The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-05-01
Industrial Improvement
Slow But Steady

provement in the industrial situation,
described in several instances as slow
but steady, particularly over condi-
tlons as they existed in the winter
months, was indicated in reports gath
cred by The Associated Press from
federal, state, labor and industrial
leaders in many states of the union.
Labor commissioners and other Of
ticials in virtually every state from
which reports were received, not only
declared that unemployment had ma
terially been lessened in the last few
months, but nearly all were optimis-
TIC concerning the future, holding that
the opening of reasonable lines of
work, such as agriculture and road
and building construction would help
greatly in absorbing the surplus of
workers.
While no definite figure on the
present number of unemployed was
available, approximately 1,35O,OOO
persons were reported idle in 16
states from which estimates were re-
ccived. Large industrial states such
as ew York, Pennsylvania and Massa-
chusetts contributed more than l.
100000 to this total, New York lead
ing with an estimated 100000 out of
work. The total population of the 16
states was in excess of 100000.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, esti-
mated the unemployed at 100000
Miners and other workers on strike
were not included in the state esti-
mated. The miners strike, which un-
ion officials estimated as involving
nearly 100000 men, was the largest
industrial controversy in progress as
May day approached, with a consid-
cradle number of workers affected by
textile and stone cutting strikes in
shutdowns in New England and in
minor walkouts in other parts of the
country.
In some cities there was declared
to be a demand for skilled workers,
although the supply of common labor,
generally was declared to be larger
than the demand. Some state labor
department officials definitely stated
that the unemployment crisis had
been passed in their seats and that a
move toward normal conditions was in
progress. Some localities reported
that conditions already virtually were
normal, but from most of the states
reporting there was declared to be un-
employment in many lines. Only in a
few isolated instances, however, was
1t declared to be acute, and the gen.
cral tenor of the statements was one
Ct optimism, particularly with refer
ence to the future.
A program of intense building ac-
tivity and city and state improvement
work was outlined in repotrs from vir-
tually every state, and it was ex-
pected that many idle workers would
find employment in gigantic con-
struction boom which was indicated
from many sources.
Monthly records of building activ-
ty kept by the American contractor
since 1914 were broken by the total
valuation of building permits at lead
ing cities for March, and the aggre-
gate Of 1862 ,283 ,254 for 100 cities was
believed by that publication to be the
largest for all time. The number of
permits issued last month in those
cities was 62,444.
AS compared with March, 1921,
when the permits numbered 53,315
and the valuation amounted to $751;
O05,317, the gai min value was 9S
rer cent. New York established AN
unprecedented record of $104, ,598.5ie
Chicago's permits were are largest ir.
nine years, according to the Illinois
Department of Labor, despite the
handicap Of unsettled labor conditions
in some building trades. They amount
ed to $19,333 900, an increase of $12,-
033,800 over March of last year.
The Chicago building controversy
hinges on the Landis wage award,
which several construction unions
have refused to accept, and over which
there appears to be no present pros
pect of settlement
Although in Kentucky the number
Of calls for farm labor was described
as the smallest in years, Colorado re-
ported inability to meet the demand
for eliable farm forkers. While no
shortage of labor was indicated in the
Middle West, some states reported
that there was work for everybody
who wanted this type of employment,
and Kansas declarations were that
only good weather was needed to re-
duce unemployment to minimum.
Farm labor wages generally were
around $35 a month, with board and
lodging.
Considerable unemployment was de-
clared to exist among Pacific coast
marine workers, with no indication of
improvement.
The most adverse statement from a
state employment head came from
Louisiana where F. f. Wood, commits
sioner of labor, declared that "the en-
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