Evening star., 1923-05-16
new PAY DEMANDS
| IN STEEL INDUSTRY
Competition for Labor Still
/ Boosting Wages-Wool
| Prices Soar to New Top.
BY J. C. ROYLE.
Special Dispa tch to The Star.


Of wage increases. which started with
the advance granted only few weeks
ago by the United States Steel Corpo-
ration, is working its way back to
the steel industry again. Workers in
the steel mills of the country are
already talking of another wage in
crease in July. At present the scale
for unskilled labor in the mills is
40 cents an hour That represents an
advance Of II per cent this spring
Now As cents an hour is the base
discussed.
Steel men stated today that the
'snowballing of wages throughout
the other industries undoubtedly Is
responsible for this trend in the steel
mills. Building contractors are pay
ing so to so cents an hour for un-
skilled men, railroad shopmen are
asking and receiving more money.
street railway men in a dozen sections
have been granted advances and with
outside work beckoning to them. the
steel workers are preparing for in
creased demands.
Wages in South Up 80 Per Cent.
Wages in the south for common
labor have increased so per cent in
the last year. according to John NJ.
Gibbs of Norfolk, Va, secretary of
the North Carolina Pine Association.
ern industrial plants by offers of
$3.50 day for eight hours work
with an allowance for 81 a week for
house rent. Negro women are finding
ready employment as cleaners and
1aundresses here at so cents an hour.
Painters in this section have struck
for $12 basic day, stonecutters want
Sl0.50. and union leaders say that
90 per cent of the $4,000 workers In
the building trades here have already
voted to strike June 1 for general
raise OF 81 day. which would bring
unskilled labor to an $S base.
There is every indication today
that the demands for more pay in the
steel mills will be vigorously op-
tanned in Pennsylvania in spite of
defections of workers, and in the
Chicago district the output of the
leading interest is greater than at
any time in the history of the mid
west plants.
Raw Wool at New High.
Raw wool has reached new
nigh mark for the year today. with
the sale, in Lampasos, Tex. of good
twelve month woods at 55l2 cents a
Pound. The previous high mark was
50 cents. reached last week at Del
Rio. The upward trend. especially
unusual cleanness of the clips, which
has reduced shrinkage to low point.
Announcement by Gov. Grosbeck
OF Michigan that he would sign the
condemn property for the purpose of
developing water-power sites has
opened the way for the wooden man
utacture In that section. This is ex-
pected to develop under the policy
announced by Ford of establishing
industries operated by power so de-
veloped in which farmers products
and farm labor could be utilized in
the dull seasons of the agricultural
year.
Grocefs Will Expedite Turnover.
Announcement made at the National
Louis that the Quaker Oats Company
would grant grocers a cash discount
on all It's goods is expected to induce
srocers to press quick turnover of
their stocks In order to take advan-
tage OF the added profit. II other
cereal manufacturers follow this ex-
ample 1t Is expected to mean at least
100000 added profit to grocers this
week.
Cuban Sugar Production Down.
Output of the 149 Cuban sugar mills
which have finished grinding up to
duction of 1922 of 3oI.507 tons Only
thirty-three centrals still are engag-
ed, and they will complete operations
Tor the season in a few days. Raw
Britain in this market. which have
been heavy recently, have slackened.
Repeated cuts in the prices Of crude
oil have not sufficed to stop heavy
production in the southern fields, ac-
cording to reports today from Shreve-
port. La. where output and drilling
operations are on the increase.
Road Again Making Profit.
KANSAS CITY. Nav 16.-Reorgani-
cation OF the Kansas City Railways
Company and the lifting OF the re-
ceivership in effect for the last three
The receivers report that the street
railway company has now reached a
footing where revenues more than
equal expenditures. A city ordinance
in the situation as. until they were
profitable short-haul non-transfer
removed, they took much of the
patronage. The company is control
led by the Armour interests Of Chi
cago.
Will Push Bridge Work.
PHILADELPHIA, May 1s.-There
ciaf reasons in construction of the
new Delaware river bridge here for
the next year. Pennsylvania has ap-
propriated $6,42s.ooo; this city will
amount. Ne"
Jersey also has made an appropria-
tion for its share of the work for the
current year. This assures steady
employment for a large number of
workers.
Railway Extension Planned.
MINNEAPOLIS. May 16.-Construc-
tion of a twenty-four-mile extension
of the electric short-line railway will
be started shortly. This work, which
will cost 100000. will give the COM
pany ia miles Of trackage and per-
init junction with the Great North
crn road.
Copyright, 1921
Southern Merchants Cautious.
NEW ORLEANS. May 16.-The
6ackwardness of planting in the
south and the recent decline in cotton
values are keeping merchants eau
tious in placing orders for future de-
livery. Planting in Louisiana of all
crops was only 81 per cent of normal
on May and 5s per cent of normal
in Mississippi compared with a ten
vorable weather is preventing farm
hands from being fully utilized and
country merchants are feeling the
effect.
After U. s. Grape Business.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 16.-Grow-
ers Of malaga grapes in Australia
have invaded this market for the first
time. The shipment amounted to 500
cases and marked the first move on
= market In America for fruits which
ripen south of the equator during the
American winter.
Copyright. 1921