The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-25
LBB0RSHORTAGE
INPENNSYLYANIA
C0NIINUE.SACUT
Big Decrease in Number Of
Unemployed Reported by
Labor Office.

HARRISBURG, Pa, Oct. 25.-
Continued shortages In certain
classes Of labor with further re.
3dueton in the number Of unem-
pIoyes In Pennsylvania during the
first half OF October are shown In
the report Of state employment
Officers made public here today by
the State Department Of Labor
and industry. The total number Df
unemployed reported by the off,
ces dropped to 40,680 on October
10, approximately 10000 less than
two weeks previously.
y Two offices have been discon.
tinued, those at Altoona and VII.
Transport and the work of these
offices has been taken over by the
< lohnstown and Harrisburg offices.
Inability to provide financial aid
Tor the maintenance OF tie two
Offices, Commissioner Conneiley
explained. necessitatcd the clos.
Ling.
The number Of unemployed re.
B ported by the offices operating fol-
slows: Erie 600, Harrisburg 1850,
tJohnstown 1895 McKeesport
LILO, Philadelphia 12.30h, Phila.
delphia women $500 Pittsburgh
2I50, Reading 9S5, Scranton a..
100.
The shortage exist in both skill
Cd and unskilled occupations and
white the supply of common labor
fstll continues low the situation
shows some, Improvement. Build.
ing activity continues while the
I iron and steel industries ami
I mines show further improvement,
The statement OF outside work,
the Erie office says has made the
supply OF laborers little easier.
sB'rom present indications the labo-
rate for inside work will remain
satT35 to 81 1-2 cents an hour dur.
ing the winter. Discussing the
ifmetal trades the Erie report states
semi. skilled men are the only
class available to any extent.
4 The Harrisburg report says thu
steel and iron mills and manufac.
turing establishments are abls to
absorb large numbers Of able men
for common labor and the Johns
town office declares steel Is about
the only industry suffering from
( the common Tabor shortage, Phila.
delphia says common labor con-
hnues to be in unparalleled" de.
mand.
Iron and steel mills in the Ha..
sriaburg district are said to be run
ming at full capacity or nearly so
and Johnstown reports these In.
dustries Gin splendid condition. :"
McKeesport says the plans have
Increased production during tho
preceding two weeks and Phlladel-
phia reports "a gradual but very
perceptible Improvement. Pitts.
burgh says that while there is no
pressing shortage of wor;usen at
present the increase IN the de-
lmand presaEes sueh a condition IN
the near future providing the
present pace OF increase continues
Miners in the Harrisburg dis.
itrlct have practically all returned
to work. the Harrisburg office re.
ports, although Jamestown says
the coal bus!ness-ln that district Is
VERY spotty" due to car shortage.
The largest non union mines tho
report says with almost 10000
private cars OF their own, cannot
get men to dig coal, consequently
their cars are idle and their minoS
only producing about Is per cent
capacity" Pittsburgh reports q
t'heavy demand" for miners anil
adds that while there generally Is
"a supply Of workmen 1t does not
seem as large as In previous per.
iods ot.heavy demand.
The Scranton report, touching
on mine conditions, says that On
October Is $4,000 men formerly EN-
.ployed in the Glen Alden Coal Co.
collieries were without work ard
other mines IN the district are
keeping about 75 per cent Of their
men employed most OF the tine.
"a few cold days and the house.
holder will realize the mistake
ma dein no tlayiug In a supply Of
fuel when same could have bean
obtained" the report adds. "Ship-
.ments to points outside Of the coal
Fields have 10 a marked degree
been retarded because Of the In
ability Of transportation compan.
ies to handle the output Of thu
mines. This condition is undoubt
eddy due, in a large measure a.
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