The Washington herald., 1922-08-28
new STEEL WAGE
SCALE S2% ABOVE
PRE-WAR AVERAGE
Recent Advance Brings
Level Within 1870 of
1920 Boom Period.

PITTSBURGH. Aug. 27.-The 20
per cent wage advance which goes
into effect September / In the iron
and steel industry generally makes
a common labor rate of 80 cents
an hour. Customarily rates for
other than common labor are ad-
justed in much the same propor-
ton. Just before the war the COM
mon labor rate was about 10 cents
an hour. though 1871 cents was
paid at some. points. while Is cents
prevailed at others. In 1910 the
rate had been about l6 cents and
in 1898 about l3 cents.
Advances during the war cul-
minated In that OF August !. 1918.
making the rate 42 cents. while on
October /. 1918. the basic eight
hour day" was established, whereby
twelve hour men were paid for
fourteen hours time. On February
l, 1920. the rate was increased to
46 cents. In 1921 overtime pay
ments were discontinued. and the
basic rate was reduced to about
IS cents at some mills. but only
to 80 cents by the Steel Corpora
tion and a number of independents.
Comparison of Wage Rates.
On the basis of a twelve-hour
day. taking cognizance of the over
time arrangement while IL was ef
fective. day rates compare as fol-
lows: 1913. sass: 1920, S6.44; pres
ent. $500: September /. 34.32. The
new rate will therefore be 80 per
cent under the top rate and 50 per
cent over the 1918 rate.
Only a rough estimate can be
made as to the average Increase
in cost. of making a net ton OF
finished steel by a general 20 per
cent wage advance at blast fur
naces and steel mills. but the fair
est estimate seems to be about 81
per net ton. The computation does
not take into account the separate
advance just made in wages in the
Conneilsville coke region. Steel
which saw the low points. have
0been approximately as follows: Bars.
shapes and plates. 50 per net ton {;
sheets. 81; tubular goods. IS: wire
products and tin plate. none.
Conneilsville coal and coke prices.
particularly coal prices. had been
the
last Tuesday afternoon of a wage
scale calculated to bring the strikes
to an end Immediately. After the
occurred OF rs cents in coal and 50
cents in coke. No change in sup
plies or requiremets occurred. but
producers became more anxious to
sell and buyers showed a DISPOSE
finn to a,,f af "a
railroads appear to have been in
structed not to buy.
Coal Prices Soften.
The Connellsviie steam coal mar
ket has got down only to about
So. and operators have intimated
they intended TO make a stand at
$3.50. although the State coal COM
mission has decreed 1915 for the
Connellsville region. the $3.50 price
being countenanced only for thin
vein districts.
Foundry coke stands at about
SIS. price foundries pay only
when forced to cover against i'm
mediate requirements. Furnace
coke is available at shout sl2. q
price tha' Hsted some mis-
cellaneous consumers. but has beer,
far above the possible range for
blast furnaces. the real tonnage
consumers. A regular furnace coke
market is still to be developed. as
is pig iron market. since trans
actions In pig iron lately at fancy
prices have been simply in small
lots for spot shipment out Of stock
Production pig iron has not been
under negotiation.