
ments reported wage increases, and
the total pay rolls amounted to 1872
per cent more than in October, 1916.
In the wooden industry the years in
crease was 41.6 per cent; hosiery and
underwear, 22.2; paper making, 21.1 ;
cotton finishing, 206, and in boots and
shoes, cotton manufacturing, mems
ready-made clothing, car building and
repairing, cigar manufacturing, auto
mobile manufacturing and leather
manufacturing lesser increases. Only
silk workers received a smaller total
than last year, the decrease being 1.9
per cent. Wars effects on the labor
supply were shown in the increase of
workers employed on iron and steel,
mems ready-made clothing, wooden,
cotton finishing, cigar making and pa
per making. The greatest increase
was ia per cent in the iron and steel
mills. Seven other industries, boots
and shoes, cotton manufacturing and
leather, employed less persons than a
year ago.
After several months of negotiations
workmen at the Monon railroad shops,
Lafayette, Ind, reached an agreement
with the railroad company regarding
wages. The machinists, boiler makers,
blacksmiths, pipe filters, helpers and
apprentices are to receive an increase.
The wage scale for the machinists,
boiler makers and blacksmiths will be
so cents an hour; and all helpers will
receive 80 cents an hour. The first
year apprentices will receive 1914
cents an hour, with 201s cents the Sec
ond year, % cents the third and q
cents the fourth. Pipe filters also will
receive so cents an hour. Under the
new contract the prevailing wage scale
will remain in force indefinitely, and
the men agreed to give the company
due notice of any intention to ask for
an increase in wages.
It was announced In the British
house of commons that the total num-
Der Of STANDARD ships built, completed
and put into service up to October 25
was eight. The tonnage was approx
mately $500 gross each. The number
Of standard ships expected to be COM
pleted between October rs and Deem
Der 81 was IS, of which 16 would be
of approximately 5000 gross tons each,
one of 5000 tons gross and one of 1000
tons.
Private building operations in Great
Britain are practically prohibited by
the reservation of all building labor
and material for government work.
Four new munitions works, costing
$10,000,000, are about to be erected,
and thousands Of dwelling houses for
munition workers are planned.
The general grievance committee
representing striking oil field workers
in the Texas-Louisiana producing dis
tricts reported the receipt of official
advices from California announcing
the settlement of the oil and gas work.
ers' strike there. Some 10000 men
were involved.
Difficulties which threatened strike
of $500 telegraphers employed by the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad and q tie
up of traffic on one of the country's
most important munitions and coal car
rying roads, were settled by the federal
board Of mediation and Cancellation.
Two hundred alien enemies, the ma
jority of them Austrians, were found
working for contractors engaged in
constructing new buildings at the Rock
Island Oll.) arsenal. All Of the aliens
were ordered discharged.
The price of the principal articles
of food, collectively advanced 81 per
cent from August Is last year, to Au-
gust Is this year, say the federal bu-
reau Of labor statistics in Its latest
report.
Dayton (Ohio) Street Railway COM
pany has accepted the Street Car
Mems unions Interpretation of a con-
tract between the two parties and will
pay time for overtime.
Traffic on the General Railway Co.
Of Buenos Aires is almost at stand
still because of strike of the en-
ployees. Workmen employed ut the
general produce markets and those of
several frozen meat companies also are
on strike.
Thanksgiving holiday was sacrificed
by miners in practically every coal
mine in Pennsylvania as a patriotic
duty.
The Central Labor council of Spo-
kane, Wash, has started campaign
to organize women workers and has
appointed q woman organizer for this
purpose.
Organization has been of material
benefit to Canadian telegraphers. Dur
ing the last year, through the efforts
Of their officers, the wages of operators
have increased nearly S250,O00.
The Women's Industrial Council Of
Great Britain has founded a nursery
school for the training Of girls
Is children's nurses.
Painters at Richmond, Va, have in
creased wages 30 cents day