People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1894 — WORK FOR THOUSANDS. [ARTICLE]

WORK FOR THOUSANDS.

The Frick Coke Company’s Big Ovens to lie Fired Up. Gkekxsburg, Pa., March 8. —Information from a prominent official of the 11. C. Frick Coke company is to the effect that within two weeks nearly every coke oven in the Conuellsville region will be fired up. The move will cover at least 90 per cent, of all the ovens in the region; more, it can be said, than have been in operation for three years past. At the lowest estimate 0,000 men who are now idle will be given employment. The Hungarian and foreign element generally in the Connellsville region, it appears, was never so scarce as now, because hundreds have left within the last few months for their foreign homes. This fact will largely involve the employment of American labor at the work. This move on the part of the Frick company, it is also stated, is brought about by the great volume of orders coming from furnace companies and mills in various parts of the country. The McClure Coke company will also, it is reliably stated, increase the percentage of working ovens fully 50 per cent., thus giving employment to about 1,500 men who are now idle.