New Britain herald., 1923-08-20
NO LABOR SURPLUS
in CITIES OF STATE
Many Plants Are Running Over
time With Actual Shortage
By GEORGE II. MANNING
washington Bureau of New Britain HERALD.

BY GEORGE ii. MANNING
Washington Bureau of New Britain Herald
Washington, d. c., Aug 2O.--ln
spite of decreased employment in GER
tain lines of industry in Connecticut,
no surplus of labor exists, and many
plants are still running overtime, with
more workers needed. Activity IN all
branches is phenomenally high for
midsummer, the usual time of Naca-
tons and slowing down OF industry
Industrial employment conditions
in general throughout the country are
also very encouraging, according TO
the July survey of the U. S. Employ
ment Service. The survey for July
showed a healthy undertone, and
splendid spirit of optimism is said to
exist in the entire industrial Held
While July showed a very slight IN
crease in unemployment over June in
the 1923 establishments covered by
the survey. this increase amounted 10
only SIT altogether, and each OF the
plants normally employs above 500
workers.
Nine Show Increases.
In the IA basic industries, showed
Increases in employment, these being
beverages, 72 per cent; paper and
printing, "A per cent; railroad repair
shops, "a per cent; food and kindred
products, 2:16; chemicals and allied
products. 0.79 per cent; lumber and
its manufactures, 0.47 per cent; iron
ard steel and their products, 0.44 per
cent; miscellaneous industries, O.S6
per cent; and stone, clay and glass
products, 0:13 per cent. Decreases
were shown in leather and its finished
products, 4.16 per cent; vehicles for
land Transportation, 1.7s per cent;
textiles and their products, LA per
cent; tobacco manufacturing, 1.3 per
cent; and metal and metal products
ether than iron and steel, COS per
cent.
AS compared with July, 1922, in
dustry in general shows vast in
crease in employment, ranging as high
as go per cent. The only decrease
noted is one of SIS per cent in tobac
co manufacture.
Not Boom Prosperity.
In the opinion of the Department of
Labor, the present era of industrial
activity is not an inflated period of
boom prosperity, but rather based on
sound and firm foundation that is
wholesome and basically healthy.
For the various industrial centers |
of Connecticut, the July bulletin of |
the Employment service summarizes
employment conditions as follows:
Middletown--All plants running full
time, with some mills working over
time in certain departments. General
shortage of workers in unskilled lines.
Building activities furnish work for
local labor, which meets the demand.
Acute shortage of houses.
Windsor Enthusiastically all |
plants on full time basis with labor
equal to the demand. Shortage of
medium priced houses
Willimantic--Thread industry OPP
Grating on four days-per week sched
ule in certain departments, affecting
about 1900 workers. Building trades
active, with local labor supply suf-
ficient to meet the demand. Housing
conditions improving.
Stamford-Practically all plants
running full time, with a noticeable
shortage of workers. Building con-
struction gives work to about $50
men. Housing conditions still made
qrate.
Glastonbury--All industries are on
full time basis, with paper industry
working overtime. Shortage of farm
labor. Local labor equals demand in
building trades. Housing adequate.
Enthusiastically all plants are
on full time, with labor fully en-
ployed. Building construction active,
with labor supply equaling the de-
mand. Housing conditions improv-
ing.
Observation-Disclosures of workers in
the shoe, metal, and textile industries.
Noticeable curtailment in the cotton
industry, with two plants closed tenn
porarily. Sufficient employment to
care for those out of work. Building
program affords work for local trades
men, with the supply short of the de-
mand.
Meriden-All plants are operating
full time, with labor fully employed
Local labor supply is not sufficient to
meet the demand in building trades.
housing shortage exists.
New Haven industrial district, in
Guiding Ansonia and West Haven-All
plants are operating Slight reduc-
ion in working forces in the railroad
repair shops during the past month,
with other industries absorbing most
,f the unemployed. Building trades
active, with local labor equalling the
demand at the present time. Brass
and foundry industries are on an over
lime basis in Ansonia in certain de-
oartments. Construction of a new
'choolhouse and large road building
obs gives work to many hands Slight
T~n o ~