The Carbon County chronicle. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1924, 1924-08-20
LABOR SUPPLY IN
MONTANA'S CITIES
EQUAL TO DEMAND
RECORD SHOWS FAIR CONDITION
WITH MANY OBTAINING WORK
IN THE HARVEST FIELDS
Lumber Industry West of the Divide
Alone Shows Material Slackening;
Building Activities are Consider
ably Weaker than In 1923.

The supply of labor TO meet
practically all requirements has
been sufficient in Montana, due
principally to an unusual number
OF transient workers from the Paci-
fic coast states, according to an In
dustriaI employment survey for
July, made by the United States
employment service OF the United
States department of labor.
The report on general conditions
contains the information that ex-
perienced farm hands are In fair de-
mand and that metal mining, par
ticularly gold, is very active. A mill
at Landusky, idle for the last seven
years, recently resumed operations
and is now grinding out gold ore at
a rapid rate.
Several hundred workers from the
logging camps and saw mills have
been temporarily released during the
last so days, but most of these men
will have Immediate opportunities for
employment during the harvest sea-
son which is now on. Building Is
not so extensive as last season, but
considerable construction of general
nature is under way. Three indus
trial buildings are contemplated at
Kelvin.
Sufficient railroad labor is avail
able for all present requirements the
report said.
The extensive highway program
continues to afford steady employ
ment to hundreds Of workers.
Reports on conditions in several
Montana cities are given as follows:
Billings-There is a surplus of
transient labor here: many, however,
now having an opportunity for en-
ployment in harvest work near by.
Railroad labor continues to be quite
well employed. Overhauling of the
sugar factory is under way and is
providing employment to many me-
chanics. With the exception of a
packing establishment, all industrial
plants continue normal activities.
Butte-Resident labor Is we'll en-
ployed, except in metal mining, due
to a few of the smaller copper mines
being temporarily closed. A $780,
900 Elks' temple and gymnasium
structure at the school of mines will
soon be under construction, with To-
cal building labor for this work equal
TO the demand.
Helena-The employment situation
is satisfactory, there being no unem-
ployment of consequence apparent.
No shortages exist at this time in
any line, and present indications are
that this condition will obtain
throughout the summer season, ex-
cept that some outside farm labor is
needed for harvest work. Extern
sive repairs are being made. on the
street railway system, affording en-
ployment to any common labor sur
plus that appears. Resident build
ing tradesmen are we'll employed.
Industrial plants are operating
satisfactorily, including the large
smelling and refining plant at East
Helena.
MISUNDERSTANDING, the main
industry inthis city and vicinity,
shows a further slackening In opera
tions The logging camps which
curtailed operations to some extent
during June, temporarily released
ITO workers during July. The large
program of highway construction in
outlying districts, and harvesting,
will provide temporary employment
for many of the released lumbermen.