EXTRAORDINARY WAGES IN THE AMERICAN IRON TRADE.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3538, 28 April 1880, Page 2

EXTRAORDINARY WAGES IN THE AMERICAN IRON TRADE.

A private communication just received in South Staffordshire from one of the leading ironmasters of Pittsburgh, shows that although iron lias been advanced there to the extent of 125 per cent, in the past few months, and stands now at 2d per lb for merchant bars, yet that at the same tiino the wages which have to be ; paid to the workpeople r present an unprecedently high scale of remuneration. Rollers employed at the hoop mills are tnalriug as much as from £25 to £30 per week each net earnings, after paying all assistants. Large sums of money Lave from time to tiuie been made by rollers at ironworks iv South {Staffordshire when a similar class of iron has been turned out, but in the palmiest times they have never reached anything like this figure. Yet more astonishing perhaps is the scale of payment wlii-jh is now being received by the United States puddlew. la South Staffordshire this class of operatives receive 8s 6d per ton, a sum which is an" increase ot Is 6d per ton upon the lato scale. In Pittsburg, however, puddlers - are receiving no less than £1 8s per ton of 22401b. YVith suoh a scale of remuneration prevailing, it is not a little astouishing that English ironworkers who recently went out to^ America should be now returning from that country declaring that there is no work to be got. The American ironmasters have had no alternative bat to give their ironworkers the wages here set forth. The men have been prompt to require improved terms with every ad» vauce in prices. Nor are the colliers less resolute. At date of letter they were on strike for wages which means 5s per ton of coal got.—.English Exchange.