People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 August 1893 — OUT OF WORK. [ARTICLE]

OUT OF WORK.

Chicago Reports Fully 150,000 Unemployed Men Within Her Borders, and the Number Growing Larger Daily. CHICAGO; Aug. 1. —Twelve hundred unemployed workingmen reached Chicago Monday from the west. Most of them came in on freight trains. There was not one of the dozen western roads but that carried its quota. These men who are coming to Chicago on these freight trains are silver miners from Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico and Idaho. All their mines are closed. Utah does not have such an exodus, because it is an agricultural country. Arizona is affected but little, because its mining is largely of copper. All along the line freight trains are black with men coming east. They beat their way, take possession of trains, or in some way get along. Commissioner Allen of the county board offered a resolution in view of the incoming of these miners to the effect that a penalty be provided against railroads for bringing paupers into the county. It was referred to the county attorney to see whether any authority for such could be found in the statutes of Illinois. The close of work at the world’s fair grounds left 40,000 idle men on the market, which was already carrying from 50,000 to 75,000. It is now estimated that no less than 150,000 artisans are walking the streets looking for employment That many of these will suffer for the actual necessities of life this winter seems a certainty, and that their presence in the city is a constant menace to the stability of the labor market appears an equal certainty. TOPEKA, Kan., Aug. 1. —The stream of idle workmen from Colorado continues to pour through Kansas. Reports received by the police department are that a great many depredations have been committed in the towns along the lines of the Santa Fe and Union Pacific railroads. Houses have been broken into and valuables stolen both in the towns and country. ST. LOUIS, Aug. 1. —Sunday night every cell in the police stations was occupied by voluntary prisoners, miners en route from Kansas and Colorado to the cities of the east in the hope of securing work. Over 300 spent the night in the stationhouses, and after breakfast furnished by the officials they left in droves for the east. Trainmen coming from the Missouri river say that there is not a freight train running eastward but carries from twenty-five to fifty tramps. MANCHESTER, N. H., Aug. 1.—The big Amoskeag mills were closed Monday. This is the first suspension of these factories for many years; 8,000 operatives are idle. The Jefferson mills started up again Monday morning, thus giving employment to 1,000 hands who had been idle for two weeks. All the remaining Amoskeag mills are certain to resume work August 28, if not before, but it will be on the basis, it is stated, of a reduction of wages to operatives. It is said that there will be a general reduction of 10 per cent and those receiving better wages than the average will be cut down 15 per cent NEWARK, N. J., Aug. 1. —The proprietors of the Arlington Sand Paper company have announced that until further notice the mills will work but forty hours a week. Until lately they have been very busy. The superintendent said that the condition of the building trade and the stringent money market affected the usual heavy orders for the fall trade. The Arlington Celluloid & Cellonite company will be closed, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. This company has in its employ between 200 and 300 hands. CLEVELAND, O., Aug. 1.—The Cleveland Rolling Mill comyany has closed its plate, wire and rod mills and steel works, throwing 3,000 men out of ememployment. Lack of orders is the cause, there being no disagreement regarding wages Five hundred men are still at work around the small mills and in putting up a new steel mill. Two hundred more men will be laid off as soon as the present supply of coke at one of their furnaces is exhausted.