Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 114, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1904 — LABOR NOTES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LABOR NOTES

The New York Central will aid in the harvesting of the apple crop in New YoYk State by an offer of 1,000 men to relieve the scarcity of help in the apple belt. The total amount disbursed in wages in Massachusetts in all industries for 1902 was $ 198.920,047, and in 1903, $210,070,163, an increase of 111,149,516, or 5.01 per cent. Among the strikes vfon in Chicago th* past year are: The painters went out for a wage increase from 40 to 50 cents an hour and won at the end of three weeks. Th* canworkers in the plants of the American Can Company went out to resist a wage reduction and won at the end of two months. The bakers, went out in seven shops and won an increase of $1 a week for foremen nt tbe end of a week in all except two shops. The cigarmakers went out for a new bill of price* and practically won in a few days, but later the employers brought about a lockout and the fight lasted for six week*. It resulted in a victory for the men. The brickmakers were out at only a few plants on a technical violation of the working conditions and won in thre* days. 1 With a total production of over $12.000,(XX) viil a*. 10,658 men were employed lu mines in the province of Ontario, Canada, in 1903. and $4,222,386 paid In wages. Compared with 1899, flv* year* ■ go, there is an increase of 53 per cent in metallic output. There is a gold mine in Australia which is 3,000 feet deep, and the various tunnels are so hot that celd water has to be continually sprayed ever the miner* working the lode. Th* temperature la usually about 108 degrees, and the men have to work almost naked In order to aland the heat.