The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-09-05
FLORIDA BRIGHTEST
SPOT IN THE SOUTH
Reports Practically No Unemployment
and State Wide Shortage Of
Labor.
(By IRE Assoclated Pressy


provement in Industrial conditions in
the south is shown In the monthly sur
vey Of the employment service OF the
department of labor for August. The
brightest spot in the south appears
to be Florida. which reports practical
~ no unemployment and a statewide
shortage Of labor. Of the six cities
for which reports based on actual
count were submitted, four show in
creases in employment for August over
July while two report decreases. They
are Chattanooga, increase 6 per cent;
Birmingham, increase So per cent;
Memphis, increase per cent; Rich
mond, increase Is per cent; Atlanta,
decrease s.27 per cent and New Or
leans, decrease 1.s per cent.
! In the South Atlantic district, in
cluding Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia and Florida,
gratifying increases in railroad occu-
pations and textiles have taken place.
Fifteen railroad companies report a
total employment of 225.952, an In
crease of 20,26S, and $40 textile mills
report total employment of gs,005, an
Increase of 2.S71. Lumber products
plants, numbering 103, report employ
ing 8,191, small increase although
operators seem to think the outlook
is not encouraging Twenty-Five OPP
orators generally are discouraged as
to the outlook, while some express
confidence that conditions will improve
in the near future. Unemployment
continues in iron and steel and among
unskilIed labor, the outlook for the
latter class being extremely diseour-
aging. Farm labor is abundant. Build
ing is active in spots
The situation in individual states
as indicated by the survey shows:
Virginia: 25 textile mills reporting
employment of 1910, show an in
crease for the month of 1872. Coal min
ing shows reductions in employment.
General unemployment exists in steel,
and iron, products, including molders,
machinists. and sheet metal workers.
Unskilled labor shows increased un-
employment with opportunities for
that class of labor steadily decreasing.
North Carolina: Reports Indicate
m prove d conditions generally
throughout the state. Ninety-nine tex
tile mills reported 2s,93S on the pay
rolls August Is, an increase Of 112, as
compared with July Is. Textile OPP
orators, while not optimistic, expect to
be able to continue on full time there.
Thirty-six lumber products mills re-
port 2.272 on the payrolls August Is. a
decrease in the number employed of SO,
as compared with the previous month.
Lumber men generally are pessimistic
as to the outlook.
South Carolina: Seventy seven tex
So
on August Is, an increase of 1890. Mill
operators generally report full time OPP
erations. but differ in their opinions
as to the outlook. A majority report
satisfactory increase in orders and ap-
pear cheerful in regard to the future.
Thirty -four lumber products concerns
Employed 1888 on August Is, an in
crease OF 1856 since July 16. Unemploy-
ment continues serious in shipping and
among unskilIed labor.
Georgia: Iron mad steel plants and
machine shops are running much be-
low normal. Saw mills mad wood
working concerns are practically hold
ing their own, but not encouraged as
to present outlook. One hundred and
nine textile mills, employing 2s, s9s,
show an increase in employment over
last month of GIT, and operators gem
orally are hopeful of the future.
Florida: Practically no unemplcy-
ment is reported anywhere in the state
A housing shortage that affects prac-
tically every city. and which win be-
come more acute with the opening of
the tourist season. is being in some
measure relieved by extensive building
programs, which have furnished en-
ployment to all building trade workers
and in some instances have even ne
cessitated outside assistance. Planning
mills are reported as working full
capacity Preparations for the plant
ing of winter vegetables followed by
handling the citrus crop, will require
all available labor. Lake county re-
work. The present statewide labor
work. The present statewide labor
shortage is expected to be remedied |
by the usual drift from the north dur
ing the winter.
Tennessee: Improvement has been |
noted in the building trades; other
wise there has been little change.