REVIEW OF EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS. FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDING OCTOBER 31, 1904. Generally speaking, from the reports made to this office, it is apparent that conditions affecting employment and earnings were slightly better during the past six months than they were at the date of the last report.* As was stated at that time, there was a feeling among manufacturers that the depression was of a temporary character. With the exception of the cotton goods industry, all of the manufacturers visited in October reported that prospects were bright and encouraging and all things promised a revival of industry as soon as the election excitement subsided. The Textile Industries. The worst situation, at the time of our semi-annual visitation, was found in the cotton goods industry. The situation as it stood at the close of last April was further affected, and adversely, by a strike among the cotton mill operatives in Fall River. Only nine mills were in operation at the time of the Agent's visit, viz.: The Fall River Iron Works Mill, Conanicut Mills, Barnaby Mills, Kerr Thread Mills, American Printing Co., Algonquin Printing Co., Sanford Spinning Co., Globe Yarn Mills, and the Stevens Manufacturing Co. All other mills were shut down as the result of poor business and a strike which began July 25 after an announcement by the managements of all the coarse goods mills of a proposed reduction in wages of 121⁄2 per cent. Prior to this time some of the mills had closed and others were running at reduced hours, some three days in the week only, and part every alternate week, in the endeavor to tide over adverse conditions. Since the beginning of the strike, conferences have been held between the representatives of the striking employees and the manufacturers, but no solution of the labor situation was found. The claim of the manufacturers is that with the high price of cotton, it is impossible for them to make goods at a profit in view of the present selling price. As the operatives decline to accept the reduced wages the resumption of work in the mills does not seem probable for the present. The manufacturers claim that the strike has in one way been beneficial to their interests, inasmuch as by shutting down they have been able to sell odd lots of goods that have been Labor Bulletin No. 31, May, 1904, page 124. |